MTFCA Forum

Having a terrible time getting the crank gear off. Please tell me the trick . Thank you

Hot wrench is quickest if you aren’t going to try and reuse. Don’t cut all the way to the crank, though. Common sense

Good grief !! Don’t, please don’t, use an oxy acetylene torch to CUT the crank gear off. I’m picturing slag and deformation of the crank. Use a 30 ton press and maybe oxy acetylene to WARM UP the crank gear. Press it off. If still unsure or unconfident, take it to an auto machine shop. They have the equipment necessary

Did that make you faint, George? Mike is very experienced . It’s off in 30 seconds, and of course, I find common sense isn’t so common. So, I’ll add this. Don’t cut half way into the crank journal. Cover the exposed crank with something. You PROBABLY should take the crank out of the car AND the engine. Do not spray molten metal into your car interior that the doors are open on. OR, on your children watching closely. Don’t use the cutting torch next to a national forest that has high fire alert drought conditions. Put oil dry on gas puddles in your shop. Cover your gas can, and don’t leave it tipped on its side. DON’T CATCH YOUR HAIR ON FIRE, BUT IF YOU DO , HAVE AN EXTRA BEER HANDY! You can and should spray molten metal on the neighbors cat. I’m probably forgetting something. Duh

Iam enjoying the entertainment. The motor is on a stand; with the pan off. The flame wrench- while appealing- maybe not so much. A cut off wheel? A person couldn't get in too much trouble. Could he?

George maybe doesn’t realize up here in the rust belt the torch is sometimes your best friend. Also, time is money. Up in these parts we can cut a rusty small castle nut off without hurting anything but the nut. Even the threads survive.
The cutoff wheel is a good second choice, especially if crank is still in the block Go most the way and then use a cold chisel as a wedge to finish the dirty deed. All previous disclaimers apply, AND be sure to spray the sparks at the neighbors cat!

Take the crank out and press the gear off. Usually doesn’t take much pressure. 1 to 2 tons maybe.

If its like a VW crankshaft you can remove the crankshaft stand it on end gear down and heat the gear while rotating the crank and the gear will fall off.
how's that for a short sentence?

Just as Adam said remove the crank and use a press to remove the gear. Plus you will need the press to put a gear back on. Bill

It still being in the block really changes my opinion and quick advice. Never thought that far ahead. I’ll crawl back in my hole now.

Yeah, Tim maybe didn’t realize the crank is still in the block so the heat necessary to foolishly cut the crank gear would totally turn #1 main to toast. Thank you Adam and Bill for confirming my initial advice.

George, not an excuse, but I assumed it was the cranks the OP offered a week back. They were loose cranks and he offered to sandblast them. Those would be perfect candidates for my removal method, with absolutely no damage done to the crank.

Finally success. I didn't know which was going to break first the puller the wrench the crank. Then SNAP!! Had to look to see what broke- just the gear giving up.that bugger was on there. Thanks for the comments!

I have to ask! Did you use a cheater on the wrench? I have some 1 and 2” pipe in different lengths I use when I have to. Glad you got it done without breaking anything!