Harmonic Balance bolt won't budge!
 

Hi guys, I'm trying to get the harmonic balancer bolt off but it won't break. I don't have a impact gun. I have put the car in 6th gear and had someone press break at same time but the darn thing won't break! Any suggestions?

Get an impact gun... Electric ones work well. Really the only way to get it off. Just did the job myself. Got a Craftsman one and did the job!

Yea impact for sure don't really wanna heat it, make sure you use a plug in not a battery impact. They are like $50 at your local auto store, use it and return it if you want.

Thanks guys!

Breaker bar worked fine for me...def step on the brake too.

Blocking the tires works good too if no one is there to step on the brakes.

A good battery impact is amazingly strong and will easily get that bolt out

You're going to have to 'shock' the bolt free with a gun.

Just bought a Impact wrench with 1400ft lb torque. Bolt "STILL" wont budge! This is frustrating! Starting to regret this R53 purchase!

Did you get a get a good one? Companies just make up numbers a lot of times

The one I use is almost too strong. Breaks bolts off easy

Bought a Bostitch. Figured it was a good company but what kind do you use?

Don't blame the car!

Buchner didn't blame the glove!:lol:


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.nor...e85005fd29.jpg




Is the impact wrench electric or air. If it's air, what pressure are you running your compressor at?

:) Nice one. Its an electric tool. Any reason why it would be stuck? Its clearly the factory HB.

Nice picture lol

Shop price hopefully shouldn't be too bad if you can't get it off.

I've only got the 1/4" m18. :(

I don't actually own it. My two good friends both bought one :)

Hard to justify spending that much for something I would only use maybe once a year. Been very handy since I bought my mini though lol

Ok guys which direction loosen this bolt. Is it the old righty tighty lefty losey? Or is this a left tight, right loose?

It's a standard thread bolt but it does have some locktite from the factory. You'll just have to get medieval on that sumbitch. Many electric impacts won't have the torque that a good air impact does with good pressure.

Yup - my Ryobi which claims like 300 lb ft couldn't get this to go - do you have a breaker bar? A long one?

Ok put the car back together and went to start it so I can go to a mechanic, now the car won't start. All lights com on but it won't turn over. Just get a check engine light and EML light! Now WTH!

So I took my car to a repair shop and after a few hits with the airgun....Success......the bolt came loose. You should see all the locktight Mini had on that bolt. Anyway....get the car home start using the pulley puller then. Disaster Strikes! SMH. One of the three bolt holes are stripped out. The previous owner must have done this. No prob. I'll just retap it. So get all bolts going the again...Disaster! On of the three screws break off and no it's stuck in the hole. So now I have to try and get the broken pieces out. Seriously I can't wait to get this job done!

Sorry man - that definitely sucks - I bought a die and tap for my car too - when I was replacing the valve cover gasket I stripped out one of the bolt holes for the "arms" that go over the intercooler. Almost there - use the right tool to back the bolt out - ridiculous that the screw broke off...they should be hardened.

My bolts kept breaker so I used a three jaw puller to get mine off, it was a hassle.

Interesting --- at least the pulley isn't on there very tight. Once you get it started it will come fairly easily. Use a torque wrench when you put the new bolt on - i suspect they used an impact wrench and over torqued it when they did the replacement last time. Just curious - you were doing this job because it failed? Or preventative...sounds like the car is still drive able

Also - probably shouldn't drive with a half snapped bolt in there - prob doesn't weigh much but at 4,000 RPMs I bet it be pretty imbalanced

Yeah it sucks but this happens so I gotta deal with it. Kahnfucious I had to replace it because it failed. I can tell it has separated into two pieces.

Did this for a friend of mine and was nervous as hell after seeing Randy Webb have an issue at AMVIV, but fortunately it came off like butta.
Feeling your pain!