I have this tool http://www.harborfreight.com/46-piec...set-37824.html
And I just need to know what to use in the center to press on the crank. The bolt that comes with the puller is too big, and I haven't found anything sturdy enough to be pressed.

 

I went to the hardware store and picked up a M12 bolt and a bunch of washers since I used that same crow's foot puller from autozone. I had to goto a local hardware store since Home Depot/Lowe's didn't have it. I hear Ace Hardware usually has that M12 bolt

The pictures are gone but it's the same steps as https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...oem-tools.html

His was a M12 bolt that he dremeled short enough.

 

M12 bolt 1 1/2" or so longer than the OEM bolt, cut the head off of it & install it finger tight, pulley will then slide over it as you pull it off.

 

Did you have to bump up to 100 length M6 bolts?

 

I don't remember the bolts on the puller I used were fine, but that was the reason for only going 1 1/2 or so over, it was enough that once you got to the point the puller center bolt started to interfere it was off the crank enough to just physically pull off the rest of the way.

 

Do you know the correct pitch? I don't have my bolt with me

Answer: 1.75

 

How did you keep the HF pusher bolt lined up with the makeshift crank bolt?

 

Help! the puller threaded that makeshift bolt further into the crank instead of pulling the pulley off. It's really stuck. Ideas?!

 

Did you stop trying to get the pulley off after the bolt threaded in, or were you just unable to get the pulley off? The reason I ask is because at this point if it were me I think I would keep going to get the pulley off first, then with the pulley off cut a slot in the end of the bolt and use a screwdriver to turn it. You could also try to clamp down on it with vice grips and turn.

 

Vice grips won't turn it. I stopped when I realized the pulley wasn't moving. I'm worried I damaged the crank

 

Wow, I'm sorry, mine didn't do that, if there's not even enough room to get a vice grip on it my only suggestion is using an "easy out / screw extractor", just make sure you don't use one too big to get into the crank threads.
I'm racking my brain to remember if mine just didn't move or if the headless bolt bottomed out, it's been over a year now since I did mine.

 

If the vice grips don't work, then cutting a slot enough for a screwdriver to turn it might. You could also weld on a nut if you have a welder and crank on that.

I wouldn't worry yet about whether you damaged anything. I have been there before and freaked out only to find that everything was fine.

You can search and find my experience with the crank pulley, but I had one of the 6 mm bolts snap. In the end I had to get a 6 ton 2 jaw puller from Sears and that thing pulled the pulley off without a sweat.

 

I took your advice. I was able to pull the pulley without issue, then I had enough real estate available on the bolt to use the vice grips perpendicular to the bolt. Only took about seven hundred iterations of bite, turn, release to back it out. Crank threads are undamaged. Life is good.

 

Glad to hear you got it and no damage was done.