Does a tool exist to keep the flywheel stationary?

[robroy]

Good afternoon!

Does a tool exist to keep the flywheel stationary while I torque the bolts that connect it to the crankshaft?

I'm concerned that the crankshaft will start to turn if I don't do something special to hold it still.

I've already asked this question at a few auto parts stores but the guys there haven't heard of this.

Thanks!
Robroy

[averagef250]

Yes, it's a bar with a tooth on the end and a hoop that's spring loaded to grap the gear a few inches away to lock it on the gear. Mine is made by Mac, I'm sure lots of toolmakers sell them.

[robroy]

Hey Dustin thanks for your reply!

Is this the tool you have?



It's not easy for me to visualize exactly how this works, and I haven't found a photo of one installed yet.

What methods are available to keep the flywheel from turning the crankshaft without this tool?

Thanks!
Robroy

[70shortwide]

you may find an area on the block where you can use a good screwdriver/ prybar to kinda pry against it and hold it in place that way. i havent done this on an fe, so there may not be an easy spot to use this method. also you may need an extra set of strong hands to hold the screwdriver (or prybar) while you tighten the flywheel bolts. just an idea, I dont know how well it will work on your setup...

[robroy]

Hey Jeff and Keith, thanks for replying!

I like the idea of avoiding the need for the special tool since that will keep me from waiting a week for it to arrive!

The angle iron approach sounds feasible; I could go to a hardware store and try to buy a piece of that. What is the risk that it will chew up one of the flywheel teeth?

Last night I noticed that the torque spec for the damper pully is higher than the torque spec for the flywheel bolts. What would happen if I had a helper keep the damper pully from turning while I torqued the bolts? Would that be an OK way to keep the crankshaft stationary?

Thanks again for the great replies!
Robroy

[robroy]

Hey Keith thanks! The pan is all installed so I think I'll try one of these other ways. I have this flywheel turning tool now and somebody else is here to help me hold it while I tighten the bolts, so I should be OK.

Thank you!
Robroy

[averagef250]

I never had one until I starting doing transmissions for a living. Any method works fine.

In a pinch I've even wedged some wood between the crank pulley and waterpump.

[Alvin in AZ]

{cool, found a picture!}
http://www.vwheritage.com/diagrams/AC000111.jpg
I've got a left-over ductile-iron flywheel holder-tool from my air-cooled
VW engine days, that works like Keith's hunk of angle iron, works on my
FE too. :) And it's handy for certain things but I prefer to use the next
tool if I really want to put some torque to it...

There was a tool for sale called "The Helping Hand" they sold for VWs.
I made my own by drilling holes in a hunk of bed frame. LOL :)
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/yoketool.jpg
I made two a large+long one to fit the drum and little one to fit the
flywheel.

That's the small one there with a new addition made from more bed
frame. :) See all the holes? :) ...and that's just some of it, if holes on
it already didn't line up with something, I'd drill one more hole. ;)
It's got holes to line up with Ford FE 11" flywheels too now. ;)

{crummy picture but here's a store bought version of a piece of bed
frame with holes drilled in it...}
http://www.vwheritage.com/diagrams/AC000145x.jpg

------------------------

When I decided to change the front "engine" seal I could have made-do
without this tool but had the piece of side-ways bent file so all I had to
do was carefully place the drilled holes so they would line up with the
holes inside my harmonic balancer and slip 3/8" bolts through the whole
works...
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/har ... lancer.jpg
That tool's prob'ly more trouble to make than it's worth to most guys?

The bed frame tool wouldn't fit right or I'da drilled more holes in it. :)

Alvin in AZ
ps- Here's the page I got the pictures from...
http://www.vwheritage.com/vwh/Tools-A-F ... lateID=vwh
Engine stand for a VW engine? LOL :)
Mine looked just like a piece of plywood and a 55 gallon drum. ;)

[robroy]

Hey Alvin! Thanks for your reply! Now that you mention it, one of the guys at an auto parts store mentioned the VW engine bracket.

Here's a photo of what I wound up using; it worked surprisingly well, and is also handy for turning the crank by grabbing the flywheel:



Thanks!
Robroy

[Alvin in AZ]

I almost bought one of those, a guy could turn the engine through the dust cover hole with one of those. :)
Why a guy would need to, I don't have any idea, just a guy could and that's good enough. LOL :)

What size engine is that again?
Cool looking pilot bearing you got there. ;)

Alvin in AZ