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Tech Information => General Help => Topic started by: Deacondog31 on January 10, 2014, 11:08:36 PM

Title: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: Deacondog31 on January 10, 2014, 11:08:36 PM

Wanted to change crank seals
Clutch will not budge
Used the Teflon tape oil method and nothing.
Any ideas?

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: Deacondog31 on January 10, 2014, 11:09:36 PM

Forgot to mention its a1980 440 drifter

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: mswyka on January 11, 2014, 08:55:38 AM

For the stubborn ones we give it a good soak with PB Blaster and then tighten the puller as tight as it can go with the impact wrench on high and then give the puller a good hard smack with a lump hammer right down the center axis of the puller and the crankshaft.  Have not had one yet that did not respond to that persuasion.

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: Deacondog31 on January 11, 2014, 10:28:57 AM

So went to take another crack at it today and took the long bolt out of the end of the crankshaft. It has broke off and half the threaded side of the bolt is still in the crank.
This job is getting worse.
Any thoughts?

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: gixxer6 on January 11, 2014, 06:10:55 PM

I've never tried it, but I've heard of guys drilling a hole thru a bolt and installing a grease zerk, threading the bolt into the clutch, then pumping grease into the cavity until the pressure pops it off. 

Another thing I heard, was to tip the sled on its side, pour the cavity full of water, then install a bolt (no hole in this one) and let it freeze.  The pressure from the expanding water/ice will pop it off. 

Good luck!

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: JDmatt on January 11, 2014, 06:56:33 PM

Pump grease into the hole before you put the puller in.  Fill it up.  It stays in there much easier then water or oil. 

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: mswyka on January 11, 2014, 08:17:06 PM

With the broken bolt can you still engage the puller in the clutch?

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: Deacondog31 on January 12, 2014, 10:31:15 PM

No I cannot. can I use a three arm puller on the clutch to get it off?

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: mswyka on January 13, 2014, 05:27:12 AM

Quote from: Deacondog31 on January 12, 2014, 10:31:15 PM

No I cannot. can I use a three arm puller on the clutch to get it off?

If you cannot engage the puller, I am afraid I don't have any good ideas for how to salvage the project.  Any puller used on the aluminum housing of the clutch will damage the clutch.  Perhaps check with a local machine shop to see if they think they can extract the broken bolt.

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: JDmatt on January 13, 2014, 06:44:50 AM

How far out is the bolt sticking?  Maybe you can cut the puller shorter? 

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: kawhead on January 13, 2014, 08:40:49 AM

try a short bolt thats the same as the puller, so you can thread it in, use the water or grease trick,is what i'd try.

Title: Re: Changing crank seals and clutch will not budge
Post by: Lloyd (ljm) on January 14, 2014, 05:38:41 PM

I would put the engine on it's side, Fill the cavity in the clutch with water or oil ( I prefer oil but it is harder to clean up). Get a bolt the right size and thread to match the inside of the clutch. Use Teflon tape or a good thread sealant on the bolt, turn the bolt in until clutch pops off from the force of the oil.

 After the clutch is off you should be able to remove the broken bolt.

 Lloyd