I'm doing an Opti change and am at the last stages of removing the junk one. But can't seem to get the pully off the crank. How and the hell do you get it off. I've removed the 3 bolts and have tried to pull, pry and tap it off with a hammer. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks. Any help ASAP would be appreciated.

 

I simply can't get the pulley off the hub on mine. They are and have always been solidly locked together.

It may be easier for you to just remove the entire hub. A puller and some crankshaft bolts longer than the stock one will get you there. If yours is anything like mine this is really the only option

I'm assuming you've tried lots of Liquid Wrench or other penetrating oil and plenty of tapping with a hammer. You could try a little heat too but if it gets too hot you'll melt the rubber in the dampener, so I wouldn't apply too much. Sorry I don't have better advice

 

I removed my balancer last week. Changed the pulleys to March ones. Anyways, the belt was off and while my friend went at a bolt, i used a ratchet and breaker bar to hold the balancer still while we got the bolts out. Then pried the balancer off with a pry bar using the sway bar for stability. Couldnt find a puller at Auto Zone or Murrays that actually fit . But the pry bar worked after alternating sides on prying the balancer it suprised me and popped off. Its a PITA but it works just fine.

 

This is how I do it

It's the only way I can get mine off.

Once you get the puller on there, it comes off in seconds.

 

Thanks guys. What kind of puller is that? 3 jaw or something right?

 

Yup

 

Is there a certain way I have to install the opti? Or should it just line right up?

 

It's a lot harder to screw up the opti install with the vented optis ('95+) but some people have managed to botch it. The camshaft pin needs to fit in the one recess on the opti. You'll see when you pull the opti that there's only one spot for the pin to go in. It always takes me a few tries before she seats but it should be apparent when it does. Never force the opti on by bolting it down, it should "pop" on there when everything is lined up (albeit with just a bit of pushing)

 

Yea, that's the way I understood it. Just checkin though. Thanks A MILLION GUYS!

 

Mine did NOT come off, after a week of motivation with light hammer taps around the edge and penetrating oil soaked on it daily.

My car is a 94, so it probably never came off during its few years of life, I eventually got it off by accident after driving around the block without the 3 bolts going through it - oops! Took about 15 minutes to break it free.

I now have anti seize between the hub/pulley, and I went around it with a wheel a little.

 

LOL, yea maybe I should save some money and go that route.

 

LMAO. I hate to admit it but I did the same thing... except mine still never budged! I noticed I'd forgotten to reinstall those bolts after I'd been driving it for quite some time