Can't remove rear camshaft pulley on V6

[deus85]

Hello all,

I'm stuck. Trying to replace the timing belt and water pump. I've got everything removed, including the front cam pulley, but I can't get the back one out.

To remove the front pulley I used the tension in the timing belt to hold onto the pulley while I turn the bolt. It was tough (I used a 2 ft breaker), and I heard a snap when the bolt finally loosen. I scratched my elbow in the process, too.

The rear one doesn't have as much room to work with so the method wasn't ideal.

I searched on ToyotaNation.com, and nothing seems too great.

Please advise!

[bronzemaxell]

i used a two feet chain wrench and old timing belt to wrap around the cam shaft pulley, and use a 4ft copper extension pipe, another 1/2" socket wrench and 4 ft copper pipe extension pipe on the socket handle, work like charm, but two people job though, one to hold the pipe on camshaft pulley, one to hold the pipe on cam bolt

if can't loose, extend the pipe longer.

[deus85]

Thanks, reinstalled the old timing belt and used it's tension to remove it.

I couldn't fit my two ft breaker bar in there, but I decided to use your idea of using a pipe. Went out to Home Depot and bought two 3 ft long pipe. One pipe was used to hold the wrench against the floor to keep the crankshaft from moving, the other pipe was used to turn the bolt. Once you know the right technique its so much easier!

Now I broke one of my water pump bolt tightening it. I misread the book, it said to use in-lbs and I thought it was ft-lbs. Insane. Had to special order and wait a until Saturday for the $1.43 bolt to come in.

[ozone]

I'm just about to do my wife's timing belt. Allow me to rephrase that. I am just about to replace the timing belt in my wife's car. Didn't want you to think I was referring to something other than car maintenance, you dirty minded web surfers.

Anyway, I reviewed the procedure and I don't see any reason to actually remove the cam pulleys. Can I presume you were doing this to get to the water pump? I haven't looked into that.

The procedure in my book calls out removing them, but it looks like it is only for inspection and calls out reinstalling them almost right away. Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

[Eye8Pussies]

^ yup..no need unless you're doing the waterpump...

BUT because it's also a good idea to do your cam shaft seals at the same time instead of doing it all over again when they start to leak.......

it's up to you

[deus85]

Yeah, the only reason I removed those was to get to the water pump.

I actually couldn't tighten the crankshaft pulley to 159ftlbs...I did my best with a crowbar holding it against another bolt...but that's definitely not 159.

Do you think the bolt will tighten itself with the clockwise motion of the pulley?

[ozone]

Thanks for the info.

Regarding the 159 ft-lbs, I think you'll be fine. I had the same problem myself once. My torque wrench only goes to 140, so I just had to take an educated guess how much more to go. In your case, I doubt the nut will tighten, but more importantly, I doubt it will come off. You'll be fine if you got even remotely close, I think.

[deus85]

Thanks, I've been driving the car for the past 5 days now (and I do a lot of driving), and everything seems normal.

What method did you use to keep the crankshaft pulley still to tighten the bolt?