crank sensor bracket broke off... 2.3L in 98?

[rangerdanger167]

crank sensor bracket broke off... front cover removal?

i got a 98 2wd xlt ranger

it has a 2.5L 4cyl.

the crank sensor broke off leaving a section of it stuck in the bracket. i tried a few different ways to get it out. and then decided on taking the balance pulley of so i could tap the piece through. i didnt hit it hard (i thought) but when i tried to tap it through the whole bracket broke right off the block! it broke so deep in the block, i could see the top of the front main seal.

i dont really want to get into what i should have done, cuz its broke now.

 

[scotts90ranger]

you don't have to change the whole engine just for that, it's not the engine block... all you broke was part of the front cover, if you get to the point where you would be changing the timing belt, get the pulley off that drives the timing belt off, and take out a few bolts from the front and the front two oil pan bolts you can get the front cover off that holds the front seal. The front cover "should" be the same from '96 through the end of the 2.5 in early '01. Even for a first time, you should be able to fix this issue in an afternoon, maybe a day depending on how much beer is involved...

 

[rangerdanger167]

wow.... its really thats just a cover?. you just made my day. im going to have to take a closer look. thanks!

 

[rangerdanger167]

is there any diagrams to show how to remove the front engine cover?

 

[scotts90ranger]

HERE are a couple diagrams showing the timing belt, once you get things apart far enough to get the crank pulley for the timing belt off you will see the front cover, there's only a handful of bolts holding the cover on, the sensor isn't shown on that picture, but there is one HERE that you can see the front cover on, THIS EBAY AUCTION shows the front cover and sensor.

 

[rangerdanger167]

do i have to remove the timing gear on the crank? from what i can see on my truck, it looks like i have to. how would i remove it? its hard to get a puller in there.

 

[scotts90ranger]

they're supposed to just slip off, and yes it needs to come off to change the cover.

If the current cover is screwed anyway, just destroy it, will make the gear easier to remove.

 

[rangerdanger167]

ya i was going to break some pieces off to get to it easier. but the other engine i have to get the other cover off of, i dont want to destroy that one. so i was told there is a special puller. so i guess i got to find that tool somewhere.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The problem with that is the washer behind the gear, there's no room to grab the gear. I've had luck before with just spraying some penetrating oil on the crankshaft and grabbing the gear with a pair of channel lock pliers and rocking and pulling. If you are having issues and happen to have a welder on hand, tack weld something to the gear and pull on that then grind the weld off, use the gear as the ground not the crankshaft... I got one off of a junkyard engine in the junk yard, including getting the crank pulley off it only took me like 20 minutes, I still need to replace the crank key on mine since it broke off a couple years ago, there's enough to orient the crank pulley but barely...

 

[Dan]

I have the same problem with mine... Can't find a cover.. Or diagrams on how to

 

[greenhobbyman]

you don't have to change the whole engine just for that, it's not the engine block... all you broke was part of the front cover, if you get to the point where you would be changing the timing belt, get the pulley off that drives the timing belt off, and take out a few bolts from the front and the front two oil pan bolts you can get the front cover off that holds the front seal. The front cover "should" be the same from '96 through the end of the 2.5 in early '01. Even for a first time, you should be able to fix this issue in an afternoon, maybe a day depending on how much beer is involved...

Is it possible to JB WELD this piece back on?
I did the exact same thing on my 98 Ford Ranger 2.5l

 

[greenhobbyman]

Is it possible to JB WELD this piece back on?
I did the exact same thing on my 98 Ford Ranger 2.5l

 

[greenhobbyman]

Is it possible to JB WELD this piece back on?
I did the exact same thing on my 98 Ford Ranger 2.5l

Ive thot about JB Weld. Did you JB weld yours?