Crankshaft pulley nut: left or right hand threaded?

[hoppy]

I am replacing the cylinder head on my 97 i-4 2.3, it threw the timing belt and my cheapest option was to just drop a new head into it. I need to get the crankshaft pulley off, and on top of not having a powerful enough air compressor to zip the thing off, I also don't know if it's left hand threaded, or right hand threaded..I don't want to be tightening it when I think I'm loosening it.

 

[Earl43P]

Normal rotation thread, lefty-loosey.

Put a breaker bar on the bolt head, wedge it in place and bump the starter (Seriously).
I've never had that method fail.


2.3 has a non-interference head. Broken belt doesn't do any head/valve damage.

 

[hoppy]

thanks, but not all engines run the same direction, so with that said, if I use your method I'd just snap the nut right off if my engine runs the opposite direction, I don't want that. <---not likely, but WHAT IF Also, it IS an interference engine, the manual says that if you turn the crank and it stops, then it's hitting the valves. You're probably thinking of a dohc engine, this is sohc.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

right hand thread. if you have a manual transmission you can put it in 4th gear and set the parking brake to hold the crank from turning

2.3l gas engines are non interference engines. i know this by my own experience AND i just looked in the gates timing belt guide to verify.

you can find the same guide online

 

[hoppy]

Seems to me like it is an interference engine, because that's what it looks like, and my Haynes manual says 'if the belt breaks during engine operation, extensive damage may occur!' It goes on to say about cylinder head installation 'confirm that the crankshaft is at top dead center...before installing the cylinder head, turn the crankshaft until the pin is in the 5o'clock position - this must be done to avoid damage to the valves when the head is installed.' So, it is an interference engine, and that is why my valves were bent when i took the head off. If it was a non-interference/freewheeling engine, then I doubt that the manual would say anything about making sure that the crankshaft is positioned correctly to avoid valve damage.

Thanks for answering my questions, you guys are great!

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

this is a gas engine? and a stock head? i've never seen a 2.3l that was an interference engine. haynes usually does that on any car manual for liability reasons

why would the gates manual list all 2.0l, 2.3l, and 2.5l engines as non interference? says the 2.3l diesel is an interference engine.

pics of the head/valves!

 

[Snoranger]

Seems to me like it is an interference engine, because that's what it looks like, and my Haynes manual says 'if the belt breaks during engine operation, extensive damage may occur!' It goes on to say about cylinder head installation 'confirm that the crankshaft is at top dead center...before installing the cylinder head, turn the crankshaft until the pin is in the 5o'clock position - this must be done to avoid damage to the valves when the head is installed.' So, it is an interference engine, and that is why my valves were bent when i took the head off. If it was a non-interference/freewheeling engine, then I doubt that the manual would say anything about making sure that the crankshaft is positioned correctly to avoid valve damage.

Thanks for answering my questions, you guys are great!

Stop listening, word for word, to what the Haynes manual says. You will find that "Those Books" (Haynes, Chilton, etc) are wrong alot!! The 2.3l LIMA, as already stated, is NOT an interference engine. In fact none of the Lima engines were (2.0l, 2.3l, 2.5l). So your cheapest option would have been to just toss a new belt on there.

The newer 2.3 duratec engine is an interference engine.

 

[disciplerocks]

Put a breaker bar on the bolt head, wedge it in place and bump the starter (Seriously).
I've never had that method fail.

x2. Unplug the coil pack first.