Crank bolt. Turn it over or buy a compressor?

[km666]

Struggling with the crank bolt. Long story short had major oil leak, suspected crank seal, having started stripping it down noticed a seal sat on the balancer shaft 'axle'. All academic so far as I cant get the muffin crank bolt off and as amusing as snapping a breaker bar was the first 2 times I need something more. Mechanic buddy of mine suggested cranking it with a socket on the bolt and a breaker wedged onto the underside, not sure about this method. The other thing I can do is pick up a 2nd hand compressor, as far as I can tell the specs i'll need are at least 10 bar actual pressure, belt drive, around 9cfm, 3/4 inch impact gun and as big lines as possible.

I'd prefer to do it all myself, as i;d imagine the cost of having it recovered to somewhere and having them do all the work would equal close to what I paid for the car.

[Vtecmec]

Mechanic buddy of mine suggested cranking it with a socket on the bolt and a breaker wedged onto the underside

That won't work as the engine turns the wrong way for it.

I've come across that bolt on at least 3 engines where no compressor of impact gun available would shift it.

If you really want to try an impact gun, easier to tow the car to a local garage and have them have a go.

The best way I found is a monster breaker bar (say 1 inch) and a scaffold pole for leverage if needed.

[km666]

Mechanic buddy of mine suggested cranking it with a socket on the bolt and a breaker wedged onto the underside

That won't work as the engine turns the wrong way for it.

I've come across that bolt on at least 3 engines where no compressor of impact gun available would shift it.

If you really want to try an impact gun, easier to tow the car to a local garage and have them have a go.

The best way I found is a monster breaker bar (say 1 inch) and a scaffold pole for leverage if needed.

I thought it would be going the wrong way as it turns anticlockwise from the pulley so would just tighten it more. Good to have my suspicions confirmed.

I kinda fancy having a compressor around anyway, the problem with the bar method is I can't get it high enough to get decent leverage without having extentions. Which is how i've broken tools.

I wonder if a mobile tyre fitter would carry a decent enough gun to give it a go on the drive?

[Vtecmec]

A compressor is a nice tool to have around though consider that it might still not do the job..........

[Vtecmec]

The tyre fitter idea might be worth ringing round, maybe a truck tyre fitter too.

[RattyMcClelland]

A gun won't do it. Long long bar, and someone pushing against the flywheel.

[Merlin]

The best way I found is a monster breaker bar (say 1 inch) and a scaffold pole for leverage if needed.

This is the only way we have ever succeeded.