Has anyone here ever used "the rope trick" to remove a crank pulley nut?

In essence you remove the spark plug and feed in some rope so the piston cannot go through the full stroke and allows you to use a breaker bar to get it off if you do not have air tools.

I need to pull the pulley off my project cars motor to paint the timing cover and put a new front main seal in as well as freshen up the pulley.

interesting idea. I've used a strap wrench on my Toyota... it has a small crank pulley.

Better make sure its on the compression stroke so it doesn't put pressure on an open valve.

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I've used the rope trick to stop valves from dropping into the cylinder when changing valve stem seals. Seems like it would work in your situation also.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Be SURE that you aren't pushing the rope against open valves, and you will be fine.

hmm, I need to figure out when a cylinder is in compression. Good thing I have both intake and exhaust off.

Just look at the valve train. Piston at top no valves compressed.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Remove the spark plug for that cylinder and hook something up there (your thumb or someone else's thumb, for example) that will let you tell when you're driving that piston through a compression stroke.

Tools are sold for this purpose that incorporate a whistle to let one hear when the piston is moving through its compressions stroke.

It occurred to me once that one might do something similar by connecting a tube to the spark plug hole, immersing the other end in liquid, and then watching it push out air bubbles during the compression stroke. I've never tried it, but I see that others have approached it similarly:

Find Your Engine's Top Dead Center

Build your own instrument to find Top Dead Center accurately

I have never used the rope trick. But I have used the breaker bar with the bump the starter trick. Don't use this trick with the radiator or condenser in place.

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To see my 129 parts for sale visit:
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John Roncallo

It should work, just as said above make sure its on the compression stroke.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Dude, get an impact wrench and an air compressor, (or large cylinder if you have a gas station with a free compressor)

Much easier, less risk of anything stupid happening. One good bump and it will be off...
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

If it has a starter put a socket on the nut and bump it over. I have been doing this for years and never had any problems

I've also heard of the starter trick, but never used it. What I normally do (SBC's mostly) is with the flywheel attached, I'll put a cheap screwdriver through one of the holes and rotate the crank until the screwdriver makes contact with the block. A little more and it'll be snug and you can put as much force as you need to on the crank pulley without worry about anything moving.

Another option...if the car is a manual (never tried it with an auto) is put the car in gear with the drivewheels on the ground. Never have managed to move the car, just the bolt.

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-James

'85 280GE...sold
'96 Impala SS ~ 6-speed 396
'14 Cadillac Vagon. . . . . . . . . . "Life without knowledge is death in disguise." - Hans-Peter Geerdes

It's on a stand... I did manage to move my neon forward when I tried this. Better idea was an impact...


Best (safest) idea so far is the screwdriver threw the pully till it touches the block. Didnt know it was on a stand.

~Nate

__________________
95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

1)I'm not buying a compressor and impact wrench because I have no real use for it. I've rebuilt my w123s front suspension without one and don't plan on needing one.
2) engine is on a stand


I cannot take off the valve covers since that would require new gaskets. The gaskets aren't rubber like the mercedes engine. Pretty much one time use stuff.

yet another issue

no holes in the pulley


the FSM for the engine does dictate to put two holes to attach the crank pulley holder tool thing.. lol