special tool required for crankshaft pulley removal ????????

[gti newbie]

Hi, first post on the forum, although we have been rather regular visitors of late as have brought our first Golf, a mk11 8v ('85)

We are in need of help as we want to remove the timing belt as it is one tooth out and affecting the engine timing. The trouble is we can't seem to shift the retaing bolts on the pulleys.

Is there any tool or a certain way in which you have to hold the crankshaft pulley / water pump pulley in order to remove the relevent pulleys. We have tried to remove these but the pulleys just turn (obviously) as the retaining bolt is rather stiff.

Any help would be most gratefull,

Ta!

[...joe]

i've never had a problem un-doing the bolts but i'd soak the hell out of them with wd40 for as long as possible, then if you can clamp the pulley with something thats not going to damage it try to hold it in place while you undo the allen heads. i doubt it'll be easy but i guess its the only way.

[gti newbie]

Thats the thing trying to find something suitable to hold the pulleys and with out wanting to damage them. We shall give them a good soak for sure  Although these buggers seem to be welded on 

[...joe]

if all else fails get a bit of heat on there, amazing what warming things up can do!

[AudiA8Quattro]

For the crankshaft pulley, use a socket or 19mm spanner on the centre nut to hold it still.
For the water pump pulley use a set of stilsons on 2 of the allen key bolts while undoing the others, then switch the stilson onto the other 2.
For the power steering pump pulley, an allen key fits into the centre to hold it still.
Amazing what you remember when you have done the job yourself 

[richandhazel]

Oh Corin, you can't resist it can you..............just remember, you're not the only one  
Try doing different marques..........they can really be a PITA

[AudiA8Quattro]

 

[gti newbie]

Cheers for the help, the suggestions for holding the pulleys worked a treat