White_Disco

White_Disco

Active Member
Hi everyone. Whilst trying to track down noises from the engine (300tdi), I decided to check the valve clearances. I started the engine afterwards, but had forgotten to take the torque wrench I was using to turn the engine off the crankshaft pulley. It dropped to the floor almost immediately, leaving the socket on the pulley. I'm paranoid that it's done some damage especially as I noticed a rumbling sound from the engine on tickover today after about 800 motorway miles since the stupid mistake. Could it have loosened the pulley? Has anyone made the same mistake?
 
Check the crank shaft pulley bolt as what you describe is is a sure fire way of loosening it.
 
What he said ^ thats a common way to undo a stubborn crank bolt (not a recommended way but a common way) probable didn't do your torque wrench a lot of good either :oops:
 
oldskool said:
What he said ^ thats a common way to undo a stubborn crank bolt (not a recommended way but a common way)
Click to expand...

The LR wheel brace does this job nicely as the end sits on the chassis leg, but if you do try this please do it with the bonnet down just in case.
 
White_Disco said:
Hi everyone. Whilst trying to track down noises from the engine (300tdi), I decided to check the valve clearances. I started the engine afterwards, but had forgotten to take the torque wrench I was using to turn the engine off the crankshaft pulley. It dropped to the floor almost immediately, leaving the socket on the pulley. I'm paranoid that it's done some damage especially as I noticed a rumbling sound from the engine on tickover today after about 800 motorway miles since the stupid mistake. Could it have loosened the pulley? Has anyone made the same mistake?
Click to expand...
Yes it could have loosened it,get it torqued back up,NOW.:eek:
 
What everyone else said. I'd be concerned in this order:
1) Crankshaft pulley could well be loose
2) Torque wrench may never be the same again :)
3) In my limited experience, the engine will be fine - as long as you tighten that pulley before it comes off!
 
Thanks Guys. I've just checked the pulley bolt, which seems tight enough. The torque wrench wasn't wedged against anything at the time. I tried to undo the bolt with an ordinary ratchet whilst in gear, low range diff lock etc. It wouldn't budge, so presumed all ok.
 
White_Disco said:
I tried to undo the bolt with an ordinary ratchet whilst in gear, low range diff lock etc. It wouldn't budge, so presumed all ok.
Click to expand...

Every Haynes manual I've come across gets this backwards too ;) If you're wrenching against the handbrake, you want it in a high gear as then the torque on the crankshaft results in less torque acting against the handbrake. Put it in low range 1st and you can wind the car forwards with a big wrench :D

Low gear is for things like hub nuts, where the torque through the drivetrain is the other way round.
 
FlyingPete said:
Every Haynes manual I've come across gets this backwards too ;) If you're wrenching against the handbrake, you want it in a high gear as then the torque on the crankshaft results in less torque acting against the handbrake. Put it in low range 1st and you can wind the car forwards with a big wrench :D

Low gear is for things like hub nuts, where the torque through the drivetrain is the other way round.
Click to expand...
not 5th as higher gears are the weakest
 
Thanks FlyingPete, that's logical. I should know better than to blindly follow the Haynes manual after all these years!
 
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