Cam Belt Pulley Nut Removal and cam seal Q

[erkishhorde]

So I'm trying to take off the nut on the cam belt pulley but it's proving difficult. My Haynes manual says to use vice grips on the old belt to hold the pulley still while wrenching off the nut. Well, it ain't that easy.

My dad seems to be extremely paranoid about mashing the piston into the valve and damaging the piston while trying to do it this way. Is this really anything to worry about? Any other suggestions on how to take off the nut? My dad suggested putting the belts back on and putting the bike in gear to hold the pulleys and then taking off the nut. I know I could probably do this easily before I get a response but I'm being stubborn and don't really feel like doing it. 

Oh yeah, make your own cam pulley nut tool for anyone that needs this in the future.

[EEL]

Bad bad bad idea

Stick to the original method. Those things are torqued on there real tight. You're likely to strip something.

Tell your dad he needs to mark TDC on the cams for vertical and horizontal cylinder before taking the timing belts off.  Then lock them in place. There are screw holes on the sides of the covers to do this.

Did I mention its a bad idea?

[EEL]

I just reread your post and noticed you already took the timing belts off.

Another option is to put the opening rocker arms to the side on all valves. This will disengage all opening rockers arms and make sure they dont accidentally push the valve open while you are turning the crank.

I always place both cylinders in their respective TDC locations as noted in the previous post, set the crank to TDC on the horizontal piston and then align the vertical to proper spot. For future adjustments, carefully following this process before you start can avoid confusion later.

[erkishhorde]

So, within the last 2 years or so (I don't remember exactly when and my records aren't that great) I had Nick and Stu replace a cam seal. I'm ASSUMING that replaced the middle one because that nut is relatively shiney and new while the other 2 are pretty badly corroded. Well, I think the middle one is leaking along with the other horizontal pulley cam seal. What kind of lifespan do you guys get out of a cam seal usually? What causes a cam seal to leak? I noticed that there's a bit of sand inside the covers. I guess sand gets at the seals and eats them up?

I ended up trying my dad's method after he ran off whining like a baby after I rejected his method one more time.  The nut on the middle pulley came off like nothing but the other horizontal pulley ain't budging at all.  Hopefully I haven't damaged anything. I've been wrenching on it pretty hard and it' ain't moving. Put the bike in 4th? and stood on the rear break while trying to wrench on it. Had my make-shift adapter slip off and mangle the pulley nut a little. 

I guess I need 2 people? I don't see any way I can get this thing off alone.

Oh yah, my make-shift cam pulley nut tool blocks the 4 holes to hold the pulley in place. 

Then lock them in place. There are screw holes on the sides of the covers to do this.

[EEL]

some penetrating oil and and impact driver (electric or compressed air) might be a safer alternative.

[erkishhorde]

some penetrating oil and and impact driver (electric or compressed air) might be a safer alternative.

Yeah I was an idiot and whacked it about 10+ times w/ a hand impact.  Then I realized I probably shouldn't be and now it's getting the air. This thing is really pissing me off. 

Mother make the beast with two backser!!! Air wasn't strong enough so we went electric. Deformed the nut so that the openings are twice as big as they originally were.  Threw on even more oil and sat around cussing for 15 minutes and then it finally came off!  If I were a drinking man I'd be  right now.

[erkishhorde]

Bahahahah! The 3 pulleys don't take the same size seal.  Shoulda seen that coming and been more specific when I was ordering parts. 

[DucHead]

Well, at least you got the pulleys off.

[erkishhorde]

Well, at least you got the pulleys off.

Yeah, after getting the drive pulleys off (the middle ones) I couldn't see any leaks coming out of it.  Odd because there was oil on the case near there but no oil coming from the pulley. So I replaced the horizontal cam pulley which was leaking and put it all back together.

Hopefully I haven't damaged anything with my misadventures this weekend.