Camshaft sprocket bolt is stronger than me

As per various documentation, after removing the timing chain (successfully done), you need to remove the smaller chains that transfer rotation between the two camshafts, one on each side of the V6 engine. It is done by removing the sprocket bolt on the non-VVT drum camshaft (or at least that's what I call it) by taking an open wrench (I think 23 mm, I tried using an adjustable wrench as I didn't have one that big) to the hexagonal adaptation around the middle of the shaft to hold it from spinning and then undoing the bolt that can be seen in the foreground of the picture.

Call me a sissy, I couldn't do it even with an 2'+ galvanized steel pipe extension over my breaker bar (because it is skinny enough so that my steel pipe extension could go over it, can't over my ratchet) that had a 17 mm socket on it. The bolt was too tight. I will go to a store today to get a proper non-adjustable 23 mm wrench but I doubt that will help. What might help is if I can find a 23 mm wrench with a round shaft and no wrench on the other side so that I can put a pipe on it too. Last night, I was locking with the adjustable wrench with both hands while my GF was pulling the lever extension over the breaker bar, still couldn't do it. This one seems tighter than the crankshaft pulley bolt, which I remover with a 3' extension pipe over a 1/2" drive breaker bar.

Is there a trick to removing this bolt ? Or does it just take brute force ?

 

I think this one is on so tight that if you used an impact driver even with both hands, if the driver was strong enough you would either strip the hex grip or break the arm of whoever is holding the wrench or break the hands holding the impact driver.

 

Shouldn't take anything special to remove that bolt...

 

EXACTLY how I was trying to do it but couldn't. Maybe mine is on extra tight.

 

We use a impact gun to remove it, the shock of a impact is very beneficial in areas like this versus trying to crank on it with a long wrench or breaker bar.

 

Makes sense. You mean a pneumatic impact gun ? I don't have one but I do have an air compressor for construction and wouldn't mind getting one.

 

Yes. They can be far more effective at removing stubborn fasteners then attempting by hand.

 

What is the best kind ? Ingersoll Rand ?

 

you sure you are using two wrenches, and adjustable on the
cam shaft itself and one on the nut ?

at any rate... an air impact will make it short easy work.

 

You do need a decent compressor that can put out 150+ PSI for them to be of any use though. A lot of time smaller construction units lack the pressure and tank size.

 

Yes, of course. The adjustable went on the hex adaptation in the middle of the shaft, a 17 mm socket on the sprocket bolt on a breaker bar with a 2' galvanize steel extension lever over it for more force

 

I have a really nice Makita but it goes only up to 130 psi

 

I hate anything I need a big breaker bar for, even if i am standing 100 feet away and have a robot on
it I have this huge fear something is gonna snap and enter my skull via the eye socket.

I hate any bolt which is stupid super stuck.

 

Join the club

 

Worst bolt I ever had to deal with was the crank pulley bolt on my '03 Cobra. I snapped 2 impact drivers on that bitch. My frien dand I are both big guys and we were hanging off a breaker bar with a 3' cheater pipe and it was still going nowhere. Took us almost a full day of messing with it before it popped loose.

 

I had similar experiences untwisting elbows from 1-1/2" galvanized steel radiator pipe in my 105 year old house. We used a 4 or 5' extension pipe over a plumbing wrench.

 

Answers could be found if you click the link provided. 4.2 gal

 

The breaker bar is regular (maybe 12"), it is the pipe extension that goes over it that's 2'. That is for this application and has not yet worked.

For the crankshaft pulley bolt, I used an 18" 1/2" drive breaker bar with a 3' pipe extension when the truck was in the 6th speed and the hand brake was on. That was the only way it would come loose, I wasn't strong enough to undo it with just the breaker bar. So the lever came in handy...

 

1/2" drive impact, IR is decent, put Chicago Pneumatic is the gold standard, I like the thick goodyear hose also. get the black six point impact socket.

 

I just had to pull the 5hp off my compressor and have it repaired again...there is only one motor rebuild shop in the region and it is almost 90 minutes away.