How do you tighten the harmonic balancer bolt

[ZLAX]

How do you tighten the harmonic balancer bolt to the recomended 90-100 ftlbs on an automatic 1997 subaru legacy outback? The engine just spins when i try to tighten it, any suggestions?

[obsolete]

There's an inspection hole with a rubber plug in it that will let you get access to the flywheel so that you can jam a wrench or a screwdriver into it. It's near the throttle body on the passengers side.

[RobLog]

+1

... and according to the 1997 FSM, the correct torque is 130 +/- 7ft-lbs ... the Hayne's manual is wrong.

[ron917]

Originally Posted by RobLog

+1

... and according to the 1997 FSM, the correct torque is 130 +/- 7ft-lbs ... the Hayne's manual is wrong.

Quoting this because it is extremely imporatant. If you don't torque to the specs above, the pulley will come loose and start to wobble. It will chew up the key slot up the nose of your crankshaft and everything will go out of time. Fixing that is not easy or cheap!

The inspection hole is pretty well hidden under wires and stuff, just push them out of the way a bit to find it.

[miker104]

Originally Posted by obsolete

There's an inspection hole with a rubber plug in it that will let you get access to the flywheel so that you can jam a wrench or a screwdriver into it. It's near the throttle body on the passengers side.

Here is another one:



Thanks to beergarage

[TahoeOutback]

How did you remove the bolt?? there is a pulley holding tool that you can use as well.

[obsolete]

Breaker bar with socket, cheater pipe slipped onto breaker bar. Brace the bar/pipe against the ground, disconnect plug wires, LIGHTLY tap the starter. Ta-da!