First a shout out to Eric the Car Guy and his video. Dont know him but with
out that video I could have never ever got this far.
I started about 11Am this morning its now about 7pm. Got the wheels off
and the car 3/4 apart then MURPHY came to call.

I am trying to replace the water pump, timing belt and seals on my 1993 Honda Accord LX and have hit two unexpected snags.

I cant get the Crank Shaft gear off (pictured below)
I tried tapping with hammer to get the key way loose
but nothing. Then I tried to pull the key way
with a pliers nada.
Ideas on getting this gear off so I can change the seal?
Shot it with PB buster and called it a night.




I have the same problem with the balancer gear. That bolt is ON there.



Ideas help etc.. Thanks.. Hope to finish this all tomorrow...

 

You might try needle-nose vise grips to grab the key and gently tap on the grips w/ hammer. Heat w/ propane torch may help. I seem to remember trying to remove this sprocket and giving up. Unless crankshaft seal is leaking, this may be an option

To hold the balance shaft, use old balance shaft belt, and vise grips on belt to create a strap wrench restraint (may not be enough). A chain strap wrench may be a better option, but could create some rough spots on the sprocket. A littlle work w/ small file and grit strip should remove minor damage.

good luck

 

To unstick the key from the keyway, I'd try wedging a (for lack of a better term) "watch-maker's" screwdriver between the key and keyway, right at the front of the crank, at the bottom of the "U" channel, where the bottom of the key meets the bottom of the slot in the crank. (A large, very-fine-point steel sewing needle may do the job, too, but I'd try that small screwdriver first.)

 

if your doing a timing and water pump job. There is no need to remove the crank gear nor the balancing shaft gears..why do you need the gears off?

Grab some pam cooking spray (or any oil cooking spray) and spray little bit on the crank shaft. Take a pry bar and start prying the gear off. Just don't pry in one spot. Pry all around the gear.

 

Sorry forgot to mention that I am replacing all the seals. They leak.
Car has 200K on it but runs real well.
I need to replace the oil pan gasket as well but that will have to wait for a while until
I get a heater for the garage as winter is just starting to break here.

I will try to take a screw driver bit and smack it into the u channel under the key.

Thanks.. I will let everyone know how it goes.

 

It may help to heat the timing belt drive sprocket, grab w/ large slip-joint pliers and wiggle/pull outwards.

good luck

 

It has to be a very small, thin screwdriver like the ones in the "jeweler's" set below:

 

Thank you thank you one and all. Tony you were right. I got a small jewelers screwdriver and tapped lightly with a hammer under the key. It took a few goes of driving the screw driver under the key taking it out until it finally broke loose enough to pull out. SO THANK YOU. And thanks to ericthecarguy.com for a great video which is how I was able to do this in the first place.

Here are the belts replaced ready for another 100K. New timing belts, water pump, cam seal, crank seal and balance seal.

 

Good for you. Nice job!

 

Great work! thanks for reporting your results.

Was this a 90K, 180, or 270K belt change?

regards