Like they said just hold on to it (it's not bad unless you limp wrist it....) and let it "pound away" just hold down the trigger until you see it spin freely and you're good... defenitly let us know how it goes....

 

We finally got the crankshaft bolt off- the impact socket I bought from HF mushroomed, we got a good one from Sears. After about 45 minutes of working it with the impact wrench, we put a 40" bar on a 1/2 breaker and it popped loose. Now it's on to the oil leak. I think I see a damaged oil seal just above and forward of the crankshaft. There is what looks like a retainer loose on the shaft.

[IMG]local://upfiles/6579/66A947B13F68426C9A705B144C65F975.jpg[/IMG]

 

sounds like the balancer shaft seal is leaking,, you need to replace that and reinstall the retainer

 

It looks to me that what's loose on the shaft (white arrow) is the seal.


Here's what the retainer looks like and how to install it:

 

thanks, it looks like when the timing belt was changed in 2002 they didn't install the retainer. I'm in here for an oil leak, it seems prudent to do the full timing belt kit. I'm getting ready to purchase a kit advertised as "OEM parts" on ebay. Someone please tell me why I shouldn't. All opinions welcome and considered.

 

thanks to all the great help and how-tos on this forum, my timing belt/balancer belt/water pump/oil seals project was a success!! The engine purs like a vicious kitten. Special thanks to dude and desert for responding when I got stuck.

 

glad it all worked out, thanks for letting us know the outcome!