crankshaft worm gear removal - 650ss

Yes Mark they can be very tight.  It's left-hand thread, so ccw to tighten and cw to remove.  Get the oil pump out of the way and a good strong 1/2 inch drive hex socket on a strong long T-bar or breaker bar should suffice. Obviously you'll need to stop the engine crankshaft rotating so get it in a low gear and have some one stood on the rear brake pedal and give the bar a good shock with heavy soft metal mallet and Bob's your Uncle.  Be careful if you use a twelve point socket they can soon slip off the worm hexagon.  Good luck, Howard

hello, the worm gear should undo  by rotating the gear with a box spanners they are clockwise to undo  and then you need a gear pulling to remove the crankshaft main gear if do not have one our club as a special tools department,  so contact  Mr shoosmith,  part department  Yours  Anna J 

I'm confused (nothing new there!)

Howard says "clockwise to remove" and Anna says "anti-clockwise to undo"

Which is correct?

Mike

 Lock up the crankshaft using either method below........

1) If the barrels are already off..... use a thick steel rod through the small ends plus a wooden block over the crankcase mouth. Some strips of copper sheet inserted under the rod will help to prevent bruising of the conrod eyes. Old 15mm/0.5" water pipe is good for this.

or........2) If the barrel and head are still in situ then take out the Timing side spark plug and turn the crankshaft through to around 90* before the compression stroke. Then fill up the bore with coils of 8 to 10mm thick rope. Turn the crankshaft clockwise until it locks up because of the rope between the piston and head.

3)  Heat the worm gear all round,  preferably using a gas torch with a fine flame. Do not spend too much time on this other wise the heat will transfer through to the crankshaft and both will expand which will not help. Use a socket on the worm, turned by the longest or extended handle you can find. A car torque wrench works for me because it turns in the correct direction. Remember this is a left-hand thread so turn the handle over the top of the nut to the right to undo. This will be following the clock hands. eg clockwise when viewed from the Timing Side.

An electric or pneumatic nut wrench? E.g. like the tyre shops use to undo wheel nuts?

You will need a big one, not one of the 1/4" drive ones available cheaply on Ebay.

They make it easier as the 'shocks' are so rapid you don't have to hold the engine so firmly, and you can concentrate on keeping the socket straight.

Worst case? Take the engine with the appropriate socket to a tyre shop?

Good luck, George.