alright, i have a 86 4runner 22re with a manual trans. and iam replacing the harmonic balancer which has some slight warpage facilitating oil spraying on the front of my engine. so i new oil seal is in order. anyways the darn crank bolt will not come off. ive read up all the posts that i could find and have tried all the suggestions represented on this site and still no luck and the bolt head is becoming rounded. iam tempted to jus cut the bolt off, but not exactly sure how to accomplish this considering its orientation within the harmonic balancer. (not sure what tool would be able to get in there and cut it without damaging the tip of the crankshaft) ive been tinkering with this bolt for over a week now and any inquisitive advice that i can receieve from you guys is my last hope. thanks.

 

The crank bolt on my 2.4 diesel resisted my impact wrench, so I cut a tool out of 1/4" plate. Worked well, and I needed it to torque the bolt back up again anyway.



Dan

 

What are "all the suggestions represented on this site"? You tried the starter method and everything? Mine was really tough, but it never was in danger of being rounded...sounds like you aren't using the right tools.

 

I had the same problem...so I took a grinder and took off the guard and put on a cut off wheel. I then took the front pully off the balancer which is the power steering pully held on by four bolts. I then cut a piece of the flange of the washer off and that released the pressure on the bolt and it literely came off by hand. Since your replacing the entire balancer you don't have to worry about cutting into the balancer and the bolt will have to be replaced.

I think this is your only option now.

 

Wow! I thought mine was hard but it wasn't that hard. Good luck, hopefully this helps you.