OK guys, I'm fairly new here....Fairly new to an Eclipse as well... '95 Eclipse RS w\420A auto......

I'll just sum this question up(best I know how)....


I have reason to beleive the previous owner had a backwoods mechanic swap the timing belt before I got this car...Timing belt came off after I got this car and tore everything up..I just now reinstalled a new head loaded with new valves....Everything around timing belt area was tore up, so I am replacing timing covers, pulleys, etc...

Since there is NO timing mark present on my crankshaft sprocket, I am assuming it's backwards....The rim on this sprocket is facing the front seal....There is no rim facing outwards....Which is why belt flew off I assume....****still grumbling $14 part killed $800 in stuff****

BUT, my main question is: Should there be a RIM on both sides of the crank\timing sprocket or just one rim that SHOULD face outwards...?

Thanks Andy

Yeah the lip on the crank sprocket needs to be facing outwards, towards you. You will see the small timing arrow mark on the lip of the sprocket. This is the mark you line up with the arrow on the oil pump housing, right above the sprocket for Top Dead Center.

Kewl, OK...There's only a lip on one side, right??? Not both sides....

May sound crazy, but the sprocket was put on this way before I got the car....I just wanted to know if the part is the way it should be and I'll yank it tonight and put it on right???

Or if the prev owners mechanic ripped a rim off....If that was the case, I'd order one and do it all at once....

I just don't knwo what the orig part looks like....

yes, that sprocket needs to be switched so the rim is outward towards the crank pulley. I ended up installing mine backwards when i did my rebuild and this is what it took for me to take it out:



I hope you don't have the same trouble i did. goodluck.

edit: there is only ONE rim on the sprocket.

here is the rim side of it:

Holy Crap 96RS!!! I have askted that question at another forum for like 2days without direct answer!! You are the FIRST person to directly answer my question!! Skeery as hail though!!! Yikes!!! I hope my sprocket pull goes smoother....

Originally posted by Redricebox
I hope my sprocket pull goes smoother....

It shouldn't be a problem. If you know what size the bolts are that thread into the sprocket for the puller (when it's being removed correctly), you can drill through those holes from the back side a bit, tap them the same, and you can use the same puller to remove it just as easily as you do when it's installed properly.

I had a guy on this forum ask me once, after he had spent some time pounding that thing on, if he was on far enough. When I went to check it out, I noticed he had installed it backwards.

Drill and tap the holes from the back (they're the same holes), then just use the right puller and you'll have that thing off without so much as breaking a sweat or cursing.

96rs-t just got a bit medieval on that sprocket. There really was no need.

Kewl, that's what I was going to try...Thanks for confirming that method Dr...Because I wasn't looking forward to tearing that thing up, or my knuckles up for that matter...LOL....

I see bolt info mentioned several places, including by you...

M6X120MM bolt grade 10, avail @ Pep Boys.....Threaded rod as an option...

Alll sounds tooo easy....Why am I skeered??? LOL...

Thanks Guys!

Originally posted by Redricebox
Why am I skeered???

Originally posted by Redricebox
Alll sounds tooo easy....

Duh!

You'll be fine. The right tool makes all the difference in the world.

hehe, i tried to tap in threads but instead i got broken drill bits as you can see one stuck inside the hole. I had no choice but to get medieval on it :)

That's basically what happened to me, I was so excited to finally take that crap off the old crank, that i got careless and didn't even look at the way I was installing it til it was too late.

I couldn't find those 6mmx120mm bolts anywere. I ended up using 6mmx100mm from ACE hardware. Worked perfect, for getting the sprocket off the OLD crank.

It's easy to just drill (cobalt bit) the holes out, tap the threads a little, then use the normal crank sprocket removal tool to get it off when it's installed backwards.

Ok we'll do tomorrow.... 5.5mm Cobalt bit and 6mm tap both covered with lithium grease...... Between 6 different KX's in my life, I'm used to drillin and tappin aluminum......

About 15 minutes and I had it spun around....Here's what I did..

- Generic Harmonic balancer puller
- (3) 1\4 x 4 1\2" Carriage bolts (from Lowes)
- (3) Heavy guage washers that fit the bolts
- 6mm Tap
- 6mm Die
- 7\32" Titanium Drill bits (didn't have cobalt)
- My Dewalt 7AMP drill
- Hi temp grease
- CH Pneumatic Impact Wrench

First I prepared the 1\4" bolts by cutting them to M6 using 6mm die

Then I heavily greased the 7\32" Drill Bit and drilled out the puller holes in Sprocket, while dipping the bit in grease frequently

Then I tapped the holes to 6mm

Test fit the bolts I just converted (fit perfect)

Then I assembled and mounted the harmonic balancer puller using the bolts I just converted to 6mm and the heavy guage washers

Then I hit the puller with the impact wrench while holding puller firm and steady

In about 2 minutes the sprocket slid right off.

I thoroughly cleaned the sprocket and crankshaft end using carefully applied Brake cleaner(love that stuff)..

Then I smeared Antiseize all around the crankshaft end

Slid the sprocket into place and then seated it using 30mm socket with a few light hammer taps


This sums it up....Clean removal and install...Now I have to put everything else back together..

Thanks for everyones input....

Andy