I'm doing the head gasket on my '95 GS, what is the best way to turn the crank with the cylinder head off? Should it be able to turn by hand by using the gear on the crank?
I could turn mine maybe 3 teeth by hand, and then it was VERY hard to do. I put the bolt back in with the impact, and once all the way in, I could turn the crank by using the impact - but that didn't seem right to me.

Any help/ thoughts?

(btw - I posted this here as most of the performance guys would probably know )

Thanks!

1996 Dodge Stratus - 2.4L 5-spd.
1995 Mitsu Eclipse - mildly modded

you can just use a 3/4" socket and a breaker bar, and turn it clockwise, its pretty easy

1992 Plymouth Laser
-Bone stock for now.

Yeah, I just use several large enough washers on the crank bolt(taking up the room from the accessory belt pulley) and put the crank bolt back in. Then just use a socket wrench and turn it. It should turn pretty easily with the head off, and using a socket wrench on the crank.

13.5 @108 MPH-2.2 60ft(stupid FWD!)
S16G @ 18 PSI/FMIC/Running on MegaSquirt II (Now with sequential
fuel injection)
My webpage: http://eclipsed4evr.home.comcast.net
-1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS-T- "Toy"
-1992 Plymouth Laser Turbo AWD(SOLD)
-2000 Honda CR-V(daily)