Crank Pulley Removal/ Help!!

[Wrenchy]

On my 2001 Avalon I am doing a plug/timing belt change and adjusting the valves. Everything is out of the way and the valve covers are ready to come off. I broke the crank bolt loose, no problem. No problems so far, just a pain in the butt.

The problem is with the crank pulley, which is "supposed" to come off with "hand pressure". No way. I also tried carefully prying from behind. No way.

I DONT want to use a jaw-puller, too many posts about breaking/bending the pulley $$$$, warnings in the manual also.

Is there another type puller? Any suggestions to get this bit** off? Very little room behind the pullet to work with-. THANKS Wrenchy

[toyomoho]

Rent or purchase a cheap puller that bolts onto the pulley. If you look at the front of the pulley you should see two small threaded holes. The puller bolts on to these holes. The type of puller is extremely common and finding one should not be a problem.

A Google search will turn up photos.

The other possibility if you have a jaw type puller already is to use a little imagination to arrange it pull from bolts installed the pulley instead of gripping from behind the pulley.

The pulley should come off very easy with a puller; it is not like it is pressed on. It is very common to need to use a puller to slide the pulley off.

[Wrenchy]

TOYOMOHO- Thanks you very much! I thought a front-mount puller would be available, tomorrow I will hunt one down.

Just as a note to all, I had pulled the crank bolt on my Honda before, and it was a screaming nightmare! For the Avalon I bought a special tool that holds the crank while breaking the bolt loose- it worked very, very slick and easy.

A little pricey, but I have had the car since new and should own it for a long, long time, so I bought the crank-tool (around $65). No doubt I will use the tool again, so it will pay itself off. Wrenchy