I’ve been dreading removing the crankshaft pulley bolt on my car for a timing belt change and other major engine repairs.
The crankshaft pulley bolt is notorious for being a bugger to get loose, the last one I did took a two meter scaffolding bar and around an hour of fatigue to undo. It really put me off major repairs.
So this time, after reading some good reviews, invested in one of these hoping it would come undone easily. And I have been impressed.
The tool is very sturdy and seems like it will last for a long time for the average DIY mechanic. The cable is plenty long enough for an area around a car, but I did use an extension lead to get power outside. I like the fact it’s mains operated as I don’t have any more batteries to worry about. The four sockets that come with it are very sturdy and look like they will take a beating. I used a new Sealey set of impact sockets with the tool, so I can’t say about their performance though. A downside is that the tool only comes in a cardboard box, a plastic case would have really finished it off nicely.
Anyway, I took the wheel nuts off with the tool first for a bit of practise. They came off no problem at all, the tool is very powerful and providing you hold it sturdy doesn’t try to spin like a normal drill would. Love the sound it makes too.
I finally got to the crankshaft pulley bolt after stripping parts away from the engine bay. I sat there saying a few prayers that I could remember and thought “it’s crunch time”. I took the tool to the pulley bolt and put it on full power in reverse. It rattled on the bolt a little and the bolt FLEW out in about 3 SECONDS! It made it so easy, I were so chuffed it worked.
Based on past experiences, I would say it were worth the 50 quid I paid, just to undo that one bolt. It’s what I bought it for and it did great. I don’t usually buy things like this but Im confident about rusty/ tight bolts on cars now that I have this tool. I think it’s a great investment and will save a lot of arm-ache in years to come. I highly recommend this tool to any DIY repairer.
A word of advice. If you are going to put bolts/ nuts back on with this type of tool, make sure to hand tighten a few times to correctly seat the threads first. If the threads are crossed this tool will strip them easily causing unwanted damage to the threads and extra repair work that could end up being further expense.
| Manufacturer | Silverline |
|---|---|
| Brand | Silverline |
| Model | 400W Electric Wrench |
| Product Dimensions | 48 x 28 x 33 cm; 2.37 kg |
| Item model number | 593128 |
| Manufacturer part number | 593128 |
| Lift type | Electric |
| Voltage | 230 Volts |
| Item Weight | 2.37 kg |
