Audi-Impaired

The crankshaft holding tool that I bought, will not thread all the way into the hole in the engine. The reason is that the tool is threaded on its entire length, but the hole looks like it only has about 3/4" of thread.

So... either the hole in the engine wasn't tapped properly, or the tool I bought should have been turned down towards the tip so that the tool could be farther in before the threads engage.

So what is wrong, the tool or the hole?

-Erik

MikTip

With the tool inplace does it hold the crankshaft from turning?

kokerj

I'm pretty sure that you don't need more than 1/2" of engagement. It sounds like the tool is bad. The version that I see at thid link is not threaded along the whole length.<ul><li><a href="http://www.samstagsales.com/images/vw_matra_3242.jpg">http://www.samstagsales.com/images/vw_matra_3242.jpg</a</li></ul>

computrtutr

...but it's a holding tool! All it needs to do is keep the crank from spinning. If the crank still moves with it threaded in, the crank alignment is not TDC or the tool is bad. Try changing your vantage point when you're looking for the TDC marks- I had been looking at a slight angle, and when I turned the CS just a little further, the marks "actually" lined up and the tool went in. My experience was that if the tool threaded in far enough to hold it solidly and the shaft didn't turn, that its ok. I have used that tool several times consistently.

Audi-Impaired

No. The threads start to bind before I can get it all the way in. With my little finger I can eel the hole to accept the tip of the tool, but before I can thread it in that far it starts to get difficult to turn. I can turn it with a wrench, but not by hand. Should I just force it in with a wrench?

Audi-Impaired

I think that the tool I have has too much thread near the tip. The image on the link showed a much more dramatic reduction in the thread towards the tip. That portion of the tool engages the threads on the engine when I think it should just insert.

kokerj

no...it only needs to go in finger tight.