Hi ya'll. I'm brand new to the forum. I'm trying to change the timing belt myself for the first time. I took the four bolts out of the crankshaft pulley, but can't figure out how to get it off. I sprayed some liquid wrench in the center, but that hasn't seemed to help. I'm hesitant to yank on it too much with a pry bar. Do I need a special tool to get this off?

 

Yes you do. You need a puller, available for rent at any Autozone.

 

What sort of puller would you use for this? The claw type would only get around the first pulley, which would just stress the rubber in the middle of the harmonic balancer. There's no clearance to get something completely behind it. I'm thinking of threading the 4 holes in the harmonic balancer where I pulled the bolts out and easing some larger bolts in there to get it off. Anyone tried this or have another idea? I have to think Mitsubishi has a special tool of some sort for this, but my searches haven't come up with much.

 

They have a bigger puller that is designed the same way. Just use that one.

 

I got a 5-ton claw-type pulley puller from Tractor Supply. Worked great, came right off. I thought it was going to take a little more effort. It looks like I have to take the crankshaft bolt out anyway to get to the second belt behind the timing belt. I didn't realize that or I might have just taken everything off at once.