Now that I've figured out how to get the trigger wire connector apart, I'm having a helluva time removing the bigger starter motor attachment bolt. It's so tight I sheared one of the pivot pins in my 18" long 1/2"drive Craftsman breaker bar! (wonder if their breaker bars are lifetime guaranteed?) How much leverage do you need to break that bolt loose?

 

I just regreased mine on friday night. I had my friend help me and it took us 20 minutes for that bolt. Make sure its not hot. WD40 wont help, the threads are not close to the head. Its difficult, mine was hard(He is big, 6ft 2in about 270lbs) and we were fed up with it. Try using a glove with rubber grips. Helps alot, thats what got it out for us. Hvae someone there cheering you on, it helped him!!! :P

Oh, and good luck!

 

Yes, all Craftsman hand tools have a lifetime warranty, just take it back, no need for a receipt. Straight trade for a new one.

 

Try strikeing the head of the bolt w/hammer{hard} in combination w/ wd40

 

I already said WD40 wont work, no use in trying unless the head is attached to the block. If it is, then youve got another problem.

We used a hammer on the end of the ratchet. Didnt work that well, didnt get it off I should say. Also, try not to use to many extensions. The closer, the better. Less play.

 

See if you can borrow impact wrench, thats how I got my bolt off. Socket directly attached to the wrench without an u joint

 

get a 3 or 4 foot pipe and slip it over the breaker bar. That will give you enough leverage to break the bolt loose.

 

That's how I broke my breaker bar, but that was a different bolt. Tried to use a universal joint this time and broke that. I'll get a new bar and try it on this bolt, hopefully without needing a universal.

I wonder if the factory torqued it that tight, or it just got stuck over time (there's no rust on the car). I didn't find any torque specs in my Haynes manual, but maybe they're available in the factory manual.

 

Thanks for all your help! Went to Sears and swapped my broken 18" breaker bar for a new one. Finally broke that *#!@ bolt loose. Now that I have the starter motor out, I see that grease has dripped out the bottom. I should be able to take it apart and apply some silicone brake grease I have.

I don't see any reason for that bolt being so tight. Reminds me of oil drain plugs that are sometimes ridiculously overtightened.

 

I bet it was tough since the block is aluminum and the bolts are not. Dab some anti seize on the threads and it wont happen again.

 

How long does this job usually take start to finish?

 

if you know what u r doing and no problems.. 15-30min to replace a starter.

1st time at it..maybe an hour.

 

It took 10 minutes in and out- first time. It helps when the cold gets you going faster.

 

It took me and my friend about an hour and a half to regrease mine. We took every single part out of it, cleaned it off till it was shiny, then used white lithium grease. We made a few mistakes, being our first time. Time: ~ 1 hour without mistakes for a regrease.