Hello,

I have perhaps a dumb question that I feel stupid about asking. I just installed my new engine/tranny. I need to turn over the motor in order to lash the valves and get cylinder 1 into its compression stroke at TDC. I tried to put a breaker bar on the balancer bolt and move it but it will not move. How do I turn over the engine? Should it be hard to turn over?

Thanks!
Josh

 

I would suggest avoiding using the balancer bolt to turn the engine. Snapping the bolt is one potential outcome. Your results may vary.

Try a strap wrench on the balancer, and try removing the plugs to release compression as you turn.

 

Removing all the plugs is your best option and avoid using the balancer bolt to rotate the engine.

My high compression race engine is difficult to rotate even with the plugs out. The triple valve springs add a lot of tension. To rotate the engine, I use a flywheel turning tool. I don't have a torque converter dust cover so I jack up the car and use the tool to grip the teeth on the flexplate which allows me a lot more leverage to rotate the engine.

I only need to do that when unbolting the torque converter or degreeing a cam. For something more simple such as adjusting valves, I have a remote starter button under the hood. As long as the ignition is off, I can crank the engine over by simply pushing the button. An inexpensive remote start can be purchased or made to do the same thing. One wire of the remote start attaches to the battery and the other wire attaches to the solenoid part of the starter. Push the momentary button and the starter engages to crank the engine over.

Flywheel turning tool


Remote starter switch

 

There is also this thing-a-majig out there called a crankshaft rotation adapter.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRO-66782/