Should an impact gun break loose a crank pulley bolt without turning the crank?

[Gareth Randall]

I need to get my crank pulley off to change the timing belt on a 2002 Escape with the 2.0L engine.

If I use an impact gun, should it get the bolt out without needing to hold the pulley to stop it turning the crank backwards? Or would it be safer to remove the starter and jam the flywheel first?

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[Richard Kirshy]

I believe the torque spec on the crank shaft dampener bolt is 88 ft/lb on the SPI engine and 85 ft/lb on the 2.0L Zetec-E engine.
So a healthy impact gun should have no trouble removing the bolt.
But if it makes you feel better, by all means lock the flywheel.

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