Too Tight Crank Nut

Very good point Mike. At the current time my service panel is a 70 amp panel. Way too small for todays homes. I had our power supply company SCE come out to look over what I have now. He asked plenty of questions about what I wanted. Told me they will need to replace the hold fast at the house and install the better stand off so the line is now higher up and no longer suspect to pulling out of the roof trim facia board. That was fine for the 1950 codes not no longer code. So it has to go. The guy tried telling me I'm responcible for the line from the weatherhead into the panel. Well thats not true. I'm only responcible for ALL the lines after the meter into my new panel. Suddenly he knew I was aware of whats correct. I finally told him I was a 30 year vetran of the same company and would like him to understand I had "some" idea what was correct. His attitude suddenly changed too. So my plan is to replace the 70 amp panel service box with something that will supply my future needs. Like maybe central heat and air or a pool filter but mainly 50 amps 220 volt to the garage. Then once in the garage with that a drop of 110 off the 220 so I have 110 power in the garage shop. I believe I just take that off one leg of the 220 line going to the garage shop. Of a transformer may be needed. No mater what, I need or want 220 power in the shop garage. Not sure what the romex wire gauge is in the house to the garage or the above ground outside wires feeding 110 power to the garage now but will know before all this is finalized. If I have to run new wire for the garage 220 line I can go under the house or thru the attic ....

What you need to now is the gauge of wire you have coming from your house to the garage. That will tell you the amps going to your garage. The number of breakers is not necessarily indicative of the amp feed you have. You must also remember that taking more amps to the garage well lesson the number of amps you have in your house, assuming all are being used. It doesn't make for good family relations if every time your air compressor comes on the hair dryer or TV goes off.

Cordially Mike

Thanks Tom for the suggestion. Thats something I never thought about adding to my shop. What I really need is a 220 line in the shop. I have been researching doing this and I feel it can be done. I firsat need a new srevice box for a better load. Mine is too small now and its full of breakers. No room for any more. Of course I have a 220 line feeding that box but no 220 breakers. Mine are over 60 years old now and they are the no longer available Zinsco type breaker. I gigure a 50 amp 220 breaker feed to the shop will handle what I need. I think I can run the 220 feed thru the above ground lines as it is. I'm just not sure if the romex in the house to the outside weatherhead will handle the new 220 volt 50 amp load. If it will I then can run a 110 off the 220 drop in the shop to power all the lights and plugs. At least it sounds good talking about it here.. I'm sure no electrician thats for sure.

Hi,

Harbor Freight offers an inexpensive electric impact wrench that is great for most tight fasteners and wheel lugs. It needs no air--just an electric rope.

It's often on sale, so keep your eyes open for it.

--Tom

Thanks for the advice guys. I checked before I tried to remove the nut and insured it was a standard right hand thread. My work shop does not have air so no impact wrench sadly. I finally got it loose. A well placed piece of soft wood placed between a crank counter weight and the oil pan rail of the block. Then a 4 lb hammer on the breaker bar loosened it. Sure was tighter than it needed to be.

Are you sure it is not left hand threads?
Cordially Mike

Try an impact air ratchet. R

My God is the front crank nut ever so tight. <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: --> So far I have tried an 18 inch breaker bar and no go. All that nut is holding is the rpm gear and the crank gear for the timing chain. I figure I have put at least 125 lbs of twisting torque on it. I'm not wanting to use heat but I may end up doing that. Today I will try a single jack on the breaker bar and try to shock it loose. Nothing but fun in this garage shop...