'85 Golf, how to loosen head pulley for timing?

[Josh]

My first time trying to do a timing adjustment on a Golf, and it has a shroud of some sort behind the pulley. Anyway, I can't use my usual method of tapping the back with a rubber hammer to get it off. How does the factory manual say to remove or loosen this pulley so you can go forward with the usual engine timing procedure?

I got a loaner pulley puller from Advance Auto Parts, but there's not room enough to grasp the back of the pulley via the three hooks. This beast has to come off somehow. Please help me figure out how best to get it off. Links to a proper or functional tool much appreciated!

-Josh, Quantum and Westy owner.

[TylerDurden]

There are fancy pullers:

http://www.vwdieselparts.com/tools.htm

Some diy pullers use carriage-bolts hooked onto the sprocket, or bolts with washers. Maybe in conjunction with a steering wheel puller.

I use a two-jaw with an extra clamp around it to keep it from spreading.


I'd loosen the nut, but not all the way off. Once you have some tension with the puller, give the back of the sprocket a rap with a drift. There may be a small hole in the tin to get a punch to the sprocket. It should pop loose, since it's a taper fit.

[Josh]

Verily, I have a fancy puller for the injection pump sprocket, similar to the one you've pictured, but it's jaws are not wide enough to bite the thicker head sprocket.

What kind of two-jaw puller can fit in the limited engine compartment space of a Golf? I miss the space of the Quantum. WTF, Golf!

[TylerDurden]

I use a Craftsman 2-jaw, each jaw is about 6" long.

Here's a diy puller:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=771&start=45#p51369

[Fatmobile]

I believe there is a hole in the shield that you can put a punch through.
Hit that with a hammer to break the sprocket loose.

[Josh]

Smacking the bejebus out of the sprocket via the little hole in the shroud got me nowhere. Removing the fuel filter, I was able to angle a large punch downward into the sprocket hole, and pound back the shroud sufficiently to allow the tooth of my injection pump puller to gain purchase. The same was achieved on the top with a lot of force, just bending the shroud back. The first little twist of the puller popped the sprocket like it was nothing.

Success!

[82vdub]

That's good you got it. Sometimes it takes the easiest work to get the sprocket off, but after you've pounded and pounded on something trying to get it off.

[air-cooled or diesel]

possible its your 1st time replacing timing belt? did you buy car used? taking a 1/4 inch punch; i ground mine flat, as it has a protrusion, take punch and flat against the pulley/sprocket, use hole in tin, use plastic hammer, and rapp quickly a couple of times.(pulley is soft). if you do end up using the tin to get off pulley, loosen, its like 2 5mm allen bolts that you find especially when you remove head, this keeps you from having to straighten tin,
knowing to run pulley(s) bolts part of the way out(loosening), is very helpful, keeps you from damaging the pulley(s) when they 'pop' off.

[vwtyp133]

Y'all must be much more coordinated than me. I always take the shroud off to work on any drive belt or pulley issues. The improvement in vision of the whole 'field of battle' is easily worth the hassle of putting the shroud back on. YMMV

[Fatmobile]

The shroud doesn't come off until the sprocket (and much more) is removed.

You must be thinking timing belt cover