I'm in the midst of replacing the timing belt on my '91 Legacy and can't get past removing the crankshaft pulley! I'm using a breaker bar and chain wrench as suggested by the Haynes manual and it's a bear..(insert cuss word here) to remove..

Any help out there would be greatly appreciated!

Put the breaker bar over on the battery side frame and hit the starter a couple of times. That will break it loose! Works great and you can do it with one hand.

Put the breaker bar over on the battery side frame and hit the starter a couple of times. That will break it loose! Works great and you can do it with one hand.

 

NO! Do NOTdo this!!! Have you ever seen a breaker bar slip off a nut while this procedure was being implemented? A buddy of mine ducked out of the way just in time as the breaker bar went through the wood side of the garage they were working in. . . Just missed his head. If you need more torque, you can put a pipe on the end of the breaker bar for more leverage, but a penetrating oil will probably be needed as well.

Again....don't do the starter thing.

 

There is an access panel on the bell housing. You can stick a pry bar or something down there and catch one of the openings on the back of the flex plate, which will keep the engine from turning over.

 

Here's a pic

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/injectors/DCP_2486.JPG

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/injectors/DCP_2487.JPG

http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8080/subaru/images/injectors/DCP_2488.JPG

Yes, a large screw driver in the bell housing access hole works great. If you have a scrap length of pipe to make your breaker bar longer, that helps a great deal too.