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1st, I was running my 91 1.5L 4speed manual trans to work at around 85mph+ one day. And when I finally slowed down I noticed it was missing a bit. I believe the timing belt stretched or slipped a cog. It seems to start like it's fighting the compression/out of time. And it never did that till I ran hard that one day.  I bought a belt and a waterpump and set out to change to timing belt. I got as far as the harmonic balancer pulley bolt. I can't get it off. I tried locking a screw driver in pulley, I tried locking the ring gear through the access panel, and I tried an impact driver at 120psi. For my next attempt I was thinking about using my Benzomatic to warm it up a bit. Nothing seems to work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Adnoh.  

My experience with timing belts is they are good or bad, I've never seen one slip a tooth under normal use. I had a problem with a bolt on a 96 honda, I had to lock the flywheel and put a 5' cheater bar on a breaker bar and rock it to get it to break. It popped so loud I thought I broke the crankshaft! I would try using a double hammer impact gun on it 1st.  

yeah, try an impact gun closer to the 300-400psi range, provided you have an air compressor to match.  

I have seen quite a few timing belts skip teeth over the years. Normally when the tensioner gives out. Put the box into 4th gear with the wheels on the ground and handbrake on. Then use a breaker bar with a big piece of fencing pipe over it for extra leverage...
This normally works, providing your clutch is in good condition.  

I nominate this subject title, the best on the forum.    

You will need a "real" impact for this job. Breaking the bolt loose is only half the game you need to tighten the bolt to 250 ft lbs if not the bolt will loosen and shear the key and kill the crank, seen it happen MANY times!  

Well, I do not have much more than 150lbs top end on my compressor. I did try locking the ring gear, 4th gear, and e-brake on and only broke was 2 craftsman 17mm sockets. Pauto, you are telling me I need 250lbs to ensure the crank bolt stays on? Would it be a good idea to use red locktite with that? I might take it to a shop and just have them break it loose for me. Hey guys, thanks for all the feed back.  

Update:

       Stopped by a Honda dealership and quized the one of the mechanics. It appears that they use a special tool lock the ring gear and a very long extension on the wrench. In any case they wished me luck and said I would be better off trading it in and buying a new one. I guess I'll try and make a tool to bolt onto the ring gear and try that. I just hope I don't break something in the process. Thanks in advance to a the gear heads out there. JTM, nice job monitoring the forums with quick responses.  

are you talking about your harmonic balancer or your crank pulley?  I know honda crank pulliess use a special tool, that I actually have, Its a big hexagon (i cant remember off the top off my head, it might have 6 sides) Anyways it is hollow on the inside so that you can fit a socket on the bolt.  

The are a huge pain in the ***   The last one I did took me and a big friend..

It sucks not having the proper tools but heres what we did, maybe you could give it a shot.

Have someone hold the special tool, pushing down with all his force.  Place a hydraulic jack underneath the socket wrench (preferably a long breaker bar with possibly an extra breaker pipe extension attached (vacuum pipe or something along those lines)  Then just jack up the wrench while your buddy pushes down on the special tool.  

Good luck,  I know it sucks but hang in there.  

I've got a 600 ft/lb impact wrench, but when I REALLY need to get something loose only a breaker bar will do it.  Just use a piece of tire between the gear teeth and a good 2 foot breaker bar and you'll be all set.

Oh yeah, and make sure you're trying to turn it the opposite way the motor spins - I spent 3 hours tightening a left-hand threaded bolt about 10 years ago and was not very happy when it just popped right off the other way.

PS - "big hexagon" = socket  

JTM, I've seen that type of tool. From what I see and have read it was for later models. To answer the question pulley or balancer, I guess it's the crank pulley. I kinda like dhjenkins idea of jamming a piece of tire in between the gears. I will double check the rotation, however I didn't ask Honda that qustion in the begining. Murphy's Law, I will check it. Thanks guys  

I recently won a similar battle with my girlfriends '91 civic,  650ft/lb big bertha impact didn't do a damn thing for me, this is how i did it.  First thing you should know is that this is NOT a reverse thread, people will attempt to tell you otherwise, they are wrong.  I put a four foot long piece of uni-strut against a piece of wood on the firewall and then ran two stainless bolts through the holes on the crank pulley (a.k.a. Harmonic Balancer)this secured the pulley.  You should remove the engine mount directly above the pulley, i have heard of people that ripped this off of the motor torquing on the crank bolt.  Run an extension out of the wheel well to a big breaker (3/4 in. breaker, i broke my 1/2 in.)  put a block under the neck on your breaker so that it stays square to the crank.  get a pipe at least five feet long and add that to your breaker, get a friend, SLOWLY  apply pressure to end of the pipe, if both your feet lift off the ground add a third friend and or extend pipe.  when you hear a horrible crack and you drop to the ground you will be undoubtedly sure that you have broken something expensive, thats when the bolt is loose.  You will feel insulted by how small the bolt is.  Honda actually sent out some sort of official document to mechanics about this bolt seizing itself to the crank, can't seem to find it, I'm sure you could with a bit of googleing.  there is a special tool that you can purchase, or weld if you're handy, i didn't need it.  also if your replacing the head gasket you should definatley read this http://www.rebuiltautoengines.com/honda-civic-articles.html.
good luck  

You'll probably need to take it to a shop and let them do it, since a pretty heavy duty tap is gonna be needed.  
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John R. seeking for the best maintenance help on Toyota Corolla cars..

i am trying to do this right here... i have already broke three screwdrivers even bent a #3 craftsman..... now im not even sure how all you guys got enough room to put a breaker bar on a wrench because i cant..... now i am goin to tell you this right here im a complete amateur on what i am doin i no all the dangers of the timing belt and all i just cannot figure out how to secure my flywheel to prevent it from moving while i try to torque this bolt... i dont have the special tool that i am apparently supposed to have but i am broke and trying to learn all this because my car needs alot of repairs. anyways can someone tell me how i can stop this flywheel from turning because the only space that i can find is the starter hole and there isnt anyway that i can think of to stop it.