us000011

I've read every post/thread on the UR Crank Pulley, and in spite of a lot of spotty anecdotal reports (such as: my engine had bad bearings!), I have yet to see anyone with a CL or CL-S report a problem using the ULTRA S or other UR pulley. Most reports, if you look closely, involve other brands and not UR. I am always suspicious of a supplier disclaiming that their component does no damage.

I'll be installing a UR underdrive pulley in a few days (with Gates belts per UR specs). A Honda/Acura specialist shop has quoted $100 for the installation, and looking at the steps involved with an AT, that seems pretty reasonable.

My guess is that most of those reported failures came from guys (or girls) that had many other mods as well, and ran their cars HARD on a routine basis, and that the most convenient scapegoat for any problems was the pulley. Also when you look hard, most of those failures were with clones or other brands.

Here's my real question to all you CL types (it' a wonderful addiction): Has anybody had major problems they can directly attribute to the UR Crank Pulley??

PS: between CAI and Crank Pulley, I'm guessing I will gain 12-25 hp, meaning I'll be close to keeping up with a stock CL-S AT until I can trade for a 6MT.

C-n-L

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

I'm a TL-S driver, but I'll chime in.

I drive the shit out of my car on a daily basis, and track it at the drag strip and road tracks. Not a single failure yet that can be attributed to the modifications, especially the UR pulley set.

You just have to make sure to check out the car and the modifications once in a while to make sure that everything is alright. All it takes is routine maintenance, and a lot of times, failures happen when you neglect to do that.

By the way, are you getting just the crank pulley? If so, the installation cost seems to be a bit high. All it takes to install the crank pulley is 3 bolts, and slipping on the PS belt aftewards. With an air gun, it can be done in less than 10 minutes. Shop around for a better price. But if it's for the 3-piece pulley set, then 100 bucks sounds like a good price.

Good luck.

us000011

It's just the crank, but the motor mount has to be taken out, and to break the old pulley free is sometimes a killer w/o the right extension bars and chain wrench.

My brother-in-law said brace the wrench then crank the engine once (coils disconnected) to use the starter to remove it. ???

I think the garage will reduce the price when they understand what they need to do. They couldn't find it in the labor book, since it's usually done as part of another operation.

GOOD feedback- you are dead on about oil change, filters, etc. to prevent damage. I hope Mobil 1 also helps protect bearings and key parts as well.

CNL

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

No one has had issues and $100 is a good price.

us000011

UR Ultra S Crank Pulley- $191 shipped
New NAPA Gates belts- $ $25
Professional Installation- $107

Total- $323

10 extra HP- Priceless.

mclarenf3387

10 minutes? No way in hell you could do that job in 10 minutes. A shop should be able to do it within an hour though, probably 30-45 minutes if they're good.

Its not that hard to do if you are mechanically inclined, but its just a bunch of little things that need to be done. The hardest is breaking the bolt free, but once you do that, its fairly easy.

100 is an o.k. price. I would shop around a little though. You can probably find somewhere to do it for $75.

power3dfx

actually, with the proper tools, ive seen it done in 15-20 mins max! however, the dude has done a million of them, and didnt make any mistakes along the way. it was like an oil change for him. and though he had power tools, he only used the air compressor once when he remounted my wheel!
ive personally taken it off and it took me about 20 mins to get it off, about 30 mins to get the belt on. this was when i was extremely inexperienced with cars over a year ago/presc. so if i can get it done with proper tools in 1 hour or less, i have a feeling an average mechanic can get it done in about 45 mins.

mclarenf3387

Sure, if you do them all the time its possible. Just like the Acura techs who can swap a tranny in 3.5 hours cause they do it all the time, whereas it might take an average tech 1 day. But how many people actually do? They are few and far between.

30-45 mins is a more realistic estimate for a mechanic with the tools.

And using an air gun to mount the wheels

Excelerate

iTrader: (1)

Actually, UR Ultra S Crank Pulley $175 shipped
Excelerate = Priceless

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

It takes most shops 10 minutes just to get the car up on the lift to start the crank pulley swap. $100 is a very fair price.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

The air gun I was using wasn't strong enough, so I had to drive it over to a shop to get it loosened, but once I got back, it took only minutes to take off the old pulley and swap it with the new one, take off two bolts on the engine mount, slip over the belt, put the bolts back on the mount, done.

You don't even have to jack up the car for this. All you have to do is turn the wheel all the way to the right.

Give me an air gun strong enough to loosen the crank bolt (183 ft-lbs, if I remember right) and watch me do it in 10 minutes. Of course, when I did it, I had to make a couple of trips to the shop, and I was also doing the other two pulleys, which required taking out the alternator, so it took like 2-3 hours overall.

Blitz

Hmmm, sounds like something that can be done at an Auto Hobby Shop on any military base. Hmmmm.

NJTypeS

I've had the UR pullies for over 35000 miles and haven't had any problems at all with them.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

I'm picking up your sarcasm....

Honestly, the crank pulley isn't that hard. It's the alternator pulley that's a bitch to work on.

kHmER Co

it took me about 30 min when i was changing my oil at the same time, just main thing is having a gun strong enough to take that bolt off.

dshearon

iTrader: (1)

has any one actually used the method of wedging the breaker bar and cranking the car a couple of times... the cheapest i could find for an install by me was $160 to $200 for all three pulleys...

mclarenf3387

It works.

dshearon

iTrader: (1)

okay one more stupid question i have managed to come up with an air gun that can get up to about 120 ft lbs and i have a tourque wrench that goes to 151 ft lbs. what is the absolute least you guys would put it on there with with out being scared it would come off. it is my understanding that it will tighten itself...

sorry for the hijack by the way...

mrsteve

iTrader: (1)

Well you won't be able to get it off with either the air gun or the torque wrench.

I don't think you have the correct tools to complete the job.

dshearon

iTrader: (1)

i was planning on using the method above to get it off (breaker bar and cranking) and i have heard from people that the tourque does not need to be exact since the bolt will tighten itself. So waht i was wondering was if you guys thought it would be ok if i only tourqed the bolt down to say 150 ft lbs when putting it back on...

Dagreen

i have the complete set on my h22 and had no prob. yet do to the crank pulley. sure help on the low end. revs good. but jury is still out on them i bent the eth. valves so waiting for the docter to get finish. good luck have fun.

Blitz

I wasn't being sarcastic. I was just thinking, if it's something that can be done with common mechanic's tools, it can be done on a base that has a decent auto hobby shop. I imagine, if it's as straightforward as getting the bolt off and then tightening down to a certain spec, then I'm confident that this is can be done there. I know at Andrews, they have several lifts plus all the tools you can think of. Just trying to read here and get a feel to make sure that the only "Hard" part is getting the bolt off.