i got nothing to add, 'cept i dont cover anything up. i use my sprayer set on "gentle shower" and i dont spray into the opening.


good luck ken. maybe invite a couple hundred moths? "D

I, too, seldom covered the motor when washing. I did own a Jag once and learned how to water proof a distributor after the first puddle I ran thru rendered the car useless. I also used compressed air or the leaf blower to remove water from the motor and surroundings before starting the car. This was all on the '77. I don't wash the Ragamuffin, I use detail spray.

One close call with the towel convinced me that it wasn't the best idea for me. I have never heard of the keys thing, that IS helpful. Should use that one for any work back there. Ever get in a hurry and try to crank the motor with a wrench still on the nut of either pulley? It's a frightening sound, ask me how I know.

Ken,

As for bleach on the engine – DON’T.
The crankcase and jackshaft cover are magnesium alloy and the bleach contains chlorine. Last time I looked they were on opposite sides of the Periodic Table – a sure sign of extreme reactivity.

Since you can see the crankshaft bolt in the center of the pulley, you must have a single groove non-A/C pulley. You can put a socket wrench on that bolt and turn the engine clockwise.

The issue about turning the engine only CW has to do with the cam timing chains and the chain tensioners. If everything is in good order and someone has installed tensioner limiting safety devices, the engine can be turned the opposite of normal operation. It is the slight chance that the chain could jump a tooth on its sprockets when turned CCW leads to the recommendation to always turn it CW. An ounce of prevention ….

It sounds like you already have the fan belt off the fan but if not be sure to loosen the alternator nut in the center of the fan pulley before cutting off the belt. You need the belt in place to hold the fan or use the Factory tool. Other methods of restraining the fan can damage it.

Once the fan belt is off, you can put the transmission in 4th gear with the parking brake on and turn the crankshaft pulley bolt CCW to unscrew it. With slight coaxing the pulley will come off. This will give you complete access to retrieve the towel remnants. A long grabber tool will help.

The pulley is indexed to the crankshaft with a pin so you can’t get it back on wrong. It will take some finger dexterity to get everything reassembled in that tight place but it can be done.

There is a lot about fan belt replacement in the Pelican archives. Learn Wayne’s new search function to gather the necessary info. Feel free to summarize and post links of what you find. We can keep it understandable for you as occasionally some threads are focused on additional different issues.

Best,
Grady

Grady -- Thanks for the great info. Removing the pulley seems the way to go. The belt is off and I have reasonable access to the pulley bolt. Knowing that with the car in 4th gear it's ok to loosen that bolt I think I can get the job done.

I'll definitely report back. Thanks.

(A damp distributor cap is not seeming so bad at this point.)

Ken

“I have a friend in the diamond business.” Denver residents will know who that is. He put a baby blankee over the engine of his nice brand new gold ’69 911S one cold winter evening. He came in complaining of poor running new MFI. After chasing all the common issued (CMA) someone noticed a tuft of wool next to a throttle body. Lo and behold the blanket was absolutely shredded to fine threads. Every square centimeter of the cylinders, heads and oil cooler were covered in nice fine re-manufactured blanket. Winter and the front cooler prevented overheating but no warm air was getting to the thermostat. The engine had almost 100K on it when traded for a new ‘73S, gold of course.

Best,
Grady

I also don't worry about a towel on the engine when I wash but also try not to aim water into the engine compartment - I did read a good tip on this forum to put a towel on the drivers seat of the car when you put a towel on the engine to remind you - putting the keys on a towel inside the engine would also work but seems like asking for them to fall into some dark place that you can't reach,,, (that would be my luck),

There is joy in Mudville. With several of you helping me to know what I can and cannot do to the lower pulley, I first was able to pull the belt out of the tangled mess, then got some big pliers on what remained of the rag and it came out.

Thanks very much to all who helped out.

Ken