Ways to remove BB sprockets without pin spanner
 

Is there a way to remove the 2 balance belt sprockets without the pin spanner? I have all the tools for a TB change, but stuck at the sprockets (have to remove to replace seals, right?)

have a friend (or you can do it yourself) hold the old balance shaft belt around the pulley squeezed tight like a strap wrench...it will work enough to get the bolt loose

The first time I did a belts job, I did it using two punches and vice grips pliers - you put the punches in the holes and then grab the two punches with the vice grips. I broke a couple of the punches but did manage to get the job done. It was a real PITA.

After that, I bought a proper tool and was amazed at the ease and simplicity of when you use the proper tools.

^+1

Proper Tools FTW!

Yeah, having the tools makes for a lot of time savings. Even when I spent 20-minutes making a pin-spanner from metal-scrap laying around, it still saved me at least 20-minutes on the belt-change job. And you don't have to worry about destroying your engine because you couldn't quite tighten the sproket bolt enough without a pin-spanner.

It's pretty awesome.... Combo Pin Wrench Porsche 944 Combo Pin Wrench - $52.00 : ArnnWorx Specialty Tools

I bought a $20 pulley wrench from the local auto parts discount store. I removed the fan belt that was installed in the tool, cut a strip from my old timing belt and put it into the wrench. It works like a charm!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1406651347.jpg

That tool above looks smart, but I got a spanner on the way. I'll wait to make that tool when my future spanner breaks.

CHICKS said it, bent nose plyers. Why spend $50 on a tool that serves one purpose when you can spend $5 on a tool that does that and more?