# turning crank with head removed? **URL:** \ **Category:** SON240sx Automotive\ **Created:** [January 25, 2012, 9:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998 "2012-01-25T09:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 9:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/1 "2012-01-25T09:15:45Z")
I’m interested to know if its safe to turn the crank from tdc with the head removed/no cams. I haven’t been able to find the answer with google. If I hold up on the chain and turn the crank is there any risk of the chain jumping a tooth? I know there’s some sort of pin stopping the chain from falling off so I’m assuming this pin will keep it from skiping I just want to make sure. Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![blackmagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@blackmagic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/blackmagic)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 9:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/2 "2012-01-25T09:21:45Z")
It’s safe to turn the crank with the head removed but there is a definate risk of the chain jumping a tooth but if your real careful to keep tension on the chain you should be ok ---
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 9:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/3 "2012-01-25T09:35:46Z")
Thanks, that does make me worried though. How would I even know it jumped a tooth before I started it up. The reason I was going to do this was to get the pistons down before I scrape off the old head gasket. ---
**Author:** ![87s15lt1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/87s15lt1/32/5706_2.png) [@87s15lt1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/87s15lt1)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/4 "2012-01-25T10:08:02Z")
hold the chain up with one hand. turn motor with other. you’ll be fine ---
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 11:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/5 "2012-01-25T11:55:29Z")
Will I be able to tell if I f this up? I took a pics as I took it apart but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to tell if the silver links have moved a tooth. ---
**Author:** ![nickpavlyukh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@nickpavlyukh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nickpavlyukh)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/6 "2012-01-25T14:12:50Z")
Just put a line with a marker across a tooth and chain link and you will be sure ---
**Author:** ![87s15lt1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/87s15lt1/32/5706_2.png) [@87s15lt1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/87s15lt1)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/7 "2012-01-26T05:27:59Z")
The chain is just that, a chain. the marks that are on chains (if any) are for quicker assembly. same as O.E timing belts on some cars. Long as your crank is at TDC and your cams are set accordingly. You will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/8 "2012-01-26T06:36:19Z")
I’m not sure how marking the chain would work, the front cover is still on. The chain is just resting loose in the front cover. My only concern was the chain would jump a tooth on the crank and I wouldn’t know it had happened. I wouldn’t know how to set my cams accordingly without the silver links. I was looking at a picture of the motor with the front cover off and I’m sure like 87s15 is saying if I pull up tight on the chain, turn then let it sit back down on the pin I won’t have an issue. ---
**Author:** ![87s15lt1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/87s15lt1/32/5706_2.png) [@87s15lt1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/87s15lt1)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 8:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/9 "2012-01-26T08:26:59Z")
if your unsure and that concerned. remove the timing cover. ---
**Author:** ![87s15lt1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/87s15lt1/32/5706_2.png) [@87s15lt1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/87s15lt1)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 8:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/10 "2012-01-26T08:31:16Z")
KA24DE? ---
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/11 "2012-01-26T09:03:29Z")
No Sr, i would have to remove quite a bit before getting the cover off. ---
**Author:** ![blackmagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@blackmagic](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/blackmagic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 9:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/12 "2012-01-26T09:27:04Z")
If you just want to move the pistons away from the top of the block to scrape the old head gasket off then turn the crank 1/4 turn and when you are done turn it back so top dead centre mark is lined up on the crank pulley and if the silver link is in the same place as the picture you took then the chain han’t skipped and you are good to go,if the silver link is in a different place than your picture then you will probably be pulling the cover off but if you make sure you keep tension on the chain while turning it shouldn’t be a problem ---
**Author:** ![87s15lt1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/87s15lt1/32/5706_2.png) [@87s15lt1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/87s15lt1)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/13 "2012-01-26T14:09:20Z")
better to remove parts then possibly blow an engine on start up. ---
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/14 "2012-01-27T07:02:37Z")
I will if I have any worry after I’m done, or I may just decided not to move it and take my time removing the gasket. Thanks for the comments ---
**Author:** ![MoNtAjNiK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@MoNtAjNiK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MoNtAjNiK)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/15 "2012-01-27T16:06:40Z")
How about you stretch the chain a little, make some marks on the chain and crank pulley and its position, and then turn it back the way it was… ---
**Author:** ![blox88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@blox88](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/blox88)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/16 "2012-02-07T17:31:15Z")
regardless if the head is off and the chain has slack in the case, if you turn the crank you wont know whats going on behind the front cover.better take the front cover off than potentially blowing ur motor. It may seem like a little work but may save u a big headache in the end. ---
**Author:** ![Tacoboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@Tacoboy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tacoboy)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/17 "2012-02-07T18:30:41Z")
I’ve done this a million and a half times. Forget the stupid marks on the chain, you need to set the timing when the cams are put in. ---
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/18 "2012-02-08T06:37:28Z")
^ Can you explain that a bit more please. I was going to take the safe route and remove the cover. ---
**Author:** ![Steve660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Steve660](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Steve660)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 10:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/19 "2012-02-11T10:56:11Z")
I’m guessing you forget the marks on the chain by counting like this… ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/tamboman/CamPulley_resize.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/tamboman/CamPulley_resize.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Phonso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Mr\_Phonso](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mr_Phonso)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/turning-crank-with-head-removed/219998/20 "2012-02-11T13:34:26Z")
Guys, it is impossible for the timing chain to skip a tooth on the crankshaft with the front cover installed. It’s just the way the oem front cover is designed, there isn’t enough space for the chain to fully lift off.