What is the trick to removing the crankshaft bolt at the harmonic balancer on a 1996 C280. I am trying to replace the front crankshaft seal and the crankshaft bolt won't budge. Do I just have to put an excessive amout of leverage to it? Hopefully it is not a left hand thread.

 

It's a standard right hand thread (remove counter-clockwise) 200 Nm which requires a good lever. I lock the balancer utilizing 4 1/2" bolts pinched around a pry bar placed against the frame. Otherwise buy the special mercedes tool for $165.00