Originally Posted by
scwrod
I just use some big channel locks around the flywheel. If you are worried about messing the flywheel up use some soft jaws or a rag.
+1
They also make 2 kinds of tools to "lock" the crank... 1 that goes in the glow plug hole, and the other one you remove the backplate of the engine.
If you clean the brass collar and the hole in the flywheel, (I use denatured alcohol to degrease it) you really don't need a special tool... I use vicegrips personally. Hold the flywheel firmly "back" (toward the engine) on the crank and it will keep the crank from spinning as you start to tighten the nut. Once it gets a little snug then you don't have to worry about the crank spinning in relation to the flywheel.