Installing cams that require the old style coarse pitch pinion gear, my rubbermount has the fine pitch pinion gear.

For installation of the new gear, the factory manual says that I need a crankshaft locking tool. For removal, the manual doesn't say anything about a locking tool. Seems that a locking tool would be needed for removal as well, is this the case?

Anything else I should know before trying to remove the pinion gear nut? Is it reverse threaded? Is it OK to re-use the same nut when I reasssemble, or is this something that I should replace? I assume that it will be very difficult to remove, since it is installed with the heavy duty version of LockTite.

You need the locking tool as much for instalation as removeal. Although I have read where some were able to keep the engine from turning over with it in gear. You will need a new gearcase cover gasket and watch the torque sequence and bolt sizes on the gearcase cover. They are important.

I replaced the pinion gear on my '04 a couple of weeks ago. At the suggestion of one of our members (forgive me........too lazy to look up his name), I threaded a bunch of soft rope into one of the spark plug holes to block the piston and lock up the engine. It worked like a charm. After replacing the pistons, barrels, and heads I used the same method to tighten the nut on the new gear. No need to replace the nut, the old one is fine. Use red locktite and the nut is right hand thread. Oh, and the pinion gear nut is really not difficult to remove.