[SoCal LS-L]

For a starter and ring gear, it takes barely any extra torque (to what it normally needs to crank a 10:1 engine) to loosen the crank pulley bolt, im sure it hardly "feels" it.

As for exploding bits, why would there be any less torque and strain required on the socket and tools to break the bolt loose by hand power?

108-123 ft-lbs is the same whether loosened by hand or by machine.

I was simply stating that I have done it many times and have never had anything bad happen, if anyone else HAS had a catastrophe occur while using this method, feel free to chime in