[lovehamr]

Tom's right, about the only way to take one off with out damaging anything is with an impact gun. Just as a side note; it's the only way that I've found to put one back on as well. Keep in mind that there aren't any "splines" or anything like that to hold it in place while you tighten the nut so you have nothing to hold on to without sticking something into the alternator which goes right back to the "damaging" thing. You may have one that will take a hex key in the shaft end (to hold it still) but I've never had any luck with those. Good luck.
Steve