Harmonic Balancer Not Sitting Flush

[jeremkrak]

Hello, i spent all day replacing the harmonic balancer on my car. I actually broke the harmonic balancer remover, and then broke the installer putting the new one on. Something isnt right.

I got another installer and literally got the balancer on as far as I could get it onto the part that it sits on (the pulley crankshaft pulley)

But even giving it as much force as i could with my legs, and hands I was unable to get it to sit flush (about 1/4 of an inch) with the very end of the part that that the balancer/pulley assembly sits on.

I tried for 2 hours to get it to move but it wouldn't budge, and actually broke my install tool, and i had to get another one with no success of moving it any further.

Is this normal? Or is this something I need to worry about.

[JohnGD]

If the crankshaft is clean and without damage you should be able to remove/install the balancer with your hands. If there is light rust, then a puller with the right sized metric bolts help.

Sounds like the balancer seized to the crank now. I'd spray some PB Blaster and see if that helps. Once you remove it I'd check for damage on the crank stud where the balancer sits.

When everything is fine you can seat the balancer with the crank pulley bolt along without much effort. Something is wrong if you have to force it like that. So don't try to force the last 1/4".

Puller example:
http://www.harborfreight.com/46-piec...set-37824.html

Originally Posted by jeremkrak

Hello, i spent all day replacing the harmonic balancer on my car. I actually broke the harmonic balancer remover, and then broke the installer putting the new one on. Something isnt right.

I got another installer and literally got the balancer on as far as I could get it onto the part that it sits on (the pulley crankshaft pulley)

But even giving it as much force as i could with my legs, and hands I was unable to get it to sit flush (about 1/4 of an inch) with the very end of the part that that the balancer/pulley assembly sits on.

I tried for 2 hours to get it to move but it wouldn't budge, and actually broke my install tool, and i had to get another one with no success of moving it any further.

Is this normal? Or is this something I need to worry about.

[jeremkrak]

So you think i should take it back off and try to figure out why its not going on easily?

I feel like i just birthday a child putting the darn thing on today, it was exhausting just trying to get that last 1/4 of an inch with no luck.

But, if i do take it off, and then clean it up you think it should go on all the way?

I'm saying it doesnt sit flush with the end of the crankshaft snout that it sits on.

>>>> Also, it isnt squeaking at all or sound like its misaligned and everything is running fine, but if its a must-do thing, then ill do it this weekend <<<<

[71Corolla]

Something is very wrong, the pulley should go on easily. Is the crank damaged in some way? Do you have the correct pulley? Is the key bent or not sitting in the key slot properly?

[JohnGD]

So you already had it back and running.

If the thing is 1/4" away from it's proper "seat", then the belts won't be properly aligned and the timing belt may have a chance to wander on the crank sprocket.

However, if you meant 1/4" from the end tip then you may only be slightly off if at all. I don't remember looking at this offset because the ease with which the balancers move against most of the crankshafts that I worked on. The pulley bolt needs to hold the balancer, so I think there should be some offset and not sitting flush.

Others may be able to tell you more about this.

Originally Posted by jeremkrak

So you think i should take it back off and try to figure out why its not going on easily?

I feel like i just birthday a child putting the darn thing on today, it was exhausting just trying to get that last 1/4 of an inch with no luck.

But, if i do take it off, and then clean it up you think it should go on all the way?

I'm saying it doesnt sit flush with the end of the crankshaft snout that it sits on.

>>>> Also, it isnt squeaking at all or sound like its misaligned and everything is running fine, but if its a must-do thing, then ill do it this weekend <<<<

[jeremkrak]

Yeah, that's what I mean, 1/4 from the end tip. There's absolutely NO room on the seat for it to go on any further, but a whole 1/4 inch from the end of the tip. I got the bolt on and i couldnt turn that thing any more either (I didnt use a torque wrench but i gave it a nice push with a 18 inch breaker bar and a 6 foot cheater pipe and it wouldnt budge anymore either once it got on securely.

Like i said, the belts all line up and run perfectly, no friction. So maybe that's just how it's supposed to be. it was really easy to get on except that end of the tip it wouldnt budge and started to move my entire engine block physically upward almost an inch when i moved the wrench because the installer wouldnt tighten anymore.

Originally Posted by JohnGD

So you already had it back and running.

If the thing is 1/4" away from it's proper "seat", then the belts won't be properly aligned and the timing belt may have a chance to wander on the crank sprocket.

However, if you meant 1/4" from the end tip then you may only be slightly off if at all. I don't remember looking at this offset because the ease with which the balancers move against most of the crankshafts that I worked on. The pulley bolt needs to hold the balancer, so I think there should be some offset and not sitting flush.

Others may be able to tell you more about this.

[JohnGD]

Then it sounds fine. That's how the crank bolt holds the balancer, except I can't say for certain the amount of offset.

Originally Posted by jeremkrak

Yeah, that's what I mean, 1/4 from the end tip. There's absolutely NO room on the seat for it to go on any further, but a whole 1/4 inch from the end of the tip. I got the bolt on and i couldnt turn that thing any more either (I didnt use a torque wrench but i gave it a nice push with a 18 inch breaker bar and a 6 foot cheater pipe and it wouldnt budge anymore either once it got on securely.

Like i said, the belts all line up and run perfectly, no friction. So maybe that's just how it's supposed to be. it was really easy to get on except that end of the tip it wouldnt budge and started to move my entire engine block physically upward almost an inch when i moved the wrench because the installer wouldnt tighten anymore.

[fenixus]

picture?