rosros

Had my stock engine pulled and in storage. The engine still has the harmonic balancer attached. What is the best way to manually turn the crank over? Flywheel or run a bolt into the harmonic balancer? Was advised to move the pistons 2x year to prevent lock up.

redvetracr

I would pull the plugs, spray some fogging oil in the cylinders and turn it over (with the plugs out) by the balancer bolt, spray it again and replace the plugs.

Bromleys Corvettes

Some balancer pullers have a nut built into the hub or you can buy crank turning tools that bolt to balancer like a puller and you can use a 1/2 breaker bar or long ratchet. Thats how i do it. They also make crank turning sockets but balancer has to be off to use it.

Scottd

If the plugs come out, you can turn it by hand. If you keep the plugs in, you will need to adapt some sort of tool to hold either the crank (via the crank pulley bolt hole) or the harmonic balancer ( by way of the the 3 holes for the crank pulley)

A few years ago I bought a bolt that matched the balancer bolt, drilled a hole in the middle of a piece of 1x1 metal bar, and welded the bolt in it. Acted like a giant threaded bar to turn the engine over.

scottyp99

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/po...3090/overview/

If you snap that bolt holding the damper on, it's a PITA to get out.

Scott

Bromleys Corvettes

Nice link I have one just like that works great. I hear you I wont turn the crank by just the bolt I no to many guys that have screwed up the treads of broke the bolt in the crank lol.

Scottd

THAT is the tool Ive been meaning to buy for a long time....I wish I had that around last week.

But seriously, has anyone ever broken a bolt off in the crank by turning the engine over? I mean they get torqued to, what, 85 ftlbs? It doesnt take that much to turn the motor over.

Bromleys Corvettes

I dont no how they did it not like you cant feel it stop lol. If its super hard to turn something is wrong dont get a super long pipe and yank on it lol. I had a customer brake a TCI rattler balancer on his 383. The hub cracked he was pissed it had even been honed out so it would go on easy and he still messed it up.

Gale Banks 80'

For this app I think the starter Motor would work just fine.

johnt365

I saw this post the other day and noticed I was in a similar situation. I am putting together a short block and just installed the balancer so I can not turn the motor with a crank socket.

Here is what I have come up with to turn the motor so I can adjust the valves. With the plugs out, something like this may work for you too. A few bolts and a piece-o-pipe.