Need some help and feedback on a Harmonic Balancer
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
Need some help and feedback on a Harmonic Balancer
I pulled my harmonic balancer and it looks a little beatup? I cleaned it up to show imperfections for the pics.
How sensitive is this to engine performance and smooth idle? My engine does Idle rough and seems shaky, thinking it may have been a vacuum leak that i couldn't find but now I thinking differently?
Should I replace this or does it not really matter that much for a stock 71 454 LS5?
It looks like someone used a hammer to reinstall it some point?
Thanks
jim
How sensitive is this to engine performance and smooth idle? My engine does Idle rough and seems shaky, thinking it may have been a vacuum leak that i couldn't find but now I thinking differently?
Should I replace this or does it not really matter that much for a stock 71 454 LS5?
It looks like someone used a hammer to reinstall it some point?
Thanks
jim
Last edited by luerja; Apr 28, 2006 at 10:53 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by luerja
I pulled my harmonic balancer and it looks a little beatup? I cleaned it up to show imperfections for the pics.
How sensitive is this to engine performance and smooth idle? My engine does Idle rough and seems shaky, thinking it may have been a vacuum leak that i couldn't find but now I thinking differently?
Should I replace this or does it not really matter that much for a stock 71 454 LS5?
How sensitive is this to engine performance and smooth idle? My engine does Idle rough and seems shaky, thinking it may have been a vacuum leak that i couldn't find but now I thinking differently?
Should I replace this or does it not really matter that much for a stock 71 454 LS5?
This wont impact idle so much, but it will impact engine life for sure. The thing that concerns me is the wear on the rubber liner on the balancer, and if you are experienceing vibrations at higher RPMs then that may be a sign that its ready to go. It still looks to be serviceable, but if those cracks go all the way through then it may be coming to the end of its life. Never heard of one of these being reconditioned, but there are easy enough to get a hold of on the aftermarket. or just replace it with a fluidamper (thats what im doing), but i am not concerned for now with originality
.02
tim
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
OK... I am going to Hijack my own thread and talk about the timing chains. If one side is tight at the moment and the other side is has about 1/2 inch slack at the most is that a streched timing chain?
Thanks for all the help by the way
Thanks for all the help by the way
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by luerja
OK... I am going to Hijack my own thread and talk about the timing chains. If one side is tight at the moment and the other side is has about 1/2 inch slack at the most is that a streched timing chain?
Thanks for all the help by the way
Thanks for all the help by the way
Yes i would say that sounds like the chain is begining to show sign of wear as well wiglle the crank back and forth to releive the tension then recheck to be sure. buty in general if you chain is doing that it is showing signs of wear though possibly not bad enough to jump teeth though i would think. could be causing timing issues though. if you at that state of dis-assembly, go ahead and replace it, its cheap and easy go with double roller set up, though fits under stock cover
an easy way to check it align the dots, and then see how much play you have in the chain
Last edited by sweethence; Apr 28, 2006 at 12:16 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by luerja
Mr Save a Buck just went out and bought new junk. Safe than Sorry.
Thanks for all your help everyone
Thanks for all your help everyone
Good for you, wish i was home wrenching right now, istead im at my desk surfing the web
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
Originally Posted by sweethence
what kind of balancer is that Mr Savabuck?
I will check, I came up to get my camera again because the small gear to the timing chain on the car now doesn't have a DOT on it to align it up. So i have to take more pics and get some advice.
I'll be back...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by luerja
It says professional on it so it must be good
I will check, I came up to get my camera again because the small gear to the timing chain on the car now doesn't have a DOT on it to align it up. So i have to take more pics and get some advice.
I'll be back...
I will check, I came up to get my camera again because the small gear to the timing chain on the car now doesn't have a DOT on it to align it up. So i have to take more pics and get some advice.
I'll be back...
real time wrenching on line
luv it ....luv it
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by luerja
OK here we go.....
brand of products..
Here is the No DOT sprocket...
brand of products..
Here is the No DOT sprocket...
tim
Last edited by sweethence; Apr 28, 2006 at 01:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
Originally Posted by sweethence
You sure the engine is in the #1 firing position/ the dot could just be under the chain while in muber 6 firing position
tim
tim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by luerja
I was going to check that now.... also slide the new sprocket on there and see if the new one (which has the DOT) will be lined up...I'll be back
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
Originally Posted by sweethence
Here is the chain alignment when the rotor is at #1 position..
and when I align the DOT at center bottom the rotor points to #8
I hope i fix this soon it's already 10:50am and things are getting bad....I figured if it works for LARS...
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
Originally Posted by luerja
OK Ok....
Here is the chain alignment when the rotor is at #1 position..
and when I align the DOT at center bottom the rotor points to #8
I hope i fix this soon it's already 10:50am and things are getting bad....I figured if it works for LARS...
Jim
Here is the chain alignment when the rotor is at #1 position..
and when I align the DOT at center bottom the rotor points to #8
I hope i fix this soon it's already 10:50am and things are getting bad....I figured if it works for LARS...
Jim
the pic you have shown shows the rotor pointing to number 6. the bronze thingy pointing away from the number 1 position should be pointing towards it
keep turning the crank till the bronze thingy is pointing towards the front of the engine. Take a marker and mark the number 1 plug position on the distributor housing. point bronze thingy at that mark
Cam gear dot will be facing close to striaght down, just adjust it so it does this will be very close to TDB if notr exact. remember one turn of crank = 2 turns of cam.
Also Keep in mind the distributor mark this is just a reference, and the fact that you have the timing set fro 4 before TDC or so
swing it the 180 and youll be good
Last edited by sweethence; Apr 28, 2006 at 02:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
Originally Posted by sweethence
Nope you are ll backwards
the pic you have shown shows the rotor pointing to number 6. the bronze thingy pointing away from the number 1 position shoild be poin ting towards it
the pic you have shown shows the rotor pointing to number 6. the bronze thingy pointing away from the number 1 position shoild be poin ting towards it
I followed the spark plug wire from #1 to the position i marked as #1....DUH, I know better than that.
So you are right .. I am at #6 and with the DOT at 6 O'clock that means at TDC (Top Dead Center) i will be at # 1.
but even if i was at TDC the rotor would still not be pointing to #1, I think it may be off?
I should have setup my webcam down there....