Harmonic Balancer Bolt
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: TN
Harmonic Balancer Bolt
Is it risky to use the harmonic balancer bolt to turn the engine in order to locate top dead center. I still have all but one plug in and I don't want to mess up my crank that I just had turned for the second time.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
personally i bump it over until its close and then finish
with the socket and breaker bar on the crank bolt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
It's not all THAT risky as long as somebody hasn't used the bolt to install the balancer at some point and nearly stripped the threads in the process, which is especially easy on a (soft) cast crank. If the threads are already nearly gone turning the motor over with the bolt could finish the job....
Last edited by birdsmith; Jul 30, 2007 at 12:28 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
when I do that, I use care. When turning you can feel, as well as hear, when compression is comming up on a cylinder.It gets harder to turn. When that happens, I go slowly, a bit at a time,wait for a few seconds,then go a bit more, till its easy again. I do that till I get to the #1 cylinder. Yes, I agree with what someone said, its easier with the plugs out of the other cylinders. (much easier)
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I do this all the time and have for many years with no problems. As long as you don't yank on the wrench and turn slowly to let the compression relieve itself there is no problem. I do it with the plugs in or out. Out is obviously easier. You just don't want to tighten the bolt anymore either. Put in a good bolt, I have an ARP bolt in there and tighten it to the proper specs and you will have no problem.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
its the only way i do it.....its just that you can't back up or the bolt or it may loosen...i do it slow and i don't fight the compression
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: TN
I got it taken care of. That baby fired up like it was injected. It smells a little gassy but it runs gooood. I had to pull the motor with about 100 miles on it because of red loctite under the first bearing cap. You talking about something that will ruin your day and your budget. I'm back on track again. Thanks for the info.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
by the way..when nothing else works..to get that "damned" bolt loose, I put a socket on a breaker bar, then hit the starter. Works like a charm...but be darned careful..lots of stored energy there.