harmonic balancer removal issues
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 2
From: Apex NC
harmonic balancer removal issues
Hey Guys,
I'm WAY deep down into the bowels of "While-I'm-at-it" :eek: What started out as a simple front suspension rebuild is turning into a partial frame-on restoration. Pics to follow in a bit, but right now I need some advice
I need to remove the balancer, but there's a twist. I've got the trannvy, bellhousing, and flywheel removed from the car. I've got no good way to stop the motor from turning while I try to break the bolt free on the front of the balancer. Is there any good easy way around this problem? My only other alternative would be to reinstall the flywheel so I could wedge a screwdriver between the starter and flywheel to hold the crank still. That makes me cringe with a Bubba-ism but I can't think of anything else to try.
HELP!!! :D
Shannon
I'm WAY deep down into the bowels of "While-I'm-at-it" :eek: What started out as a simple front suspension rebuild is turning into a partial frame-on restoration. Pics to follow in a bit, but right now I need some advice
I need to remove the balancer, but there's a twist. I've got the trannvy, bellhousing, and flywheel removed from the car. I've got no good way to stop the motor from turning while I try to break the bolt free on the front of the balancer. Is there any good easy way around this problem? My only other alternative would be to reinstall the flywheel so I could wedge a screwdriver between the starter and flywheel to hold the crank still. That makes me cringe with a Bubba-ism but I can't think of anything else to try.
HELP!!! :D
Shannon
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (sb69coupe)
An impact would be my first choice but without a compressor that is impossible. A piston stop screwed into the spark plug hole would work and I have seen magazine articles do this put I would not do it to my engine.
Putting the flywheel on with a few bolts doesn't take long and with a friend holding it hopefully it will come off.
Good luck
Putting the flywheel on with a few bolts doesn't take long and with a friend holding it hopefully it will come off.
Good luck
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 2
From: Apex NC
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (norvalwilhelm)
This may be just the reason I need to buy a better impact wrench. The crappy Harbor Freight one that I have doesn't generate enough torque to break really stubborn bolts loose. I'll give it a try, but it's been my experience that if I can't get it with a pry bar, the cheap impact wrench is not match for it either.
Shannon
Shannon
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,356
Likes: 6,332
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (sb69coupe)
sb69 -
You can simply install 2 grade 8 bolts into the threaded pulley-attach holes in the balancer. Get bolts that are long enough so that they stick out about 1" after full thread engagement. Then, jam a steel bar between the two bolts, install your socket and breaker bar on the center bolt, and orient the two bars so that you can squeeze the two bars together to break the center bolt loose.
You can simply install 2 grade 8 bolts into the threaded pulley-attach holes in the balancer. Get bolts that are long enough so that they stick out about 1" after full thread engagement. Then, jam a steel bar between the two bolts, install your socket and breaker bar on the center bolt, and orient the two bars so that you can squeeze the two bars together to break the center bolt loose.
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,573
Likes: 1
From: Ga.
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (sb69coupe)
Once you break the big bolt loose, don't forget to remove the big washer before trying to use a balancer puller to remove the balancer. Without removing the big ol' washer the balancer won't move.....don't ask me how I know :nonod:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (norvalwilhelm)
The balancer bolt shouldn't be that hard to break free,unless it's rusted on.
Ask this question before torqueing the head off the bolt."Do I really really really really have to remove this bolt?"
Take this from a guy who's snapped plenty of stuck bolts! :smash:
Ask this question before torqueing the head off the bolt."Do I really really really really have to remove this bolt?"
Take this from a guy who's snapped plenty of stuck bolts! :smash:
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 2
From: Apex NC
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (The Money Pit)
Ask this question before torqueing the head off the bolt."Do I really really really really have to remove this bolt?"
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (sb69coupe)
I'm with Lars on this one. Two long bolts and a long screw driver or breaker bar. A friend would help on this. You can use an impact to remove the bolt for the balancer but don't do it on the puller.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (sb69coupe)
I think the penetrant, heat, and a couple bolts like Lars suggested should do it.
Likewise, you could put a couple bolts back in the rear of the crank (no flywheel)
and use a prybar or long pipe wedged in the back. A 4ft piece of 1/2" iron
pipe should grab the rail of your lift.
While you're at it - why not pull the engine ? It seems like there are only 2 bolts
holding it in there. Wild guess: no place to put the f-in thing !!
ps - I had a cheap CP air gun that I left over a friends garage (he let me work there). That thing kicked ! Now, I went to buy a new gun - and decided on an Ingersol Rand IR231 - nice twin hammer 450ft-lb wrench. I don't know how many times I've set that all up - only to resort to a cheater pipe on my 1/2" ratchet. Now, I see Harbor Freight has a copy of the "Thundergun" for $99 !!
Good luck - :seeya
Likewise, you could put a couple bolts back in the rear of the crank (no flywheel)
and use a prybar or long pipe wedged in the back. A 4ft piece of 1/2" iron
pipe should grab the rail of your lift.
While you're at it - why not pull the engine ? It seems like there are only 2 bolts
holding it in there. Wild guess: no place to put the f-in thing !!
ps - I had a cheap CP air gun that I left over a friends garage (he let me work there). That thing kicked ! Now, I went to buy a new gun - and decided on an Ingersol Rand IR231 - nice twin hammer 450ft-lb wrench. I don't know how many times I've set that all up - only to resort to a cheater pipe on my 1/2" ratchet. Now, I see Harbor Freight has a copy of the "Thundergun" for $99 !!
Good luck - :seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 99
From: Orrtanna Pa.
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (Gordonm)
I had a stuck balancer bolt on a Poncho 400,and monkey F@^%^^&ed the hell out of it with a piece of 1 1/2" rigid conduit slipped over the handle of my Craftsman 1/2" drive ratchet. You should have seen the grin on the face of the Sears clerk when I put the split socket and stripped ratchet on the counter to claim my Lifetime Warantee!
I wouldn't recommend heat if you want to keep your elastimar from squirting out of your balancer.Gentle taps with a hammer on the head of the bolt,and a couple cans of WD-40,or you'll be pulling the crank for sure. :smash:
Don't ask how I know this.
I wouldn't recommend heat if you want to keep your elastimar from squirting out of your balancer.Gentle taps with a hammer on the head of the bolt,and a couple cans of WD-40,or you'll be pulling the crank for sure. :smash:
Don't ask how I know this.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: n.h.
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (sb69coupe)
been there ,, done this,,,,remove all spark plugs,,pick a hole,,turn motor to chosen cyl starts coming up on compresion stroke,both valves will be closing,start stuffing some hemp rope into hole,when valves are closed stuff in all you can and turn motor till it stops,,..take off nut then reverse motor and take out rope......been doing this for over 30+ years.....i use hemp because if any fibers are left in hole they burn off no prob,,,cotton ok also,,NOT nylon,anything left when burned leaves undesirable yucky stuff..
the rope is soft and cushions any hard blows more forgivingly than holding with hard metal..
the rope is soft and cushions any hard blows more forgivingly than holding with hard metal..
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,845
Likes: 2
From: Apex NC
Re: harmonic balancer removal issues (lars)
UPDATE - Many thanks to Mr Grimsrud! I bought a pair of grade 8 bolts 2 1/2" in length. I installed them in the pulley mounting holes then took a long breaker bar and wedged it between the bolts. I turned the motor until the end of the breaker bar was firmly wedged against the upper shock tower of the frame. On the first pull I was able to break the balancer bolt loose and off it came! :cheers:
There's a pretty good groove worn into the balancer so I'll have to get a sleeve for it, but the rubber looks fine and it should be good to reinstall.
There's a pretty good groove worn into the balancer so I'll have to get a sleeve for it, but the rubber looks fine and it should be good to reinstall.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,411
Likes: 1,551
From: mount holly NC
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Leominster MA
i find it hard to believe an impact gun won't take it off. What do you have the output on your compressor set at? (try 120 psi LOL)
But the lars method is probably a good starting point. Get a pry bar and a gorilla to hold the engine from turning.
But the lars method is probably a good starting point. Get a pry bar and a gorilla to hold the engine from turning.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,470
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
Put a couple of bolts partway back in the flywheel end of the crank. Take a steel bar or piece of steel flat stock and put it between the bolts. Rotate the crank until the bar is wedged against the body..they you can break the balancer loose. Picture how a "club" works on a steering wheel. We do this on Ford rear end yolks to get them off to change the seals.
Like Lars said but from the other end......
Like Lars said but from the other end......
