Harmonic Balancer ??
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Humble Texas
Harmonic Balancer ??
Im in the middle of removing parts to replace my opti cap and rotor.
Im down to the Harmonic Balancer Ive removed the 3 bolts need for this take it off ,Ive been told that it should came off fairly easy !!!??
okay well its not..
Anyone done this job that might have a lil info on the removal ?
Help , Help , Help ,
96 LT1
Im down to the Harmonic Balancer Ive removed the 3 bolts need for this take it off ,Ive been told that it should came off fairly easy !!!??
okay well its not..
Anyone done this job that might have a lil info on the removal ?
Help , Help , Help ,
96 LT1
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Fairmont WV
I used 30lb tamping bar (round end). Went at it for 15 minutes.
Came of hard.
I did the usual soaking and rotated the engine after about 5 hits each time.
Raised Corvette to see the small area to beat on. Tough on the arms !
Came of hard.
I did the usual soaking and rotated the engine after about 5 hits each time.
Raised Corvette to see the small area to beat on. Tough on the arms !
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 552
Likes: 2
From: Dubuque Iowa
Those methods mentioned are fine, but the easiest way is to go to your local auto parts store. Most auto parts stores will lend you specialty tools for many jobs. There is a tool called a harmonic balance puller. Get that from them, and the job will take you all of 10 minutes, then return the tool for your deposit back 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Forget about using specialty tools just to remove your balancer/pully. It will easily pop off if you follow these instructions. I've done quite a few and never had to use a specialty tool.....too much time and money....Use a 3lb sledge and a 4 foot long 1/2" by 1"
piece of wood...or a steel bar if you have one(like those bars used for weight lifting)
Pay special attention to the BOLD print......(the balancer/pully is a 2 piece design, and held together by a large rubber gasket. Banging on the outside of the pully can damage this rubber gasket and you will end up with a "wobbly" balancer....ask me how I know!!!)
"Most pulleys have been found to be rusted in place and require considerable effort to separate from the hub. Spraying the inside of the pulley with penetrating oil helps. Do not strike the pulley with a hammer in your frustrated attempts to remove. The best method is to position yourself under the engine with a steel rod (or better yet a brass drift) and one healthy hammer. Position the rod/drift on the inside portion of the balancer when striking it with the hammer. This step requires more than a gentle tap. Try to position yourself so you can give a good solid hit at each rotation. Rotate the crankshaft 120 degrees after every couple of heavy hammer blows. Do not hit on the outer diameter of the pulley as damage can and will occur."
piece of wood...or a steel bar if you have one(like those bars used for weight lifting)
Pay special attention to the BOLD print......(the balancer/pully is a 2 piece design, and held together by a large rubber gasket. Banging on the outside of the pully can damage this rubber gasket and you will end up with a "wobbly" balancer....ask me how I know!!!)
"Most pulleys have been found to be rusted in place and require considerable effort to separate from the hub. Spraying the inside of the pulley with penetrating oil helps. Do not strike the pulley with a hammer in your frustrated attempts to remove. The best method is to position yourself under the engine with a steel rod (or better yet a brass drift) and one healthy hammer. Position the rod/drift on the inside portion of the balancer when striking it with the hammer. This step requires more than a gentle tap. Try to position yourself so you can give a good solid hit at each rotation. Rotate the crankshaft 120 degrees after every couple of heavy hammer blows. Do not hit on the outer diameter of the pulley as damage can and will occur."
Last edited by MikeC4; Nov 17, 2008 at 01:14 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,261
Likes: 85
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Those methods mentioned are fine, but the easiest way is to go to your local auto parts store. Most auto parts stores will lend you specialty tools for many jobs. There is a tool called a harmonic balance puller. Get that from them, and the job will take you all of 10 minutes, then return the tool for your deposit back
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 959
Likes: 1
From: Plano, Texas
Is it safe to assume you've also removed the bolt right in the center of the balancer? There are three in the rim around the center (that you referred to), and there is a fourth right in the center.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
This advice ranks right up there with hot tanking the motor !!No!! Do not remove the center bolt !! This bolt ONLY holds the hub to the crank shaft. It has nothing to do with removal of the balancer/pully from the hub.
Last edited by MikeC4; Nov 17, 2008 at 04:48 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,261
Likes: 85
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Does this tool help remove the balancer/pulley from the hub, or is it just a hub removal tool?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
But everyone here seems to know what is needed
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 36
Surely you jest....
There is no way you gonna get the harmonic balancer off the hub using a puller. It is a two piece design. Once you remove the three bolts, the harmonic balancer is just riding on the center hub. That is where the problem is. The harmonic balancer is frozen to that hub. Once you understand that, you will understand that you can get under the car with a good solid piece of wood, and a sharp whack on that wood with a small sledge to the most inner portion of the balancer will remove 99% of those balancers. You should whack it good on one side.......rotate 90 degrees.....whack it again. Once you loosen a tiny bit, it will start coming off faster and faster. DO NOT STRIKE THE OUTER RING OF THE BALANCER.
There is no way you gonna get the harmonic balancer off the hub using a puller. It is a two piece design. Once you remove the three bolts, the harmonic balancer is just riding on the center hub. That is where the problem is. The harmonic balancer is frozen to that hub. Once you understand that, you will understand that you can get under the car with a good solid piece of wood, and a sharp whack on that wood with a small sledge to the most inner portion of the balancer will remove 99% of those balancers. You should whack it good on one side.......rotate 90 degrees.....whack it again. Once you loosen a tiny bit, it will start coming off faster and faster. DO NOT STRIKE THE OUTER RING OF THE BALANCER.
Those methods mentioned are fine, but the easiest way is to go to your local auto parts store. Most auto parts stores will lend you specialty tools for many jobs. There is a tool called a harmonic balance puller. Get that from them, and the job will take you all of 10 minutes, then return the tool for your deposit back
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
This thread is useless without pics !! 
This is why you need to pound on the inner portion of the balancer/pully after you have safely jacked up the car. You can situate yourself just behind the front right tire, and you will have visibility of the back of the balancer/pully assembly. A 3 or 4' piece of wood can reach the inner portion of the balancer/pully. Give it a few good hard whacks with a hand sledge, rotate if necessary, repeat whacking and it should pop right off.
This is why you need to pound on the inner portion of the balancer/pully after you have safely jacked up the car. You can situate yourself just behind the front right tire, and you will have visibility of the back of the balancer/pully assembly. A 3 or 4' piece of wood can reach the inner portion of the balancer/pully. Give it a few good hard whacks with a hand sledge, rotate if necessary, repeat whacking and it should pop right off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 959
Likes: 1
From: Plano, Texas
I apologize for any confusion I may have created.
Stephen
