Balancer hell
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Langley, BC, Canada
Balancer hell
I thought i'd relay my ordeal.
Ive been trying on and off for 2 days now to install my balancer. At first i attempted to pound it on with a piece of wood and a hammer, that didnt work. Then the balancer fell apart. It was old any way. So I went and bought a new one, and didnt feel like beating it with a hammer. I hunted everywhere today for an installer. Nobody carries them, they all said to beat it on with a hammer. Then i went to 4 hardware stores to try and find a long enough bolt or threaded rod. Nobody carries the right kind.
My next attempt is to buy a tap and die kit and make my own threaded rod. If that fails im going to buy a 20lbs sledge and beat the living crap out of it.
Ive been trying on and off for 2 days now to install my balancer. At first i attempted to pound it on with a piece of wood and a hammer, that didnt work. Then the balancer fell apart. It was old any way. So I went and bought a new one, and didnt feel like beating it with a hammer. I hunted everywhere today for an installer. Nobody carries them, they all said to beat it on with a hammer. Then i went to 4 hardware stores to try and find a long enough bolt or threaded rod. Nobody carries the right kind.
My next attempt is to buy a tap and die kit and make my own threaded rod. If that fails im going to buy a 20lbs sledge and beat the living crap out of it.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 2
From: Hillsboro OR
Re: Balancer hell (nsimmons)
Take the balancer bolt to a hardware store that has lots of nuts and bolts (not home depot) and get a threaded rod that matches the balancer bolt thread size. Then get a few washers that are large enough to cover the balancer so it can be pushed on. Get a nut to thread on the rod and drive the balancer on.
Cut the rod long enough to extend beyond the end of the balancer when its put on the crank and is threaded ALL the way into the crankshaft. Grease up everything and use the nut to drive the balancer on the crankshaft.
Cut the rod long enough to extend beyond the end of the balancer when its put on the crank and is threaded ALL the way into the crankshaft. Grease up everything and use the nut to drive the balancer on the crankshaft.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 16,477
Likes: 1
From: Enter Post Count Here
Re: Balancer hell (AquaMetallic94LT1)
Take the balancer bolt to a hardware store that has lots of nuts and bolts (not home depot) and get a threaded rod that matches the balancer bolt thread size. Then get a few washers that are large enough to cover the balancer so it can be pushed on. Get a nut to thread on the rod and drive the balancer on.
Cut the rod long enough to extend beyond the end of the balancer when its put on the crank and is threaded ALL the way into the crankshaft. Grease up everything and use the nut to drive the balancer on the crankshaft.
Cut the rod long enough to extend beyond the end of the balancer when its put on the crank and is threaded ALL the way into the crankshaft. Grease up everything and use the nut to drive the balancer on the crankshaft.
I beat mine onto my crankshaft, took all of an hour because I refused to hit it hard.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,464
Likes: 1
From: Modesto CA
Re: Balancer hell (NoWorries)
Hmm..I remember when my balancer on my 85 went out..just started REEEALLY vibrating all of a sudden..I could literally feel it on the GAS PEDAL! So I came home, unbolted it and put a new GM replacement on..it was a simple task, the entire job took no more than 1 hour..everyones said it would be hard...but it really wasn't. :confused:
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, WV
Re: Balancer hell (danno85)
I MADE an installer out of an old balancer bolt. I welded another bolt on the head of the balancer bolt and I use a bearing from a power steering pulley puller/installer. It works great. Oh by the way ......beating the balancer on is bad for the thrust bearing in the engine (the rear main) . :seeya
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 123
From: Birmingham AL
Re: Balancer hell (nsimmons)
I've never tried this, But have heard it from several sources: Place the balancer in a pot of boiling water for 10 min or so. Take pan directly from stove to car. Set the pan as close to the crank as possible. Put on leather gloves. The next part must be done very quickly. Fish the balancer out of water with stick and in one quick motion, slide the balancer on as far as it will go. Hope this helps. Let me know if it works. :hat
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,286
Likes: 4
From: Guam
Re: Balancer hell (Siveck)
There are many ways to skin a cat. I just happened to buy one from my Snap On dealer. There is nothing like having the right tools.I used ot beat the balancers on. One day, a car came in with a broken crankshaft right behind the balancer. A freak incident you say, there were marks left to show that at one time the balancer had been hammered on. Freak or not, you could damage something.
:cheers:
:cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,506
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver,Wa.
Re: Balancer hell (Skippy Stone)
Local hardware store few thick washers.....That is what I did.
Gosh, what does that mean? Am I being dense?
Gosh, what does that mean? Am I being dense?
[Modified by corvette0096, 8:21 AM 8/14/2002]
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 904
Likes: 0
From: Langley, BC, Canada
Re: Balancer hell (corvette0096)
I got it on eventually. I just re cut an old head bolt to the right threads and used that to get it on 3/4's of the way. Though in the end it took a 2x4 and a cinder block. Then i spent 4 hours retapping the screwed up threads in on the crank. Thank you previous owner.
Oh well the car runs now..more or less.
Oh well the car runs now..more or less.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,535
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
Re: Balancer hell (Sharky Guam)
Be carefully with the sledge hammer. You can damage crank bearing and will cause oil leak. I learned that lesson a few yrs ago.
Bruce
93LT1 Conv with Zf6
Blown D1-SC/N2O
ARE built 383ci/Stage II heads
Pic can be seen here http://hometown.aol.com/brucevette/m...age/index.html
Bruce
93LT1 Conv with Zf6
Blown D1-SC/N2O
ARE built 383ci/Stage II heads
Pic can be seen here http://hometown.aol.com/brucevette/m...age/index.html