C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

problem:harmonic balancer

Old Feb 4, 2005 | 06:48 PM
  #1  
billy1's Avatar
billy1
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: port charlotte florida
Default problem:harmonic balancer

i am having trouble with my harmonic balancer i know of two more people that are having the some problem is this a common defect and im also wondering if this could cause any internal engine damage could you please give me some info of this stuff thanks

bill owen
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2005 | 06:58 PM
  #2  
MyVetteDream's Avatar
MyVetteDream
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Default

Internal? Interesting question.

Hopefully Evil-Twin or Patches wil chime in soon.
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 12:53 AM
  #3  
chriskaw7r's Avatar
chriskaw7r
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 657
Likes: 1
From: michigan
Default

Originally Posted by billy1
i am having trouble with my harmonic balancer i know of two more people that are having the some problem is this a common defect and im also wondering if this could cause any internal engine damage could you please give me some info of this stuff thanks

bill owen
Whats the problem
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 01:05 AM
  #4  
vetterlatethannever's Avatar
vetterlatethannever
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 12,599
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Default

Originally Posted by chriskaw7r
Whats the problem
Yeah, what's the problem? Is it the wobbly pulley?
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 01:38 AM
  #5  
runamuk's Avatar
runamuk
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Default

If the damper is wobbling it needs to be fixed, it won't necessarily cause internal damage right away but over time the damper will get worse which could lead to premature bearing failure or at worst the damper can completley fail and well ....lets just say the results will be very ugly
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 11:28 AM
  #6  
waymirec's Avatar
waymirec
Racer
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Default

I had mine fall off while driving on the highway. Wasn't pretty. In the end there wasnt any internal damage to the engine but it still wasn't pretty. Big pucker factor when it happened. Luckily it happened while still under warranty.
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 12:46 PM
  #7  
billy1's Avatar
billy1
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: port charlotte florida
Default

its wobbling im going to the chevy dealer on monday
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 12:50 PM
  #8  
Antvette's Avatar
Antvette
Drifting
15 Year Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 3
From: Round Hill, VA
Default

Is it under warranty? If not it'll be like 400 to fix. I had to have mine replaced like 2 times. The second was a part defect. I think it's slowly starting to act up again too. I wonder if it'll be better to get like and ASP pulley?
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 01:07 PM
  #9  
billy1's Avatar
billy1
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: port charlotte florida
Default

yea its under warrenty ive had to pay around 3000 dollars so far and ive only put 16,000 miles on its got 38,000 miles on it already
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 01:33 PM
  #10  
corvettebob1's Avatar
corvettebob1
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,315
Likes: 17
From: Near Jacksonville Fl.
Default

Originally Posted by billy1
i am having trouble with my harmonic balancer i know of two more people that are having the some problem is this a common defect and im also wondering if this could cause any internal engine damage could you please give me some info of this stuff thanks

bill owen
Only a broken crankshaft!
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 03:48 PM
  #11  
Z06ufgrad2002's Avatar
Z06ufgrad2002
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Default

If it's wobbling, get it to the dealer quick. If left unrepaired it can cause internal engine damage. Not the least of which could be a new crankshaft, oil pump, etc.
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 07:29 PM
  #12  
FRISKY's Avatar
FRISKY
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City OK
Cruise-In III Veteran
Default

Be sure to pin it while you have it apart. That should prevent recurrences.
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 08:22 PM
  #13  
runamuk's Avatar
runamuk
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Default

Originally Posted by waymirec
I had mine fall off while driving on the highway. Wasn't pretty. In the end there wasnt any internal damage to the engine but it still wasn't pretty. Big pucker factor when it happened. Luckily it happened while still under warranty.
You were very lucky, a forum member (I can't remember who) lost his damper and broke his crankshaft.
Reply
Old Feb 5, 2005 | 08:39 PM
  #14  
Joshboody's Avatar
Joshboody
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 786
Likes: 46
From: Tucson, AZ
Default

how do you know if your balancer is wobbling? I was under the car yesterday when it was running, and thought my balancer was wobbling. But after some thought, remembered that the balancer bolt spacer could be a little off center giving the appearance of a wobbling balancer. any input??

by the way I was under the car looking for a power steering leak. i'm hoping it's just the cap, but very hard to determine so far. anyone ever heard of a c5 leaking power steering fluid?
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2005 | 05:01 PM
  #15  
TGBEATY's Avatar
TGBEATY
Intermediate
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: DeBary Florida
Default

Perfect time to do a cam change....thats what started my mod fever... a stupid wobbly balancer
Reply
Old Feb 6, 2005 | 11:25 PM
  #16  
C66 Racing's Avatar
C66 Racing
Premium Supporting Vendor
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
Likes: 38
From: King George VA
Default

Mine came off at the Runoffs last year and resulted in the loss of the motor. Among the many problems this can cause, there is an oil seal right behind the balancer than the balancer holds in place. Loss of oil pressure at high rpm is not a good thing.

I learned a hard lesson in my case. That lesson being, that if you take the balancer off for any reason, it doesn't stay on very well anymore. I found out after the fact, that most SCCA T1 teams use red locktite on the bolt that holds the balancer in place, though the service manual doesn't call for it. As mentioned above, others have had it pinned.

__________________


C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)





Reply
Old Feb 7, 2005 | 03:27 AM
  #17  
fastcop_c5's Avatar
fastcop_c5
Pro
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
Default

could this cause any problems with the waterpump by any chance?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To problem:harmonic balancer

Old Feb 7, 2005 | 05:30 AM
  #18  
David426's Avatar
David426
Safety Car
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 132
From: Plano TX
Default

What does it mean to have it "pinned"?
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2005 | 04:55 PM
  #19  
FRISKY's Avatar
FRISKY
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City OK
Cruise-In III Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by David426
What does it mean to have it "pinned"?
The stock balancer and crank isn't keyed together. It uses a taper fit and is held in place by torque from the crank bolt.

"Pinned" means it has had two holes/keyways cut into the parting line between the crank and balancer. You use two stainless steel pins in those holes/keyways to keep the balancer from being able to rotate on the crank, which, if allowed to rotate, causes the crank bolt to unscrew, which in turn lets the balancer walk off the end of the crank and tear up expensive stuff...
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2005 | 08:44 PM
  #20  
billy1's Avatar
billy1
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: port charlotte florida
Default

they havent been able to get it into the chevy dealer yet they had to order the part and thanks for all the info guys thank god i caught this before it got worse
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:40 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE