Harmonic Balancer Question
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock Texas
Did it separate? The hub should be bottomed out against the lower chain gear. If so, that's pretty rare. I would just replacement and you should be fine. If it is just spinning on the crank, pin it and replace the bolt and that should solve the problem.
Jon
Jon
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 593
Likes: 9
From: San Antonio Texas
It has likely separated. This is critical and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Mine did the same thing and did considerable damage to the timing chain cover and the oil pan. Retail parts were over $1,000 to replace but thankfully I was able to find used parts here on the forum for much less. Check the face of the timing chain cover to see if there are any wear marks on it. Don't put this off or delay. Good luck with this.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
It has likely separated. This is critical and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Mine did the same thing and did considerable damage to the timing chain cover and the oil pan. Retail parts were over $1,000 to replace but thankfully I was able to find used parts here on the forum for much less. Check the face of the timing chain cover to see if there are any wear marks on it. Don't put this off or delay. Good luck with this.
Good advice here. 
You're going to be out for labor (unless you do it yourself) to replace it and I personally agree with what Jon at TSP said about pinning too.
I would recommend replacing the balancer with a Powerbond 25% under-drive unit and pick up a few ponies while you're at it. There are other brands out there too but I have the PB piece and am very happy with it. No matter which brand you chose (even a stocker), I would recommend pinning it.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
The high-end harmonic balancers have a circlip failsafe design which prevents the pulley from wandering if the rubber separates but....they're about four times the price. You pays your money or you takes your chances....I replaced mine with a OEM style Powerbond for $98.
Last edited by Cratecruncher; Mar 31, 2011 at 05:48 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
My Powerbond 25% under unit with belts and bolts will be here from www.sdparts.com on Friday. This isn't a job I really want to do, so I'm going to have forum vendor TPS Motorsports take care of it on Tuesday morning. Mine has the woble, so hopefully it makes it another week without comming apart.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 498
From: Fords, NJ
Are you for real? Not keyed? What in the hell were they thinking?
I just find it hard to believe that a car with a price tag that's so high has some many damn problems. Is it a common problem with these harmonic balancer's and is this something i'll have to look forward to?
And how would one go about "pinning" a new hub ?
I'm thinking something along the lines of drilling / tapping the hub and adding a set screw. Would that work if I were to dimple the crank snout so the set screw has something to sit in ?
Or do you actually drill through the hub / crank snout and drive some kind of roll pin into it ?
I just find it hard to believe that a car with a price tag that's so high has some many damn problems. Is it a common problem with these harmonic balancer's and is this something i'll have to look forward to?
And how would one go about "pinning" a new hub ?
I'm thinking something along the lines of drilling / tapping the hub and adding a set screw. Would that work if I were to dimple the crank snout so the set screw has something to sit in ?
Or do you actually drill through the hub / crank snout and drive some kind of roll pin into it ?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Are you for real? Not keyed? What in the hell were they thinking?
I just find it hard to believe that a car with a price tag that's so high has some many damn problems. Is it a common problem with these harmonic balancer's and is this something i'll have to look forward to?
And how would one go about "pinning" a new hub ?
I'm thinking something along the lines of drilling / tapping the hub and adding a set screw. Would that work if I were to dimple the crank snout so the set screw has something to sit in ?
Or do you actually drill through the hub / crank snout and drive some kind of roll pin into it ?
I just find it hard to believe that a car with a price tag that's so high has some many damn problems. Is it a common problem with these harmonic balancer's and is this something i'll have to look forward to?
And how would one go about "pinning" a new hub ?
I'm thinking something along the lines of drilling / tapping the hub and adding a set screw. Would that work if I were to dimple the crank snout so the set screw has something to sit in ?
Or do you actually drill through the hub / crank snout and drive some kind of roll pin into it ?
There are kits available specifically for this purpose. ATI makes a kit that puts a hole 90 degrees to the crank snout and you optionally install two holes on opposite sides of the crank. The ATI damper hub is keyed to correctly engage the pin, however if you want to use dual pins a second keyway must be cut into the hub. Powerbond is also keyed in a similar manner and will use the ATI pin kit.
The other type of pin kit end drills the hub and the crank snout such that the pin is installed endwise into the end of the crank snout. The drilled hole is half in the crank snout and half in the damper hub. Removal and re-alignment can be hard and if a new damper is installed new holes may have to be drilled.
I prefer the ATI approach. The ATI key is a high quality kit that includes several machined parts for installation.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
Are you for real? Not keyed? What in the hell were they thinking?
I just find it hard to believe that a car with a price tag that's so high has some many damn problems. Is it a common problem with these harmonic balancer's and is this something i'll have to look forward to?
And how would one go about "pinning" a new hub ?
I'm thinking something along the lines of drilling / tapping the hub and adding a set screw. Would that work if I were to dimple the crank snout so the set screw has something to sit in ?
Or do you actually drill through the hub / crank snout and drive some kind of roll pin into it ?
I just find it hard to believe that a car with a price tag that's so high has some many damn problems. Is it a common problem with these harmonic balancer's and is this something i'll have to look forward to?
And how would one go about "pinning" a new hub ?
I'm thinking something along the lines of drilling / tapping the hub and adding a set screw. Would that work if I were to dimple the crank snout so the set screw has something to sit in ?
Or do you actually drill through the hub / crank snout and drive some kind of roll pin into it ?
