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Old Jul 21, 2011 | 09:07 PM
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Default harmonic balancer

Have noise under the hood. replaced the harmonic balancer. it was not in line with belt. Still noisy. replaced tensioner , still noisy. replaced idler
heard the noise and noticed the harmonic balancer is still off at an angle.
and the noise is still there. even replaced the serpentine belt. any ideas?
other than to live with the noise. and would the Harmonic balancer be crooked because of the bolt?
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Old Jul 21, 2011 | 09:13 PM
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Can you post a picture?
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Old Jul 21, 2011 | 10:05 PM
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No. I don't have that priv. also not any avail. I can not because I am not over where my car is. When myself and My good friend/mechanic (his business) replaced all of the pullies and the balancer, we dropped the rack and pinion, removed everything. what a pain in the kister that was. still hand a heck of a time getting the bolt out. I am wondering if it might have been changed prior to me and they cross threaded the bolt.
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Old Jul 21, 2011 | 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by riverrat68
Have noise under the hood. replaced the harmonic balancer. it was not in line with belt. Still noisy. replaced tensioner , still noisy. replaced idler
heard the noise and noticed the harmonic balancer is still off at an angle.
and the noise is still there. even replaced the serpentine belt. any ideas?
other than to live with the noise. and would the Harmonic balancer be crooked because of the bolt?
The data that you have supplied leaves many questions:
1)Replaced the harmonic balancer. With What ?
2)HB still off at an angle... Installed improperly, or reused the original bolt.
3) replaced Idler and tensioner. Did you replace both Idlers and both tensioners?
4) Once the HB was replaced did you replace both belts.
Bill aka ET
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 12:12 AM
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ET
replaced with a new one from Chevy
reused original bolt
one idler one tensioner
replaced both belts
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 05:07 AM
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Based on your description, I believe you may have thread issues on the crank due to improper removal and installation.

Did you use the proper tools for removal and especially installation?

If you didn't use the proper tools, how was the new pulley pressed onto the crank snout? (Note this is an interference fit)

Since you didn't replace the bolt, if the correct methods were used to remove and press on the pulley, the bolt may have backed out. If you used the old bolt to press on the pulley you likely buggered up the threads and it never correctly bottomed on the crank snout. Hard to provide recommended solutions without more detailed information on the methods and tools used.
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 05:49 AM
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One thing is sure. You should have used a new crank bolt. Those bolts are not meant to be reused since they are torqued to yield.
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 06:30 AM
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Originally Posted by riverrat68
reused original bolt
Oops...........
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
The data that you have supplied leaves many questions:
1)Replaced the harmonic balancer. With What ?
2)HB still off at an angle... Installed improperly, or reused the original bolt.
3) replaced Idler and tensioner. Did you replace both Idlers and both tensioners?
4) Once the HB was replaced did you replace both belts.
Bill aka ET
The HB can't be at an angle, as it rotates. Does the OP mean it still "wobbles"?
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by leadfoot4
The HB can't be at an angle, as it rotates. Does the OP mean it still "wobbles"?
Yeah ET........duh...
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 09:57 AM
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The OEM Balancer is ok but there are better choices.. the big culprit here is reusing the old bolt...
The old bolt is only used to get the New balancer on, once in place a New bolt is loctited in using the proper torque to yield procedure. Any deviation from this procedure will cause the balancer to move out of position. You should have replace the AC belt system tensioner and idler as well.
Not the best of News, but a least you got the right answers here.
You need to pull the rack remove that old bolt, Put in a new one, and change the AC pulleys, you don't need to replace the whole tensioner, just the pulley part.. they are about 18 dollars each at NAPA or other Parts store.
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 01:19 PM
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Default Balancer

Remove balancer, replace with Quality replacement, new ARP bolt, use RED Loctite, torque to 240 ft #'s. consider pinning balancer. I wish I had.

I made a installation tool out of a piece of metric all thread and my old SBC installation tool bearing, it worked great. There is very little interference when installing the balancer that is why so much torque on the bolt is needed to retain the balancer. The balancer presses against the oil pump drive hub on the back and the bolt (washer) on the front.
I wish it were designed to spline to the oil pump drive sprocket or either keyed like the old motors.
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 01:51 PM
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Hey Thanks guys. I have printed em out and will take em with me on monday. I am heading home Sunday nite and to the shop on Monday.
Thanks again, Jerry
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 07:07 PM
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Good luck, Jerry. I hope you don't have a cross-threaded crank snout. Just make sure you have a new bolt, and use locktite, and install with old, remove and discard, tq new one correctly. I found that a 130mm long metric bolt with the same thread made it easy to install the new dampner, but I DON'T recommend using a factory replacement. They are a known defective part, and it's a gamble. I use a Powerbond, and in your case you can get a 25% underdrive unit, and get some cheap horsepower.
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Old Jul 22, 2011 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by zeevette
and install with old
really poor advice....
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Old Jul 23, 2011 | 08:04 AM
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Originally Posted by lucky131969
really poor advice....



Use a proper installation tool. If you use the old bolt, and it breaks off in the crank, because it wasn't designed for that kind of job, then you'll REALLY have an issue on your hands....
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Old Jul 23, 2011 | 01:37 PM
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Note that the GM procedure uses the old bolt for final seating after the damper is pressed on using the correct tool. Here is a link to the GM procedure:

Link
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Old Jul 23, 2011 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
Note that the GM procedure uses the old bolt for final seating after the damper is pressed on using the correct tool. Here is a link to the GM procedure:

Link
The highlighted part is the key....
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Old Jul 23, 2011 | 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by lucky131969
really poor advice....
I didn't mean to start the installation with the original bolt. It's handy to use, once you have the balancer mostly on, to TQ it to 240, and then remove. Use your new bolt then and TQ to specs. Duh.
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Old Jul 23, 2011 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by zeevette
I didn't mean to start the installation with the original bolt. It's handy to use, once you have the balancer mostly on, to TQ it to 240, and then remove. Use your new bolt then and TQ to specs. Duh.
It's handy to use?

In this case, the service manual procedure is right on time. Why you feel a need to put your own spin on it, is beyond me......it just creates confusion for a novice. Dumb........
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