Harmonic Balancer ?, Can not find answer
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Aransas Pass Texas
Harmonic Balancer ?, Can not find answer
I have looked at many threads here and on the net in general and can not find this answer. My harmanic balancer, on my 2000 hardtop, 6spd, bolt loosened up and the balancer was about 1/2 off the crank. Happened from slam shifting the **** out of it with new tires. I marked the shaft and balancer and am putting a stock balancer back on from AutoZone. No weights were in my original or the new one. Is there anyway to know the orentation of the balancer install besides this? If the balancer was walking of the crank, it would seem it could have rotated from the orginal location. I read where someone had balanced the vibs out by trial and error adding a weight to one hole at a time and running the engine. Sounds like the only way to do it?? Just hate to have to pull it off and turn it to another location. PITA. No key on the crank seems crazy to me. Thanks for any help.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
If there are no weights that would mean it's zero balanced. So it doesn't make any difference how it goes on. Not all got weights in the balancer.
My original balancer appears to have one of the holes filled with a slug. But I didn't read about this until after I had the old balancer off. I don't see how I would have got the slug out in one piece anyway. I just installed the new balancer as it came and don't notice any vibes. However, I did transfer the two slugs into the new flywheel I installed. My balancer wasn't coming off but it had the wobbles where the pulley works on the rubber.
I didn't see a need to pin mine since I won't be racing it or supercharging. But since it came up... I understand the process but if you ever have to remove and reinstall the balancer, how on earth would you get it back in exactly the same spot for the pin to go in? Just curious.
My original balancer appears to have one of the holes filled with a slug. But I didn't read about this until after I had the old balancer off. I don't see how I would have got the slug out in one piece anyway. I just installed the new balancer as it came and don't notice any vibes. However, I did transfer the two slugs into the new flywheel I installed. My balancer wasn't coming off but it had the wobbles where the pulley works on the rubber.
I didn't see a need to pin mine since I won't be racing it or supercharging. But since it came up... I understand the process but if you ever have to remove and reinstall the balancer, how on earth would you get it back in exactly the same spot for the pin to go in? Just curious.
Last edited by fendermender; Jan 1, 2012 at 05:09 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
I wonder what GM's reason was for not keying the balancer? Thats just odd to me. As was said, since it's not keyed, they are neutral balanced.
I'm going to pin my SLP just for piece of mind when I install it.
BTW, if your balancer came half way off, I would be tempted to mic the crank snout and see if it is undersize at all. If the balancer could move forward, I would think it could also have been spinning on the crank. You just may be an excellent candidate for pinning.
Ron
I'm going to pin my SLP just for piece of mind when I install it.
BTW, if your balancer came half way off, I would be tempted to mic the crank snout and see if it is undersize at all. If the balancer could move forward, I would think it could also have been spinning on the crank. You just may be an excellent candidate for pinning.
Ron
Last edited by RonSSNova; Jan 1, 2012 at 06:09 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
Has to be money. A nickle for the key and one less machining operation. Plus when being assembled, the worker can just slap it on without bothering to line anything up.
BTW, no dowel for the flywheel either. At least with it you can see the marks where it was.
I can tell you this. It is a tight fit both coming off and going on. You really need the proper tools. I borrowed the puller from Advance and made up an adapter for the installer. Took a 4ft cheater bar to get the new bolt torqued.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Palm Harbor Fl
The motor is internally balanced and the crank is not keyed. The pulley goes on however you want. Be sure to replace the factory bolt as it is Torque To Yeild and not reusable. I doubt banging gears with fresh tires caused the balancer to walk. Most likely the bolt came loose over time or was never torque correctly to begin with.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Whippany NJ
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