Harmonic Balancer: Brief Technical explanation please!
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Melting Slicks
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From: Corvette, It's a state of mind Anywhere, USA
Harmonic Balancer: Brief Technical explanation please!
Hello everyone! Just recently my air conditioner stopped blowing cold air and soon after that I started noticing a chattering or chirping whenever I turned the wheel LEFT only on a cold start. Took it in to the dealer to find out what had caused all of the problems. The Harmonic Balancer. Evidently, when it goes bad, it can go one of two ways, INWARD or OUTWARD. Mine went OUTWARD and took out the tensioner and the belts for the air conditioner which explains why my air conditioning stopped working and maybe some of this noise when the wheel was turned left! If it went INWARD ,their would have been MORE damage according to the dealer in that the Timing would have been affected. I am not sure I understand all of this? First off, what is a "Harmonic Balancer"? and what is it's function? Also, why is it in such a vulnerable place where it can take out belts and such and cause other problems like "killing" your cold air on your air conditioner and affect your steering when you turn left? Fortunately, for me, warranty covered everything but the belts. Thanks. Peace. :cool: T-Bone.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 442
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From: San Clemente CA
Re: Harmonic Balancer: Brief Technical explanation please! (T-Bone98)
Hi,
It sounds like the rubber ring that connects the hub to the outer inertia ring failed. This is the common failure mode of this style of damper. This rubber is the "spring" that allows the outer ring to lag behind the crankshafts dynamic motion and dampen these unwanted motions.
The crankshaft oscillates torsionally a small amount as it rotates. The damper is tuned to oscillate out of phase with the cranks motion which will reduce the deflection of the crank. This will reduce the average stress on the crank and also increase the timing chain's life. In the old days of SBC’s the crank drove the cam which drove the distributor so your timing was also affected by the crank’s motions.
This is an ATI aluminum hub damper
Here is a good write-up on harmonic balancers:
http://www.uniontrib.com/marketplace...1harmonic.html
Here is some info on aftermarket balancers:
http://www.atiperformanceproducts.co...rs/dampers.htm
Good luck,
Steve
:seeya
[Modified by SNW Vette, 6:00 PM 6/17/2002]
It sounds like the rubber ring that connects the hub to the outer inertia ring failed. This is the common failure mode of this style of damper. This rubber is the "spring" that allows the outer ring to lag behind the crankshafts dynamic motion and dampen these unwanted motions.
The crankshaft oscillates torsionally a small amount as it rotates. The damper is tuned to oscillate out of phase with the cranks motion which will reduce the deflection of the crank. This will reduce the average stress on the crank and also increase the timing chain's life. In the old days of SBC’s the crank drove the cam which drove the distributor so your timing was also affected by the crank’s motions.
This is an ATI aluminum hub damper
Here is a good write-up on harmonic balancers:
http://www.uniontrib.com/marketplace...1harmonic.html
Here is some info on aftermarket balancers:
http://www.atiperformanceproducts.co...rs/dampers.htm
Good luck,
Steve
:seeya
[Modified by SNW Vette, 6:00 PM 6/17/2002]
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Re: Harmonic Balancer: Brief Technical explanation please! (SNW Vette)
SNW Vette is correct. You are lucky (?) yours went out. Mine went IN (2 weeks ago). After 10 days at the dealer and $4500.00 later, it's back up and running. Thank goodness it was covered under warranty :yesnod:
Good luck with yours. :cheers:
Good luck with yours. :cheers:
