Harmonic Balancer Pinning
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 167
Likes: 18
From: South East USA
Harmonic Balancer Pinning
I f you're installing a new balancer that already has a keyway, would you try to line up your pinning kit to use that keyway, or would you drill through "virgin" part of the balancer ??
TIA
AJ
TIA
AJ
Uneducated autodidact
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 252
From: West of the Sabine, Texas
The pin that you use after drilling the balancer is much smaller than the keyway typically used in aftermarket balancers. It might work if the balancer spins on the crank but is less than ideal IMO. Are you pinning the crank because you are going FI?
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
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From: South Hill Wa
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If you try and drill where the keyway is I think you run the risk of the drill bit grabbing and breaking.
When I pinned mine I drilled the pin hole like 90 degrees away from the keyway. Also packed the aftermarket keyway with silicone and smear some silicone on the washer face when torquing it back on.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,367
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
The pinning kit that I used, had a means to locate itself on the crank snout, indexing off the keyway, which correctly indexed the location for the pin to be drilled.....
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 167
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From: South East USA
I'm in the middle of this, out in the garage by myself. My wife opens the garage door and says "are you talking to yourself"? Of course i say no. I'm talking to this (insert profanity) car!
As someone previously recommended, I put the wrenches down for the day and came in for a beer.
At least I only burned myself once on my drop light today
As someone previously recommended, I put the wrenches down for the day and came in for a beer.
At least I only burned myself once on my drop light today
Last edited by AJ Powers; Feb 23, 2022 at 03:12 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,367
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I'm in the middle of this, out in the garage by myself. My wife opens the garage door and says "are you talking to yourself"? Of course i say no. I'm talking to this GDMF'in car!
As someone previously recommended, I put the wrenches down for the day and came in for a beer.
At least I only burned myself once on my drop light today
As someone previously recommended, I put the wrenches down for the day and came in for a beer.
At least I only burned myself once on my drop light today
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 426
It took me 3 days too. Then 4 days to get the bubbles out of the !@#$%^^&* power steering rack.
All my neighbors take their children in and close their windows when they see me working on cars.
I worked my way through college taking cars apart in a junk yard. I learned a lot about cars and got a very extensive and colorful vocabulary too.
All my neighbors take their children in and close their windows when they see me working on cars.
I worked my way through college taking cars apart in a junk yard. I learned a lot about cars and got a very extensive and colorful vocabulary too.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 342
From: Central NJ
There is a vid out there on you tube where a guy did what you are asking. He did say that the drill bit was bigger than the keyway and it worked out for him......But, it may just be best to seal the keyway as mentioned and start from scratch......I may be in the same boat as you. I have a bad HB and may have to get the summit 5201 balancer as the powerbond PB1117N (no keyway) has been on backorder for months now...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I was lucky and found a local forum member with a side pinning tool and used that method to pin my crank to the dampener! IMHO, That is the way to do it. It was easier than it looked to be.
IF,, it was ME, I would try to use the same hole, but, that's ME.
I use a heat gun and heat the dampener hub to about 200 degs right before installation. It goes on much, much easier. Also, dont forget to put oil/lube on the snout where the cover seal makes contact with the snout.
BC
IF,, it was ME, I would try to use the same hole, but, that's ME.
I use a heat gun and heat the dampener hub to about 200 degs right before installation. It goes on much, much easier. Also, dont forget to put oil/lube on the snout where the cover seal makes contact with the snout.
BC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
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From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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There is a vid out there on you tube where a guy did what you are asking. He did say that the drill bit was bigger than the keyway and it worked out for him......But, it may just be best to seal the keyway as mentioned and start from scratch......I may be in the same boat as you. I have a bad HB and may have to get the summit 5201 balancer as the powerbond PB1117N (no keyway) has been on backorder for months now...
Fingers crossed!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 4,043
Likes: 342
From: Central NJ
The Amazon vendors did not have them even though they said they were in stock. I know because I called them...As for Summit, they will be getting 45 balancers on March 10th and will ship out on the 14th....I actually called dayco/ powerbond to see what the deal is....that's where I got my info and did call Summit to confirm this. These have been on backorder since Oct....Hopefully there are no delays in shipping and they actually do ship out to us on the 14th...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 4,355
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Sounds like a conspiracy. Might be a novel somewhere in here…