...You pulled the crankshaft bolt out.
When you pulled out the crank bolt did you remove the washer then reinstall the crank bolt back into the crank before installed the Harmonic balancer puller?
If not, thats how the crank threads got stripped because as you turned the balancer puller, the end that goes into the crank hole grinded some of the threads.
Now with less threads, that equaled to less clamping force from the crank bolt to hold the balancer on.
Crank bolt has to be torqued (to spec)properly or else it WIL become loose
Thats just my guess
Its happened to many good mechanics
Also don't forget to put rtv silicon on the crank bolt washer or else you can get an oil leak.
You can't put the bolt back in AND use the puller - the puller centers itself in the end of the crankshaft, and screws into the balancer. But you must remove the washer or you'll bend the puller. Don't ask how I know...
Scorp - all you need do is remove the serpentine belt, have the correct size socket for the crank bolt, and a puller. Autozone will loan you a puller for a small refundable deposit.
hey guys thanx for the replies im still workin with kragen and trying to decide what i want to do.
10holelx-good theory and thanx for tryin to help me out...if this happend how do think it could have caused the balancer to crack?im pretty sure i took out the washer but i may have messed up the threads with the puller.
is it worth turning in a claim with kragen?
i still want to post pics!!! i miss my car!!!help!!!
I had three of these crack and fail on the motor that I know have in my 82. The first was the 79 oem unit, where the rubber died and the outer ring slipped. I installed a junkyard unit to drive for a couple weeks. The damaged key tore that up in 2 weeks. I installed a new replacement Ford unit. It lasted a year, and the bolt broke off, and it cracked the snout and fell off. Fortunately, the threads were ok, and the bolt just threaded out fine. The crank key slot was rounded at the top, but a new key seemed to fit ok.
I put the original 78 balancer for that crank on it, with a new key, and it has been there ever since.
However, I put a new Fluidamper on the next motor, and it has been fine for 4 years. The other motor will get a performance balancer soon.
I have always used a torque wrench, etc. Other than the first one just slipping, I do not know what caused it, other than guessing that the load and vibration of the old sytle ac compressor just lossened up the outer ring and caused it to shake and fail.