****! Balancer?

[Synned]

Okay so today I decided that I wanted to try to run locked in timing to solve a different problem.
Set it everything ran great. Later today I'm going to drive home from work 1/2 way home the car starts shaking badly on acceleration. DOes it in every gear, in neutral as well.

Is my balancer spun? I tried to look at it in the dark with a flashlight, but couldnt really see. It WAS wobbling, but the rubber looked perfectly intact.

I tried to drive very slow the whole way home.
Do you guys think that its definetally my balancer? I dont think the timing can have anything to do with it.
What balancer do you guys recommend? Are they hard to change? Is there a writeup anywhere? Sorry for all the questions.

MY poor car

Thanks guys
Joe

 

[wytstang]

If it woobled it's done...

 

[Synned]

I don't know if its just an illusion of the open part of the balancer against the solid part. Ill really get a good look tomorrow, from then on the car is staying parked.

 

[HISSIN50]

I know what you mean about the illusion.

Take a real close look at the elastomer in daylight. Look for run-out when viewed from the side.

If your timing changed again from where you locked it out and the hold down is tight, that's a sign of a spun outer ring (bad balancer).

My crude balancer thoughts: there's street ones (Pioneer, Pro Products, etc) for under 100 bucks. Then there's SFI Pioneer and a couple others for 150-200 ish. And then there's Romac for super-two-hundred beans.

I dont tach it up much, so something like a non-SFI Pioneer is something I'd get if it was the right price. OThewise, the PP unit for 80 isnt bad.

There are tons of options - I only remember the ones that would work for me.

Good luck Joe.

 

[The Green GT]

Mine did just what you are talking about when it went out. Im pretty sure that is what it is. And my new one looks like its wobbling. Its an illusion. And it wont neccesarily wobble if its bad, the counterweight may have just rotated but didnt move frontwards or backwards. Mine rotated like 90*

 

[Synned]

I got the balancer to the point that i cant see the counterweight at all, only the front of it, and its wobbling badly.

 

[gcomfx.com]

I put a Pioneer SFI on mine.... I like it. No heating it up to get it to fit.

 

[wytstang]

I have the non SFI Pro Products works great....

 

[Synned]

Heres an update guys.

The balancer looks fine visually - no spun out rubber - and I cant seem to make it move. AND the timing is the same that I set it.

However i DO see it wobbling when the engine is on. I tried runnign the engine without a belt, STILL wobbling. This takes away any other pump/pulley.
It does it in park. The only other thing i can thing of is that I'm running on 7 cylinders. I don't want to risk running a cylinder balance test while the car is running like this, or do you guys think its okay to do a quick test. Im just scared of messing the crank or crank bearing w/e it is up.

I ordered an
Professional Products 6.4 inch Damper for 5.0/5.8L (50 oz)
Guess I have to wait untill it gets here.

 

[gcomfx.com]

If you already ordered a damper.... wait til you install that. Just to be safe. My 2 cents.

 

[95Cobra302]

Just in case someone else might be looking for a balancer, you can buy a Ford Racing replacement one from 50resto for like $70 bucks. I think your getting a really good quality part for not much money. I put mine on awhile ago and really like it.

 

[HISSIN50]

Joe, one thing that helps me to see wobbling: I will block my view so I cant see the back of the balancer. I only look at the front edge and a reference point (in the timing cover, etc) and check run out that way. Otherwise, I cant make myself crazy (right up until I become hypnotized) trying to watch the whole balancer spin.

You have checked all your plug wires and stuff to make sure nothing popped off, right? And once it started vibrating (while driving home), it never went away and happens when you ran the car the next day?

 

[The Green GT]

Id bet money on it being the blalncer. Mine did the EXACT same thing when it went out. And I couldnt really see and bad rubber. It had just rotated.

 

[Synned]

Id bet money on it being the blalncer. Mine did the EXACT same thing when it went out. And I couldnt really see and bad rubber. It had just rotated.

Maybe, but the timing marks are right on.

I feel its the balancer too, it just doesnt feel like it could be anything else. Its a violent shake.

 

[The Green GT]

Maybe, but the timing marks are right on.

I feel its the balancer too, it just doesnt feel like it could be anything else. Its a violent shake.

Mine actually scared me when it hit about 3000 RPM

 

[gcomfx.com]

I had two stockers go out. The first one was easy to tell. The balancer beat the heck out of a bottom water pump bolt.

On the second stocker, it was harder to tell. On the backside I could "feel" a small section of the rubber sticking out. Not much, maybe an 1/8" or so. It was hard to see, but it's just because I caught it earlier than the first one. LOL

On the second stocker..... the key way was split when I took it off. POS.... so I went with the SFI Pioneer. Guaranteed for 10,000 rpms is good for me.

 

[Synned]

Joe, one thing that helps me to see wobbling: I will block my view so I cant see the back of the balancer. I only look at the front edge and a reference point (in the timing cover, etc) and check run out that way.

Yup, did that and yeah its definetally wobbling. Im just waiting for this central florida mustangs website to email me, because they wont ship it till i authorize or something.

 

[HISSIN50]

Yup, did that and yeah its definetally wobbling. Im just waiting for this central florida mustangs website to email me, because they wont ship it till i authorize or something.

Sounds like a plan!

Oh, make sure the balancer spacer is included if needed.

 

[Synned]

Sounds like a plan!

Oh, make sure the balancer spacer is included if needed.

How would i know if I need one?

 

[HISSIN50]

How would i know if I need one?

They should ask you - I cant remember the exact spec for a PP balancer (that's what you're getting, no?). if that's the right brand, check with their site ( www.professional-products.com ).