Fox Harmonic balancer questions

Deleted member 215073 · Sep 10, 2019

Installing it won't be a problem. I was an auto mechanic for a good portion of my working life (mostly GMC light duty trucks and Ford E series vans) but I moved on to repairing equipment at a Kubota dealership. I have a harmonic balancer installation kit from Cornwell Tools.

If you heat up the balancer to 290°, how do you seal the key way? The LMR video instructs you to use silicon there to seal it off from leaking. Or do you just put sealer on the bolt head and washer?

JD1964 · Sep 10, 2019

Interesting. I’ve never used sealer on a crank keyway and I’ve never had a leak there.

revhead347 · Sep 10, 2019

John Dirks Jr said:
Interesting. I’ve never used sealer on a crank keyway and I’ve never had a leak there.

No idea what he is talking about. The key way is sealed by the washed on the bolt. I have absolutely never heard of a balancer leaking through the key way.

Some knowledge does not transfer. I have no experience with Kubota engines. Perhaps the keyway on those engines extend past the washer radius of the top bolt. In 25 years of putting SBFs together, I have never seen oil leak past the washer from the keyway. I would skip the silicone.

Kurt

Deleted member 215073 · Sep 10, 2019

I just looked through my Ford Mustang service manual (actual Ford manual) and it says to apply silicone sealant to the keyway as well.

revhead347 · Sep 11, 2019

Never done it, never had one leak. Sounds like a mess to clean up the next time it's off. It certainly won't hurt anything if you do put silicone on it.

Kurt

srtthis · Sep 11, 2019

ive never seen it done that way... but if you do... use clear

HotFox · Sep 11, 2019

The reason for the silicone is some manufactures cut the keyway deeper which is subject to a leak as the oil bleeds off the front main bearing. Remember it only takes a few thousands and oil will seep.

revhead347 · Sep 11, 2019

I'd use black. Much easier to see when you have to clean it out later. I'd also use only a dab. Otherwise it will all get pressed so far back it'll be stuck up in the timing gear.

I understand oil can seep past the keyway, but then it is sealed by that big washer tightened to 3 ugga duggas. I've never had oil get past that washer.

Kurt

96pushrod · Sep 11, 2019

Never used rtv here either, never had a balance seep oil.

General karthief · Sep 11, 2019

HotFox said:
The reason for the silicone is some manufactures cut the keyway deeper which is subject to a leak as the oil bleeds off the front main bearing. Remember it only takes a few thousands and oil will seep.

and you can spend thousands and it still leaks.

revhead347 · Sep 11, 2019

General karthief said:
and you can spend thousands and it still leaks.

Money doesn't solve problems sometimes. The reason I had mine back apart this week is that the Felpro Timing Cover Set came with a Chinese front main seal. I didn't even look at the stamp on it, and put it in. Sure enough, it leaked. Swapped it out for a National seal made in Mexico, and no problems.

Kurt

General karthief · Sep 11, 2019

And sometimes intelligence plays a part. Does not matter what brand seal you buy if you install it backwards it will leak!
Yep, that's right! Swapped out three rear hub seals in the dump truck and they all started leaking within a month.
I did the first one (I still think that one was defective ) another mechanic at the shop did the next one, and then 'the boss' did the third one, when that one started leaking we discovered one side of the seal had a stamp 'bearing side'!

revhead347 · Sep 11, 2019

That's one of the upsides to the SN. On the fox engine, the seal goes in from the back side of the cover, on the SN, the seal goes in the front side, so you don't have to remove the cover to change that seal.

Kurt

Deleted member 215073 · Sep 14, 2019

I just got done replacing the balancer. It went pretty smooth, no issues to speak of. The old balancer looked to be in good shape, no cracks in the rubber, no bulges either but it did wobble. I compared it to the new balancer and it looks like the counterweight spun on the rubber about 10°.

The vibration is now gone, and it runs smoother than it has since I bought the car.

I know an SFI balancer isn't necessary but I do think it's a better part than a stock replacement.

Blown88GT · Sep 14, 2019

Look at the back of the balancer.

Deleted member 215073 · Sep 14, 2019

I did, it isn't cracked like that, and I can still read the numbers in the rubber. The bulging isn't as bad either but it is there.

Blown88GT · Sep 14, 2019

The front looked perfect. Couldn't see the back until it was removed. I think it slipped about 5 deg. They only dampen vibrations at the resonant frequency, about 1500 rpm for the 5.0 (302).

Blown88GT · Sep 16, 2019

The old balancer came off with a simple puller.
The new one slid on & used the bolt to pull it all the way in.
No heating or cooling required.

Rdub6 · Sep 16, 2019

It’s nice when things go easy once in a while.

Deleted member 215073 · Sep 16, 2019

I have the installer so I used it. I saw videos of people using a 2x4 and a hammer to install them and i cringed.

Fox Harmonic balancer questions

Deleted member 215073

JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

Deleted member 215073

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

HotFox

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

96pushrod

I think they're a little easier to get off

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

Deleted member 215073

Blown88GT

Deleted member 215073

Blown88GT

Blown88GT

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

Deleted member 215073

Similar threads

Fox Harmonic balancer questions

Deleted member 215073

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

Deleted member 215073

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

I think they're a little easier to get off

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.

Deleted member 215073

Deleted member 215073

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues

Deleted member 215073

Similar threads

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