Is the harmonic balancer supposed to be this difficult to remove?

[Andres2882]

Ok, I took the big bolt out of the center, I removed the four bolts and took off the pulley. Using the balancer removing tool from autozone, I put the bolts in to two of the holes to secure plate and then threaded that onto the big bolt that has a cap of sort on the end. Then, using an impact gun, I tried to tighten that large center bolt so that plate would be pulling backward. No luck whatsoever. I never seem to have any luck with these puller deals. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[rd]

These can be uncooperative, especially if they have not been off before.

I suggest reinstalling the big damper retaining bolt into the nose of the crank, 3 or 5 or so turns loose, and having the puller forcing screw bear on the end of that. If you have it bear on the end of the crank, it may beat up the threads. Make sure you have enough to at least get the damper moving. When it moves, spray some wd40 around it for the rest of the trip.

Make sure the puller bolts are even, and its all lined up. You may have to start it with a big breaker bar, while holding the crank from turning by a prybar, or vice grips.

 

[HISSIN50]

I'm with RD. Hitting with PB before even attempting it might have helped.

I find with many pressed on items that you have to load them up more than we are comfy with, and then we get the first click. Then we inspect to see if the part broke loose or just broke.
Then removal as usual.

To help this in the future, I would neverseize the hub upon reinstallation.

Good luck.

 

[Realmongo]

Yes as pointed out above, the balancer can be really stuck on there. But using a puller properly WILL remove it. Whatever you do, resiste the urge to strike it with a hammer as you can fracture it and have some real problems down the road if it were to come apart at speed. Also when you reinstall it, there is a harmonic balancer installation tool that comes with a large bearing that makes installation a breeze.

 

[RMODEL65]

did u just use the bolt with out the end cap on it they are normally the same size threads as the big bolt and just screw into the crank if u leave it out. and like the other guy suggested leave the bolt in loose i always do this as to not damage the threads!

 

[Michael Yount]

Did you remove the big washer that sits under the bolt? If not, you'll only succeed in bending/breaking the puller, or stripping the puller threads. Don't ask how I know.....

 

[cevtv]

Did you remove the big washer that sits under the bolt? If not, you'll only succeed in bending/breaking the puller, or stripping the puller threads. Don't ask how I know.....

Bingo......


It's kind of funny how many people don't realize that the washer is even in there.

.

 

[Michael Yount]

Yeah - if you haven't taken one off, it usually sticks in there, and it is impossible to use a puller with it in place.

 

[bock]

and how do you fix it back in place with the crank turning.

 

[Michael Yount]

?????Put the car in 5th gear with the ebrake on and the tires chocked. It won't turn then....

How did you get it loose?

 

[Andres2882]

Big washer you say ehhhhh? Nuts, I dont think I pulled off any big washer.

 

[Michael Yount]

..yup, there's a big washer that the bolt goes through; if you don't remove it, when you install the puller, it justs tries to bend the puller frame, instead of pulling the balance off by pushing against the crank snout.

 

[04sleeper]

And be sure to use the correct end on the large puller bolt so you don't damage the end of your crank or the threads in the front of your crank.

I have seen this happen before as well.

 

[cevtv]

Big washer you say ehhhhh? Nuts, I dont think I pulled off any big washer.

Yeah.......it's a pretty good sized one.......

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