jacking engine by crankshaft/balancer?

BerniniCaCO3 · Jul 2, 2011

Hi--

Two months ago i redid my oil pump by raising the car on a lift, undoing the two motor mount bolts, and jacking the engine by the harmonic balancer.

Since then, I haven't really done anything... it's sat. I've run it for 10 minutes maybe, first I fixed an intake leak but it also has an oil pressure problem, so I'm thinking I installed the pump badly.

When I was asking about the pump on another forum last week, I was told that the harmonic balancer was a bad idea as a lift point... however, when I did the pump 2 months ago, it was in the classroom and the instructor said it was fine.

So while maybe when I redo the pump next week, I'll use a hoist next time,
my question is this:
having used the harmonic balancer to jack up the engine once already, how likely is it that I bent the crankshaft?

Should I be pulling my hair in frustration and preparing to remove the crank and find a new one?
Or is it probable that I'm still OK? Just don't do it again, sort of deal?

thanks!
-Bernard

BlownFiveLiter · Jul 2, 2011

It's probably pretty unlikely that you bent the crank, but you could definitely have damaged the balancer. The outer ring is typically bonded to the inner hub with a rubber elastomer, particularly if it's a stock, or OEM replacement.

j_lutter31 · Jul 2, 2011

While I am sure your crank is not bent, jacking it up from that point was a very very very bad idea........Could be hard on seals, bearings, the balancer..... Hoists are cheap, worth every penny to not screw something up......

You are probably ok, just keep an eye on everything.....DON'T DO IT AGAIN...hahaha, oh and btw, tell that instructor he is full of crap.

4rdnut · Jul 2, 2011

If you have a dual sump pan you can jack the motor up by placing a jack under the front sump, i use a bottle jack with a heavy piece of rubber on top of the jack to protect the front sump and jack the engine up. Then you can place wood under the motor mounts when you get the engine high enough and rest the engine on the wooden blocks and remove pan.

90lxcoupe · Jul 2, 2011

There is a chance you wiped the front bearing out and that is what is causing the lack of oil pressure.

Sounds like the shop teacher is giving some bad advice... Reminds me of the saying about teachers, Those that cant do, teach

Rick 91GT · Jul 3, 2011

Yeah, your instructor should be smacked, never jack by the balancer....

Mustang5L5 · Jul 3, 2011

Wow, if I ever saw a mechanic jack my engine up by the balancer....I'd flip

zookeeper · Jul 3, 2011

How low is your oil pressure? Are you going by the stock gauge? Is it a stock replacement pump? My '88 always reads in the bottom half of the scale and at idle when warm, it's way down there. I suspect these things don't have a lot of oil pressure anyway and the stock gauge is pretty vague. As for jacking it up by the balancer, I wouldn't but if it doesn't shake you probably dodged a bullet. Either way it wouldn't affect you oil pressure. If it runs well and has some oil pressure showing on the gauge you're probably safe. Heck, even racing engines only need 10 lbs of pressure for every 1,000 rpm's, which would amount to 10 lbs at idle and 50 lbs at 5,000 rpms. Anything more is just wasting horsepower to turn the pump.

2000xp8 · Jul 3, 2011

First off, you have to have a real mechanical oil pressure gauge.
Second, an oil pump is pretty much never the reason for low oil pressure.
Pumps usually work or they don't.
IMO, you are just wasting your time doing another pump.

Holding the engine in place by the balancer probably didn't do any damage. Would i do it? No, but you aren't the first and won't be the last.
You would know if you damaged the balancer, the engine would feel like it's coming apart when you start it.

Go out and get yourself an autometer mechanical oil pressure gauge.
If it holds any more than 10-15lbs at hot idle (idling below 1000rpm) you should be ok.

BerniniCaCO3 · Jul 5, 2011

No, it's got more like 3-5 lbs @ COLD idle.
The lifters never pump up fully, lots of top end clatter.

Unfortunately, not just a case of overworrying; I've got an oiling issue.

The whole story is that I rebuilt the whole engine as part of the class.

I'm hoping I installed the pump badly, that's the only reason I think it might be the pump. It was brand new, if new ones ever arrive bad also? I'm hoping I'll find a bolt that's backed out or a gasket that's blown.

The only other possibility is the oil galley plugs, and if the pump doesn't work, I'll do them.
New bearings were installed and clearances checked. Bearings on an old engine would have to be seriously worn out to explain 3-5psi cold idle.

ShallowGrave · Jul 5, 2011

This is a smart ass comment, but I'm going to make it anyway: Is the guy that taught you how to rebuild the engine the same guy that told you to jack it up by the balancer?

4rdnut · Jul 5, 2011

I would investigate this teacher, he is obviously purposely teaching you the wrong way and laughing behind your back. I would pull that engine out and have it built by a professional, no not your teacher, a professional. I would hate too hear how he taught you to set the bearing clearances, with a hydraulic jack?

zookeeper · Jul 7, 2011

Low oil pressure is typically caused by too much bearing clearance. If you've got 3-5lbs, that motor's coming out and coming apart before it's right. Carefully measure your crank clearance and also look for missing plugs in the oil galleys around the cam. Something's really wrong with the pressure that low.

Beasty306GT · Jul 7, 2011

U need to pull engine and ur teacher should be fired

BerniniCaCO3 · Jul 9, 2011

I knew the bearing clearances were good (unless something serious happened to them!),
Finally found space and time last night to drop the pan, pump was fine, but what do you know! Two oil galley plugs lying in the bottom.

Yup, that would do it.
I know how I'm spending sunday!
Might post another thread asking about how to do remove the timing cover and do those plugs, hopefully without removing the engine entirely...

Rick 91GT · Jul 9, 2011

BerniniCaCO3 said:
I knew the bearing clearances were good (unless something serious happened to them!),
Finally found space and time last night to drop the pan, pump was fine, but what do you know! Two oil galley plugs lying in the bottom.

Yup, that would do it.
I know how I'm spending sunday!
Might post another thread asking about how to do remove the timing cover and do those plugs, hopefully without removing the engine entirely...

So I was right...oil galley plugs. I posted in the other thread how to put them in.

jacking engine by crankshaft/balancer?

BerniniCaCO3

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