Just Trashed My Motor Up: Need Help

93nastynotchLX · Dec 18, 2010

Well, I seem to have found a new way to destroy a motor.

I was working on my car, timing the ignition. Therefore I had to crank the motor with a ratchet to get to the correct timing mark. After doing so I adjust the timing properly, double checked to make sure everything was installed correctly, etc.

I started the car up, heard a terrible whine sound, and hear a basically what sounded like a lot of back firing and banging. The car stalled, and I got out to look to see what was wrong.

I left the ratchet attached to the crank/harmonic balancer bolt. The ratchet got stuck in the fan, and the bolt spun out.

I'm pretty sure that means I crushed valves, and maybe spun a bearing or two.

Anyone know how much damage this really caused?

95Vert383AOD · Dec 18, 2010

Nope.....stick the bolt back in and make sure you remove the ratchet this time. long as you didnt break the fn blades you should be fine.

93nastynotchLX · Dec 18, 2010

I put the bolt back in but now the harmonic balancer just spins. There's like an inch space between the balancer and the motor, which isn't right.

BlownFiveLiter · Dec 18, 2010

You need to press the balancer back on. If you're very careful, you can sometimes tap it back into place enough with a block of wood and BFH, where you can use the bolt to pull it the rest of the way back onto the crank. Just make sure the key is aligned with the balancer when you press it back on and that the bolt is threaded into the crank enough that you won't strip any threads out. You can rent a balancer removal/install tool from most big chain auto parts stores if you'd rather be absolutely sure you're not going to damage anything.

NIKwoaC · Dec 18, 2010

Huh? You adjust the timing with the engine running. What were you doing?

93nastynotchLX · Dec 18, 2010

So I'm gonna have to remove the belt first and then tap it in and finish tightening the bolt?

LarsD · Dec 18, 2010

Go rent the damper tool to reinstall it right, take the balancer off the rest of the way so you can inspect the snout of the crank and the balancer. If everything looks OK, and nothing is bent or cracked (esp the engine side of the balancer), dab some silicone on the forward edge of the woodruff key channel in the balancer and reinstall it with the tool. Install the crank bolt and torque it to spec (90flbs? Not 100% sure).

Rick James · Dec 19, 2010

NikwoaC said:
Huh? You adjust the timing with the engine running. What were you doing?

Really?how else are you supposed to check what the base the timing is set at?

93nastynotchLX · Dec 19, 2010

Everything looks okay, but it made an awful noise when it stalled. It sounded like it spun something. I'm going to give it a go, but I hope that starting it doesn't make it worse than it is now.

Incon · Dec 19, 2010

I was working on my car, timing the ignition. Therefore I had to crank the motor with a ratchet to get to the correct timing mark. After doing so I adjust the timing properly, double checked to make sure everything was installed correctly, etc.

?????

93nastynotchLX · Dec 19, 2010

Incon said:
I was working on my car, timing the ignition. Therefore I had to crank the motor with a ratchet to get to the correct timing mark. After doing so I adjust the timing properly, double checked to make sure everything was installed correctly, etc.

?????

Thanks, I know what I wrote, and I realize what I did was a mistake. If you'd like to help me that'd be great.

All I'm asking for is help putting the pulley back on and getting it running again. I definitely don't want to have to rebuild a motor, but if it's damaged then it's going to be necessary.

LarsD · Dec 19, 2010

Incon said:
I was working on my car, timing the ignition. Therefore I had to crank the motor with a ratchet to get to the correct timing mark. After doing so I adjust the timing properly, double checked to make sure everything was installed correctly, etc.

?????

He was probably setting it to TDC, which you can do with a ratchet while the engine is off.

93nastynotchLX · Dec 19, 2010

Yes, I had the socket on the crank and I was turning it to TDC, I just forgot to remove the ratchet. Then when I started the car, the ratchet got pressed against the fan and the momentum of the motor spun the bolt out.

281pony · Dec 19, 2010

i scanned this, but ill try to help. so the harmonic balancer came off, or just spun the bolt out?

remove serpentine belt by releasing tensioner. remove mechanical fan off the water pump pulley if you have it there still. unbolt the crank pulley from the balancer. line up the balancer on the crank and start the bolt with your fingers.

if bolt doesn't reach, you can gently tap the end of it. once the bolt starts, slowly start turning the bolt in to get it started. i forgot the torque spec, but its up there. then reverse process, crank pulley back on, fan/wp pulley back on, release tensioner and re-install belt.

is that all you need?

93nastynotchLX · Dec 20, 2010

I turned the bolt and its tight against the balancer, but there's still a decent gap between the balancer and the motor.

Is that normal?

old_blue · Dec 20, 2010

hmm, all you can do is give a go. Like you said if, it turns out to be ruined then you'll just have to rebuild.

robo · Dec 20, 2010

93nastynotchLX said:
I turned the bolt and its tight against the balancer, but there's still a decent gap between the balancer and the motor.

Is that normal?

i think it's time you took the car to someone who knows what they are doing before you do any more harm.

also, if you do decide to continue to "work" on the car yourself, slow down and pay better attention to what you are doing. haste makes waste, so to speak.

NIKwoaC · Dec 20, 2010

Rick James said:
Really?how else are you supposed to check what the base the timing is set at?

With a timing light, car at idle, and the SPOUT connector pulled...?

LarsD said:
He was probably setting it to TDC, which you can do with a ratchet while the engine is off.

Oh, I know, just curious as to why he needed the car at TDC.

93nastynotchLX said:
I turned the bolt and its tight against the balancer, but there's still a decent gap between the balancer and the motor.

Is that normal?

Does the crank pulley line up with the other pulleys?

stykthyn · Dec 20, 2010

There's supposed to be a gap between the balancer and the motor. As stated above, if all the pulleys line up and the key in the balancer is set you should be good to start it up and see if anything is wrong internally.

93nastynotchLX · Dec 21, 2010

I got the balancer back in the correct position, I just need to know what the torque specs on the crank bolt are.

Just Trashed My Motor Up: Need Help

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