Is my balancer seated?

[Longhorn321]

OK experts....How do you know if your harmonic balancer on your 350 is fully seated? I used the center bolt and a washer to pull it on and it went most of the way but I think it may need to go a little further. The bolt started getting harder to turn and I started getting concerned about breaking the bolt so I stopped. The crankshaft also started turning which leads me to another question...What's a good way to hold the crank so you can torque the bolt properly? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[O'l Buck]

If it is a used balancer, just check to see if you can see any of the shiny surface in front of the seal, if there much at all, it's not in far enough, pull the bolt out and check the threads both on the bolt and in the crank.

[sneakysnake]

Look for the timing cover seal mark, also pull the center bolt, shine a light and see if the end of the crank is pulled up solid.

[Longhorn321]

Originally Posted by O'l Buck

If it is a used balancer, just check to see if you can see any of the shiny surface in front of the seal, if there much at all, it's not in far enough, pull the bolt out and check the threads both on the bolt and in the crank.

Can't look for the shiny surface...I put a repir sleeve on the balancer. It's all shiny!! Doh!!

[Longhorn321]

ttt

[Ram-Man]

Pull it back off and measure the depth as how far it can go on, then put a mark on the balancer shaft and reinstall. Make sure and use an installer or you might rip the threads out of the crank.

[Sport/Truck]

I just used an installer on my balancer install (a AutoZone loner), and turned it until it stopped. The end of the crank wasn’t at the end of the balancer though..
s/t

[Bucky71]

I think that you need to use a special tool like this:

[68C15]

I use an installer just like the one pictured (mine is a little more elaborate though) and hold the flywheel with a flywheel turning tool. a screwdriver stuck in the teeth and jammed against the starter will work as well.

the balancer bottoms against the timing gear.


do NOT use a hammer to install it, bad for thrust bearings.
do NOT use the bolt either, those threads are meant to HOLD the balancer in place. if they get damaged the balancer can come off and wreak havoc on all kinds of expensive parts.

[Sport/Truck]

Originally Posted by 68C15

I use an installer just like the one pictured (mine is a little more elaborate though) and hold the flywheel with a flywheel turning tool. a screwdriver stuck in the teeth and jammed against the starter will work as well.

the balancer bottoms against the timing gear.


do NOT use a hammer to install it, bad for thrust bearings.
do NOT use the bolt either, those threads are meant to HOLD the balancer in place. if they get damaged the balancer can come off and wreak havoc on all kinds of expensive parts.

One guy at a parts store said he’s never used an installation tool, just hammered them on!
s/t

[Ram-Man]

Originally Posted by Sport/Truck

One guy at a parts store said he’s never used an installation tool, just hammered them on!
s/t

I hope the main bearings are seated well to stay in place.

[Sport/Truck]

Originally Posted by Ram-Man

I hope the main bearings are seated well to stay in place.

No doubt! So you need to use common sense when these people offer there advice.
s/t

[Truckstr]

+1 on using the installation tool.

I'm with Ram-Man, take it back off and take some measurments. Reinstall it.

I realize that most people probably don't use a torque wrench, but it will help make sure - along with proper use of the installation tool - that you don't damage either the bearings or the damper itself.

BTW, using a hammer cannot only damage the thrust bearing, but it can damage the bond of the rubber to the inertia ring and the damper center. If the inertia ring slips, at best you set the timing wrong (and possibly damage the engine) or, at worst, the slipped ring causes engine failure due to messed up harmonics in the engine rotating assembly (read that: broken crankshaft).