Is my harmonic balancer gonna explode?

[theglobb]

I got a real crust-bucket of a 60 for free a while back. I'm about to cut it and turn it into a flatbed pickup truck but before that, there's a mechanical issue that worries me.

The crank wobbles, it has done it for the past 6,000 miles or so. Obviously this can't be a good thing but I've never dealt with this before, so I'm wondering what it may be. a video is below


My guess is the harmonic balancer is failing but I'm wondering if anything else (other than a toasted crank) would cause this? This 2F is pushing 290,000 miles, and from what I understand, it's never been opened up. Just wondering if anyone has seen that wobble before and knows exactly what it could be or that it definitely isn't a HB. Man, those things are EXPENSIVE!!!

All thoughts/knoweldge is greatly appreciated

 

[cruisermatt]

Looks fine

Skip the flat bed plan, do a SOA and come wheeling. Not enough 60’s on the trail

 

[onemanarmy]

^yea!
screw more body work

 

[theglobb]

Looks fine

Skip the flat bed plan, do a SOA and come wheeling. Not enough 60’s on the trail

Sweet glad to hear I was over reacting about the crank wobble. I’ll be wheeling this thing regardless of the flatbed or not. It’s just not drivable in its current state, rain pours into the roof and covers everything in mold, exhaust works its way in thru the floors and chokes you out. It’ll be easier to seal up a single cab vs a whole 60.

^yea!
screw more body work

Trust me after the Troopy I don’t want to do any more body work however I’m selling my truck to pay off this cross country trip I just did and will need a truck to replace it. Aswell as the reasons listed above

Hopefully years down the line I can body swap a decent 60 body onto this one

 

[Spike Strip]

Check the rivets that hold the HB together. As the HB ages and the rubber center deteriorates, those rivets loosen and the HB begins to wobble or oscillate. If you see obvious marks around the rivets where things have shifted, or even some wallowing out of the holes, then be glad you caught it early before it damages the crank snout. Also, by hand, see if there's any movement of the HB fore and aft.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Sweet glad to hear I was over reacting about the crank wobble. I’ll be wheeling this thing regardless of the flatbed or not. It’s just not drivable in its current state, rain pours into the roof and covers everything in mold, exhaust works its way in thru the floors and chokes you out. It’ll be easier to seal up a single cab vs a whole 60.

Trust me after the Troopy I don’t want to do any more body work however I’m selling my truck to pay off this cross country trip I just did and will need a truck to replace it. Aswell as the reasons listed above

Hopefully years down the line I can body swap a decent 60 body onto this one

flex seal tape my freind looks like your at the beach not boone

 

[70 FJ40]

Mine does the same thing. I would say mine is a little worse. 241,000 miles. I was worried about it but a mechanic I had help me charge the A/C told me its not a problem. I still worry, though.

 

[roadstr6]

Check the rivets that hold the HB together. As the HB ages and the rubber center deteriorates, those rivets loosen and the HB begins to wobble or oscillate. If you see obvious marks around the rivets where things have shifted, or even some wallowing out of the holes, then be glad you caught it early before it damages the crank snout. Also, by hand, see if there's any movement of the HB fore and aft.


View attachment 4236452

I was about to post this pic from my 60 (Turdle), but Spike beat me to it. 100 percent agree. Loosen the belts and check for wobble at the outer pulley. I did a DIY fix on this one and it has held up just fine for several years.

 

[theglobb]

I was about to post this pic from my 60 (Turdle), but Spike beat me to it. 100 percent agree. Loosen the belts and check for wobble at the outer pulley. I did a DIY fix on this one and it has held up just fine for several years.

What did your DIY fix entail? replace the rivets? or just slap a bunch of weld everywhere, orrrrr?

 

[roadstr6]

What did your DIY fix entail? replace the rivets? or just slap a bunch of weld everywhere, orrrrr?

Bolts, nuts and tack welds to ensure the bolts and nuts don't back off. More details in the Turdle Build Thread link in my signature below.

 

[Spike Strip]

FWIW, if your HB is wobbly, or has issues, or has fallen apart, this place can rebuild them, either solid or with the elastomeric center, like OE. TLC4x4 (when they were in Van Nuys, CA) used to send their HBs there for refurbishment.

Harmonic Balancers | Redding, CA | 530-246-2984 - https://damperdoctor.com/