Need to get that off, how to do so
Need to removal a stuck harmonic balancer, how to
- Thread starter thebokworm
- Start date
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Need to get that off, how to do so
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
Use a puller?
Really, there are threaded holes in the balancer for this purpose. You'll need a plate/bar longer than the diameter of the pulleys and wide/thick enough to support the force required to remove it. 5-7.5–cm wide x 5-6–mm thick will work. You need a hole in the middle for the press rod; that one has to be tapped, or you can weld a nut on the plate. There should be two clearance holes on either side of that, in line with the tapped holes in the pulley.
Attach the plate to the pulley using two screws and thread the pusher rod into the plate against the crankshaft. Keep turning it and the balancer will slide off.
Really, there are threaded holes in the balancer for this purpose. You'll need a plate/bar longer than the diameter of the pulleys and wide/thick enough to support the force required to remove it. 5-7.5–cm wide x 5-6–mm thick will work. You need a hole in the middle for the press rod; that one has to be tapped, or you can weld a nut on the plate. There should be two clearance holes on either side of that, in line with the tapped holes in the pulley.
Attach the plate to the pulley using two screws and thread the pusher rod into the plate against the crankshaft. Keep turning it and the balancer will slide off.
- Thread starter
- #3
I did try use the puller but it seems really stuck on there, just wanted to get some other peoples opinions
doesnt that centre ring bit with the guide and the outer sleeve part of the pulley come off?
it did have a bit of play in it after trying to use the puller the first time
nab856
SILVER Star
Yes, a puller works great after the crankshaft/harmonic balancer bolt has been removed. Is the bolt still there?
- Thread starter
- #5
Yeah but it's loosened off, I've been using the base of the puller off that, should the base go inside the crank bolt?
nab856
SILVER Star
Looking at your picture, there is a large hexagonal piece(30mm) in the center of the harmonic balancer that looks like a bolt head. That bolt must be removed. Usually requires two levers about 1.5 meters in length, one attached to the harmonic balancer the other to the bolt, pushed in opposite directions to loosen enough to remove.
Last edited:
Malleus
Far west of Siegen
Yes, you have to remove the harmonic balancer retaining bolt. The puller is designed to fit into the chamfer in the threaded hole; you're not going to damage anything.
If it still won't budge, you'll have two choices:
1) » use an impact wrench on the puller; or
2) » put some heat on it. This will render the harmonic balancer unsafe for reuse, as it will degrade the rubber between the hub and the pulley.
Once the bolt is off, the balancer should just slide right off the crank. The bolt is torqued to over 300 ft./lbs. It's going to be tough to remove. Place a long 3/4" breaker bar and socket on it with a ratchet strap holding it tight against the right side frame rail. Remove the ignition coil wire and turn the key to engage (bump) the starter. Starter should break it loose. It's scary, but I've done it this way with great success. If this method doesn't appeal to you, an alternative method is to remove the flex plate inspection cover and fit a ratchet and socket onto one of the flex plate bolts. Turn the flex plate by hand until the socket jams against the bell housing. Then use a 3/4" breaker bar to break the balancer bolt loose.
@thebokworm : Which model/engine are you working on?
- Thread starter
- #10
1hz 80 series
Remove the entire bolt from pulley / spray with PB blaster or Seafoam deep creep etc, hit center of pulley with dead blow a couple times / respray with penetrant put retainer bolt back in impact the pulley back on with impact gun - impact it back off tap with dead blow again. See if you get some movement out of the pulley rock it back and forth 3 & 9 o’clock and 6 & 12 o’clock position that’s usually how I get stubborn ones off.
- Thread starter
- #12
Can anyone recommend an easy way to do the nut back up to spec, can I just rotate the engine till it locks and then tighten the bolt?
