OK, is there a hint on an easy way to get the balancer on? I'm pretty sure it's lined up with the key. Do I just beat on it with a hammer against a wood block until I can get enough threads for the crank bolt? Or is there a better way?
Don't hit it with anything, please. There is a tool sorta in the same fashion as a steering wheel puller that will either pull the balancer off and install the balancer too.
I definately agree with Doug, don't hit it! Actually it should slide pretty much completely on with little or no trouble. You may take a look at the key, the keyway, the crankshaft, or the balancer itself for something that is keeping it from going on. Did it come off without much effort? Something is not just right. You should be able to get it most of the way on and then by tightening the big nut get it completely on without major effort.
OK, so I'll take the block of wood, put it on the ground, take the hammer, beat the block to splinters until I've released the frustration and then try the balancer again.
Did you replace the main seal in the cover? Is it possible that something there is hitting the outside of the shaft on the balancer. By the way, you should put the hammer on the floor and beat it with the piece of wood. Good luck and post your progress. :Brow:
Yes, I did replace the seal and I think it's tucked in there pretty well. I used the basic rope seal - with 147k on the engine, I'm making this a budget project to hopefully get one more year before rebuild. If I remember (from 1 am last night) it was just sticking. Should I try lubing it with some of that petro jelly I used for the oil pump?
You can put a light coating of grease on the shaft and a light coating on the seal itself. It will help with the seal. Make sure that the retainer nor where you crimped the cover to hold the seal in is actually hitting the balancer shaft. If it is then you will need to correct that situation. The seal itself should offer only a little bit of resistance to the balancer when trying to install it. If it is really tight then you may have to redo the seal. Is the oil slinger back against the gear? It only goes on one way. If it is put in backwards it will prevent the balancer from going on the shaft. I know that was a stupid question on my part but there is very little down there to cause a big problem. Just trying to cover all the bases.
Thanks, I'll try the suggestions. The slinger is on properly (concave side facing forward) and I don't think it's hitting anything. I think it's just sticking. I'll bet if I take your suggestion and lube it a little it'll go right on.
That balancer really should go on nice and easy. I fell on my a$$ when I yanked my original out in '91, it came out so easy. I wonder what it's hitting? That rope seal would be my first guess. I recall it wasn't fun or easy to install mine. If that isn't the culprit, I'd hazard to guess there's a burr on something that's holding you up. Since it's the original balancer, can you even trust it? How's the rubber ring in the middle? Cracked or bulged or otherwise evil-looking? New ones cost some money, but an old one might not be 'clocked' right anymore- the outside ring with the timing marks may have 'walked' on the rubber ring. Could even be out of balance by now, too, if the outer ring isn't perfectly on the middle of the rubber ring. I would really recommend replacing that balancer on general principles, might even make installation easier. If you really have to use that balancer, get a longer crank bolt to grab some threads, then swap back in the correct one. I really think you have a good chance of wiping out the seal doing that though, but it's a thought.
I'll check the inside before giving it another shot. It ran well before, so it shouldn't be too bad. Only reason for doing this is chain was so slack it rattled. Turns out that cam gear, while still having all teeth, was so cracked that it wouldn't have lasted much longer. The balancer did require a puller to remove. I'll check the inside, lube it up and see what happens. I think the seal is OK.
Have you got the balancer installed yet? If so, what was the culprit? The suspense is too much!:grin:
LaMarr, No. I can't figure out what's causing resistance. I moved on to the distributor. That's done, so this is all that's left. The balancer is at the point where the course machined ring area is about halfway into the timing cover lip. I'm going to pull it back out tonight and try to get some light into the hole to see. If I still can't get it in, I'll have to either pull the cover again, or try an installer bolt.
Hi Guys, Victor....Make sure you are getting it started squarely. If that's not the problem then I would tend to say that either the inside mounting surface of the balancer itself or the crank snout have a burr on them somewhere. Check the crank key real good, also the balancer "slot" that the key slides into. Take a file and carefully go over these just for good measure. Instead of beating a balancer on (which by the way can destroy the thrust bearing real quick!) try running down the local hardware store and spending a couple of bucks on a 2" longer crank bolt. This will get the balancer "going" and then you can finish getting it the rest of the way on with the stock bolt once you've "bottom'd" the longer one....be sure to use the stock washer with that longer bolt. This is all that is really needed instead of the cash layout for "the tool". I've been doing it this way for several years with complete success and no problems.:TU: Take your time and don't let the flustration get to you!:rant::grin: Good luck!
:TU: Now your a professional me can ick:laugh: Glad you've got it on hope it runs sweet for ya now.:3gears:
