Harmonic Balancer removal
I'm trying to get my Harmonic Balancer off, but I can't seen to break it at all...I know that my timing is off, so I can't "tap the starter" like it says in the V6 timing belt removal up top....anyone with any suggestions on how to break the bolt's grip?.....my HB only has 2 holes for the 3-arm removal tool...they do not go through to wedge the piece at all....advice anyone...i've uploaded pictures this time.....i'd really appreciate the help....
MIKE
P.S. cranking the car's starter really isn't an option, beacause we've tried pulling manually and we heard the camshaft damner slip behind it...so since timing is off and the car has an interference engine....i am afraid to break the valves....
[IMG]local://upfiles/84611/0108B25C63E64222B61F9B5314294D2F.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/84611/C44B5DDF881A4D80BC1C796042C43DCB.jpg[/IMG]
MIKE
P.S. cranking the car's starter really isn't an option, beacause we've tried pulling manually and we heard the camshaft damner slip behind it...so since timing is off and the car has an interference engine....i am afraid to break the valves....
[IMG]local://upfiles/84611/0108B25C63E64222B61F9B5314294D2F.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/84611/C44B5DDF881A4D80BC1C796042C43DCB.jpg[/IMG]
Success......okay for all of us who don't have those holes and the double-level balancer (like in the pictures in chilton and the instructional guide)....what you need to do to break that thing off is:
1) DON'T use any extensions to try to crank the bolt OUTSIDE of the wheel well....you need to crank from under the car.
2) Crank from UNDER the car pulling COUNTER-Clockwise.
3) Heating the bolt up May (or may not) help the bolt loosen (mine was in winter and outside)...
4) To prevent the shaft from moving, on the Upper Front Camshaft gear (near the front of the car), wedge something thick against the car frame and the inner workings of the sprocket....something liek the "special tool" they talk about....what i used was a really heavy duty pair of wire cutters...the point of wedging this gear is to prevent the Harmonic Balancer/Crankshaft Dampener from Moving... and we don't want the Upper Front Camshaft gear turning COUNTER-clockwise...
5) I left the A/C and the P/S belts on (with their tension) in order to further hold the Harmonic Balancer in place while i pulled.
best of luck with everyone else who tries to do this...
if you need, i also tried a ton of WD-40 and Penitrating Oil as well as heating up the bolt with a small propane blow torch...good luck to all
1) DON'T use any extensions to try to crank the bolt OUTSIDE of the wheel well....you need to crank from under the car.
2) Crank from UNDER the car pulling COUNTER-Clockwise.
3) Heating the bolt up May (or may not) help the bolt loosen (mine was in winter and outside)...
4) To prevent the shaft from moving, on the Upper Front Camshaft gear (near the front of the car), wedge something thick against the car frame and the inner workings of the sprocket....something liek the "special tool" they talk about....what i used was a really heavy duty pair of wire cutters...the point of wedging this gear is to prevent the Harmonic Balancer/Crankshaft Dampener from Moving... and we don't want the Upper Front Camshaft gear turning COUNTER-clockwise...
5) I left the A/C and the P/S belts on (with their tension) in order to further hold the Harmonic Balancer in place while i pulled.
best of luck with everyone else who tries to do this...
if you need, i also tried a ton of WD-40 and Penitrating Oil as well as heating up the bolt with a small propane blow torch...good luck to all
since you cant use the motor to break it loose, use a 1/2 inch drive impact on a air compressor. there is a little roll pin that lines the balancer up with the crank gear. i just did this friday. mine was stuck on that pin and was pulling the gear as well. if thats the problem, hit something that will go in there and it will dislodge. and while your under the car. break the motor mount bolts loose. i recently did id. its pretty fresh in my head so hit me up. best of luck


