Hello, could use some friendly advise.

How to get the Harmonic Dampner off or the rest of the way on after it stops moving in on the shaft?

Have a '00 Neon that I just replaced a water pump on and have replaced everything rubber on the way out. It was going back together fine untill I got distracted putting the Harmonic Dampner/Balancer back on. It stopped moving on and has a 1/4 inch to go. I made the mistake of not putting any lube on the shaft (I was distracted when I should have been paying attention.) and had covered it with a cloth while I did everything else on the engine to minimize dirt. I tried putting the puller back on and removing it and succeeded in pushing the push rod through the hollow bolt of the OEM Chrysler Harmonic Balancer Puller. (It worked great pulling it off orignially.) I sprayed it with penetrating oil and left it for the night hoping the Neon Fairy would see my plight and grant me a wish.

I'd like to get it off first. I missed the lower to timing cover bolts. Only extra bolts I've come up with so far! (Replacement was water pump, timing belt, upper and lower engine struts, right engine mount, upper and lower radiator hoses, new plugs and wires, new battery. 84000 mile) The car had set a year, it's black and this is Vegas, all underhood rubber goes pretty quickly. I have the same problems with my PT GT, but it's 85000 rebuild will be a performance rebuild.

Any help would be appreciated,

jim

 

Well...to get it back off you'll need an insert of some kind so you wont damage the threads inside the crank...in the past I've used a long socket extension, a ground down crank bolt, and things like that so its long enough to reach the bottom of the crank and still be past the outside of the pulley so you can use the puller. Once you get the pulley back off just turn your oven to 450 degrees, let it heat up to temperature then throw the pulley in the oven for 20-30 minutes. After that the pulley will literally slide right on without any resistance at all.

Hopefully, I understood your question properly and helped out, if not, just let me know!

 

03neonRT

Thanks, this pretty much answers the question. The getting off thing is going to be the tough part. I'm still praying to the Neon Gods that the penetrating oil will work it's way in and the puller will bring it off.

One more question. Can I heat the Harmonic Dampner on the engine without damage? (Propane torch, fire extiquisher, and heat shielding appropreately. Engine is pretty clean thankfully.)

jim

 

Got the puller fixed, a burr on the hollow of the puller bolt prevented the rod from comming back out. The kit I had only had 2 rods, there is apparently a kit with 3 rods were the one is about an inch longer.

I just used my trusty 1/4 inch socket extention for the longer rod andtheDampenercame off like butter. The penetrating lube helped. I think I just was alittle tired andin a hurry to get it done. A Neon wayof saying stop andrest. I'm traveling for the next couple of days so I'll put the car back together this weekend.

Thanks for the help. Lots of good tips in amoungst other stuff here.

jim

 

All back together. Baked the HD (Did some baked potatoes while I was at it (in foil)). That and a little high temp lubricant and it slide home pretty easily. Remembered to put the two little timing belt cover bolts back in first. The car is up and running and not a peep comparied to the wailing it was doing with the bad water pump.

Now for the same operation on a 03 PT GT.

Thanks,

jim

 

He is the Neon God

 

Glad I could help you out!