Removing harmonic balancer

[thachevythang]

My only parts store in town doesn't have the remover or install kit and I have to wait a week or so. Is there a trick to getting it off without the tool. I'm kinda crunched for time and have about 5 days until I need the truck again.

[Grim 82]

Have any mechanic friends that would borrow you one?

[1979C20]

If I remember correctly, I pulled the 3 bolts out of the pulley and took it off, removed the crabk bolt, and wailed on it with a BFH. Then to put it back on, slide it onto the end of the crank with the keyway in the right position then start running the bolt in. get the bolt tight with a breaker bar, then hit tbe balancer toward the engine with a hammer. Repeat until its properly positioned

[thirsty]

Try and borrow a puller.

[VileZambonie]

I would highly advise against following the BFH technique mentioned above. If you have no access to a puller than you can make one, just make sure you are pushing off of the crankshaft and not the threads. You have no other auto parts stores or tool supply houses in Texas?

[Blazin]

DO NOT use a hammer or pry bar!

[TexasRed]

Vile, Texas is a big place, some places (such as West Texas) are thinly populated.

[fitz]

Do you have a Sears neay by? If not I'm sure Summit Racing can next day air one to you cheaper than it will cost to replace your crank after using the hammer method.

[thachevythang]

We only have a NAPA here where I'm at and everybody has to usually order parts. 100 miles to the next parts store! Even most common tools aren't in stock. I lucked out and found a puller and valve spring remover I needed at a garage sale! 5 bucks for a box full of tools! So now I'm back on track! Thanks guys!

[roger97338]

There's a time to use a hammer, and a time to use the right tool. When it's your only vehicle, and you want to keep it in as good of shape as possible, use the right tool. Now, if it's something that you picked up for cheap, and you don't really care about how it runs because you're going to pull the engine eventually anyway, and it's cold and raining and the last thing you want to be doing is getting colder and wetter, screw the hammer, grab the nearest rock and beat that sucker in the direction you want it to go!

Are there any shops in town that would loan you one? Maybe if you offered to leave a deposit for it? If you don't have much cash to leave for a deposit, offer to let them hold onto your drivers license. Or one of your kids, if you've got any.

(You guys accuse ME of trolling...then suggest using a hammer on a harmonic balancer? For shame!)

[beastie_3]

Roger, unnecessary comment.

[VileZambonie]

There's a time to use a hammer, and a time to use the right tool. When it's your only vehicle, and you want to keep it in as good of shape as possible, use the right tool. Now, if it's something that you picked up for cheap, and you don't really care about how it runs because you're going to pull the engine eventually anyway, and it's cold and raining and the last thing you want to be doing is getting colder and wetter, screw the hammer, grab the nearest rock and beat that sucker in the direction you want it to go!

Are there any shops in town that would loan you one? Maybe if you offered to leave a deposit for it? If you don't have much cash to leave for a deposit, offer to let them hold onto your drivers license. Or one of your kids, if you've got any.

(You guys accuse ME of trolling...then suggest using a hammer on a harmonic balancer? For shame!)

Way to contradict yourself, you're saying "you guys" accuse YOU of trolling and suggest using a hammer, so who are "you guys" and didn't YOU just suggest using a rock and beating away?
Was there even a purpose to posting that sentence aside from trying to convince everyone you ARE a troll?

[1979C20]

Roger, I didnt necessarily suggest.it. I just stated my peraonal experience with the situation. I could have said "whatch ya do hurr is take da biggest hammer you gots and beat away until da balancer falls off then drink another twelver of bud". I got mine off without damaging anything, using a hammer.

[roger97338]

I was just joking, guys. I'm sorry if  my humor comes across as condescending, trolling, stupidity, or anything other than humor. I'll dial it back a few notches. I'll stop derailing this thread, too.

How did you end up installing your balancer, thachevythang? (Also, my apologies for taking your thread in an unhelpful direction.)