Author Topic: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?  (Read 4737 times)

Offline christopher.lafollette

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Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« on: January 27, 2014, 06:31:16 AM »
I've noticed lately that there is a definite wobble in the way my engine runs. The harmonic balancer has a wobble to it, or could it be a bent fly wheel? I could take off the fly wheel cover and check for a wobble while running. I need a new rear main seal as well but I couldn't imagine that causing the wobble.

Offline dvdswan

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2014, 12:10:15 PM »
well, if you can see the balancer wobble that would be a starting point in my book. 

does the crankshaft pulley wobble as well?  is the crank bolt missing or pulley bolts missing? are the fan belts misaligned from their accesories to the crank pulley?


Offline Greybeard

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2014, 12:13:23 PM »
Not to sure your engine would last long with a bent crank or a bent fly wheel. The balancer on the other hand, it could run for a while with no serious damage but you need to change it asap. They do go bad when the rubber bond breaks down.

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Offline christopher.lafollette

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2014, 02:40:15 PM »
It's an 85 and I will need to check the other pulleys, I know that the fuel line wobbles and the power steering pump, but that's just a loose nut on the bracket. It really vibrates a lot when I accelerate.

Offline bd

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2014, 04:03:12 PM »
Run a compression check, replace the balancer, do a tune-up, and verify the firing order.
Rich
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In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
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Offline christopher.lafollette

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2014, 06:13:02 PM »
 Verified the firing order at least a few times. When you say tune up, does that mean plugs and wires? just got them about a month ago.

Offline christopher.lafollette

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2014, 06:14:34 PM »
well, if you can see the balancer wobble that would be a starting point in my book. 

does the crankshaft pulley wobble as well?  is the crank bolt missing or pulley bolts missing? are the fan belts misaligned from their accesories to the crank pulley?



Unfortunately the crank pulley has a wobble as well, guess that means bad news right?

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2014, 06:52:21 PM »
Don't worry about the pulley since it attaches to the balancer. If the balancer elastomer has failed replace it. They're less than $100 new. What exactly is it doing when you are driving?
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Offline christopher.lafollette

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2014, 10:22:29 PM »
Shaking and vibrating really bad.

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Harmonic balancer or warped flywheel?
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2014, 06:06:43 PM »
Do a power balance test and see which cylinder is not doing it's job
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              ⌠ŻŻŻŻŻ'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10