Harmonic Balancer Installer - Home made tool?

[Dan Pepper]

I'm installing a new balancer (GM# 6272224) on a '69 L46. Rather than buying or renting an installer, it looks like I should be able to use the threaded puller shaft with a stack of washers and a nut to press/seat the balancer on the crank. If I'm careful to keep the balancer true while pressing it on, it seems like it should work fine. Anybody tried this? Could this damage the crank or balancer? Any tips, tricks?

Thanks in advance.

[Clem Z.]

i always coat the bore of the damper with

moly kote to prevent any gauling with the crank snout when installing. what ever you use make sure it is threaded all the way into the crank so you do not strip the crank threads. put a little grease on the part that the cover seal rides on so it is not a "dry" start and ruin the seal when you first start the engine

[Rob A.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Installer - Home made tool?

Dan,

My local auto parts store recommended what I think they called a spring centering bolt. I was about a foot long, fine threaded with a large, slotted head on it. I used it on my '67 big block balancer with lubrication as suggested and it worked fine.

[Dan Pepper]

Rob - does that mean...

that you use the head of the bolt (that is threaded into the crank snout) to push the balancer on? Or do you seat the bolt all the way into the crank snout and then turn a nut down the length of the bolt shaft in turn pushing the balancer on? Seems to me that the threads in the crank snout should be "worried" as little as possible, and that using a nut screwed down on a fully seated threaded shaft would be a better way to go. Comments?

[Mike McKown]

Re: Rob - does that mean...

DON"T use the bolt to pull the balancer on the crank. Run the bolt all the way in and then draw the balancer on with a nut/washer with the threads well greased.

I lay a piece of 2X4 across the face of the balancer and bump it on with a two pound ball peen. When it gets close to being seated, it goes the rest of the way, hammer only and when the balancer seats against the crank shoulder, metal/metal you can "feel it seat" and know it's home. What's wrong with this method?

I've put too many on this way without a problem for it to be a problem. Yes, I know what the book says. I suppose you could cause thrust bearing damage or damage to the rubber ring if you really wailed it. Anything can be broken though.

[Michael L.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Installer - Home made tool?

If you have an Autozone in your area, they lend tools with just a deposit on them. It is a free service for thier customers. What they offer in loaner tools varies by store. You can check them out as well.

[Rob A.]

Re: Rob - does that mean...

Dan,

After lubricating the balancer and putting it in place, slide a nut, then large washer(I used the one that goes there anyway) onto the rod, thread it into the crank and use the nut to push to balancer on. Lubricate the threads on the rod(or bolt)also.

[Dan Pepper]

Thanks guys. *NM*