Harmonic Balencer sbc 350

[Matts87SS]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forum and all and this is my first post. Okay, I'm currently swapping out the 305 from a 87' Monte Carlo, and dropping in a sbc 350. I am almost completely done except for 1 problem I am having. I am having difficulties installing the balencer. I went and bought the installer and when I'm trying to turn the wrench to push the balencer on it wont budge, I have had multiple people try but no one can seem to get it to install, and now the 7/16" adapter is stuck inside of my crank. the adapter itself is circular so I can't put a socket on it and remove it. Any help? Thanks

 

[megaladon6]

first i'd try and get the installation tool out. relieve the tension on the tool first.
then try and remove the balancer, a dead blow hammer may work if it's just barely on.
have you made sure that you are centered on the woodruff key?
you can heat the balancer in an over to about 200* without issue and use some grease in the bore when you install it.

 

[Matts87SS]

first i'd try and get the installation tool out. relieve the tension on the tool first.
then try and remove the balancer, a dead blow hammer may work if it's just barely on.
have you made sure that you are centered on the woodruff key?
you can heat the balancer in an over to about 200* without issue and use some grease in the bore when you install it.

The installation tool is completely out but the 7/16" adapter for the tool is stuck threaded into my crank. I cant even insert a removal tool to take the balencer back off to heat it, and I believe it is too far installed to just pull off. Also, does heating it mean that it will just slide into place, or will I still be required to use the install tool. Thanks

 

[anthonychacon80]

i did the same thing last week! I ended up putting the outter sleeve and long skinny bolt back on into the adapter, then tightening the crap out of the long skinny bolt. Then I used two wrenches to back out the skinny bolt WITH the sleeve while keeping the BIG FAT nut and bearing from moving. It took some tries but I finally was able to back off the adapter. When you put the balancer back on dont tighten the adapter in! you only need to slide it on gently and hardly even finger tight. just enough so that the sleeve and skinny bolt can just hardly hold on. Dont tighten the long skinny bolt to much either or you will tighten the adapter. Just spin the BIG FAT nut in and you are done.

 

[Matts87SS]

i did the same thing last week! I ended up putting the outter sleeve and long skinny bolt back on into the adapter, then tightening the crap out of the long skinny bolt. Then I used two wrenches to back out the skinny bolt WITH the sleeve while keeping the BIG FAT nut and bearing from moving. It took some tries but I finally was able to back off the adapter. When you put the balancer back on dont tighten the adapter in! you only need to slide it on gently and hardly even finger tight. just enough so that the sleeve and skinny bolt can just hardly hold on. Dont tighten the long skinny bolt to much either or you will tighten the adapter. Just spin the BIG FAT nut in and you are done.

Well now I have yet another problem, from the time I left the car to the time I returned, my brother managed to strip out the long skinny bolt. The adapter is installed far enough that I cant even put my fingers on it and it is tight enough to turn the motor over.

 

[monte olrac]

If the key is aligned with the slot, use a rubber mallet and beat that b*st*rd on all the way, hopefully you have enough room tp apply some vise grips and the ole hammer...option 2 retap those threads in the adapter, hit it with some freeze off, and try it again...option 3 if you have a welder weld a bigger bolt on the adapter and screw it off.

 

[Matts87SS]

Well today, I got out all the adapters and tools and removed the balancer, boiled it for 20 minutes and when I pushed it onto the crank it gets stuck on the exact same spot it was stuck yesterday. Even with the installer tool, the amount of force I use to turn the wrench in turn strips out the threads on the installer. So until that balancer is installed the crank pulley wont line up with the rest of the pulleys. And I cant start my motor until thats done due to it being a serpentine belt system.

 

[jrm81bu]

Try to make sure that the keyway isn't moving as you press on the balancer. I've had them kinda rotate the back up as it goes on, and then not want to level out as it slides on.

 

[megaladon6]

try baking it in the oven, that's what i did 200*
but make sure everything is perfect first. i've done it w/out problem (or heat), it really shouldn't be THAT hard.