Thread: Any advice removing old harmonic balancer?

Originally Posted by minichopper6hp

if you have never taken off the bolt in the crank, there is an easy way... take a 15/16 1/2 inch drive socket and ratchet and put it on the crank bolt and rest it on the cradle facing forward in the ratchet reverse mode, then disable the ignition system, and bump over the engine with the starter.

A very respected member here did me a write up on removing the balancer, and this was at the top of his "things not to do" list.

It took me a while to impact it out, but it did finally come out. I used three Grade 8 bolts like TDC suggested to you with some washers. If I had to do it again I would get Grade 8 washers or triple stack the washers since they got pretty bent up. Make sure all three are threaded in evenly so it pulls evenly.

Oh, and use a 1/4" drive deep socket as a spacer to protect the crank threads. Small enough to go in all the way, but large enough to not play.

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

A very respected member here did me a write up on removing the balancer, and this was at the top of his "things not to do" list.

Just curious, why's that? Many well respected people have suggested doing this very thing, too.

Originally Posted by Scimmia

Just curious, why's that? Many well respected people have suggested doing this very thing, too.

I don't have the PM anymore, and I'm not going to call him out on it in case it causes any issues here. I personally don't see it as a good idea either when some vice grips on the flex plate and a break bar will do the trick fine. I had to bust out the bigger impact, but I just impacted mine out.