DFlintstone

****, sorry man, what a *****. Always something stupid. Gotta be something you are missing/can-t see. Maybe pull it apart again and get some supper light, maybe a piece of mirror. I might wear my 300x readers and try to feel the key slot with a dental tool or something. See if something feels wrong. Sounds like it's out a bit....could the key be jamming UP at the back of the slot?

I haven't been in one of those in a while, I think you could see better if you pull the seal...

Oh..just re-read your thread...yea, x2, check the other pulleys, belt might be being fed to the ballancer at an angle.

(btw, those magnets are on with heat glue, they come off at around 200*)

ducter

thing that gets me is when it comes forward I can slide it back was a little force. Could that still be the h b allowing it to move like that?

DFlintstone

I know the bolt is tight. Can you pry and move it at all? You said "harmonic balancer, went a got one ". Is that a different one? If so, does it look the same as the original?

On my 90 the face of the balancer is about flush with the heads of the bolts on the water pump. The back of it is right tight to the cover. There's not room for the belt to move rearward, and there is a lip so it can't move forward.

ducter

I have only 1 new one, the same one I originally bought. They look pretty much the same with only a slight difference in the front design I guess you would call it. Same height though. When I start her the hb moves forward a bit and the belt rides mainly in the grooves with the back edge riding on the lip of the hb. I shut it off and can then push the hb back towards the timing cover where it belongs.

I will go out tomorrow and pull it back off and recheck the slot for the key, see if anything's out of place.

kjc

I'm sure the HB isn't supposed to 'move' once it's installed. If you can move it (front to back) then something isn't right. It sounds like it might be the wrong part. Still have the OE? Take it back where you got it, and bring the old one to compare for exact size.

kjc

I'm still wondering about the dampener key falling in to your timing cover.. from the pictures i have, i can't see any way for it to get past the crankshaft oil seal. The seal is on the crankshaft, and is pressed into the timing cover. Are you sure the oil seal is on there?

DFlintstone

Yep. For sure, as Kjc says. No way should it move. You sure you used the original bolt, and not a longer one maybe from the installer? That could explain it.

kjc

^^XX2 good thinkin'.. that'd cause it fer sure

freegdr

when the balancer moves does the head off the bolt also move with it ?

Cherockee

X2, I was thinking the same thing. But that would mean his crank is moving that much, which would spell bad news.

I've never seen a HB that was loose enough that you could push it back and forth, something doesn't seem right there. I think it's picture/video time!

freegdr

im thinking bolt issue like posted b4 if crank was broke it would not turn balancer that is

ducter

I think its the crank or thrust bearing tbh. The bolt moves with the hb and remains tight. Its the correct bolt on it as well, the bolts from the installer are different heads as they are open for the long bolt to screw into. I will try and get a video of it this afternoon as I am still hoping that somehow its not major.

DFlintstone

Oh **** I think you may have found your knock. I had a crank break at a diagonal. Took a minute to figure that one out. The bearing would hold it lined up, and cause it was angled it would still "transfer rotation". Just knocked like hell.

With the belt off, is there a little rotational free play?

ducter

Still havent gotten this figured out, honestly I havent bothered with it out of disgust.

To replace the thrust bearing, is it a major undertaking? I am not a mechanic by any means, more of a parts swapper but my funds are so limited right now this may be the time to have a go at it. Any of you guys that have done this before that would be willing to kinda guide me along? Or able to give me a heads up on what to expect?

thanks

DFlintstone

I've never been into a 4.0. Got something for you though. Presuming the balancer is indeed properly connected to the front of the crank, first how much does it move in and out? It sounds like way more than the thrust bearing, (or the engine), would allow the whole crank to move. Is the torque plate, (in the bell-housing under that little dust cover), moving am well?

Don't blame you for being bummed, that's not something you want to see moving.