A harmonic balancer is a device, which is connected to the crankshaft of the engine for reducing the torsional vibration and it serves as the pulley for the drive belt. It is the most standard component of the engine, which will be connected on the front side of the crankshaft. The purpose of the harmonic balancer is protecting the crankshaft from damaging the vibrations that are caused due to the actions of the pistons. These harmonic balancers can breakdown, and learning how to replace harmonic balancer can be helpful.
Function
Once the engine cylinder starts firing, the rod that connects from the cylinder will exert force from the crankshaft. This will give all the necessary force for turning the crankshaft from the propel of the vehicle. At some speeds, the impact that the torque creates on the piston will start generating significant vibrations inside the crankshaft. The harmonic balancer will dampen the vibrations and protect the crankshaft from excess vibrations, which is released from stress and damage.
Features
A harmonic balancer is made up of three parts. The inner section will be with an attachment to the crankshaft, and is connected to it by bolt. The middle portion will be made of a rubber ring, which can absorb the vibrations from pistons and the outer section will be made of heavy steel ring. These rings will come along with the pulley cuts and timing marks. If force is exerted on the harmonic balancer on the rod that connects to the piston to the rod, the between section will absorb the force with the outer steel ring, and as it has a huge mass it will not move.
Considerations
The harmonic balancer is subjected to wear and will fail eventually. If the harmonic balancer fails, the timing marks will start drifting and will increase the vibration in the engine. Eventually the middle rubber part of the harmonic balancer will start loosing its flexibility and it can harden the crack as well. The only solution to this problem is replacing the harmonic balancer. Any amateur person can replace the harmonic balancer easily. Removing the harmonic balancer will require a special tool known as ‘puller’, which will be present in the harmonic balancer set.
Things Required:
- Wrench
- Deep-set socket
- Socket wrench
- Harmonic balancer puller kit
Steps:
- The first step for replacing the harmonic balancer will be disconnecting the drive belts. Engines will come along with a drive pulley, which is attached to the harmonic balancer. When the crankshaft turns, it will spin with the harmonic balancer and the pulley will start turning. The pulley is used for turning the belts, which give power to the accessories, like the alternator and the power steering pump. To take out the drive belts, you will have to loosen the retaining bolts, which are holding the accessories inside the engine with the help of a wrench. After this, you can push the accessory towards the engine for slackening the accessory drive belt. Now you can pull the drive belt away from the harmonic balancer pulley.
- Now you can take out the harmonic balancer pulley. This pulley will be attached to the face of the harmonic balancer along with some retaining bolts. Start removing the bolts with the help of a wrench, and then you can pull the pulley from the harmonic balancer.
- Remove the washer and the retaining bolt from the harmonic balancer. The retaining bolts will be located on the middle area of the harmonic balancer. Fix a deep-set socket for connecting the socket wrench to the bolt, and then you can turn it in counterclockwise direction for removing the bolt and the washer when the bolt starts sliding out.
- Now, when replacing harmonic balancer you can easily remove the harmonic balancer from the crankshaft. Fix a harmonic balancer puller from the harmonic balancer, and use the bolts that are supplied with the puller kit. The bolts will start sliding out from the slots of the puller and into the pulley holes. Once you have attached the puller to the balancer, then you can turn the threaded rod, which runs inside the puller in clockwise direction. The threaded rod will start pushing itself from the center of the crankshaft, while the bolts, which are holding the puller on the harmonic balancer, will pull the balancer on the crankshaft.
- Now for replacing the harmonic balancer you will have to position the new balancer on the end of the crankshaft. After this, you can replace the harmonic balancer on one bolt and washer at the center of the balancer from the crankshaft. Start turning the retaining bolt with the help of the deep-set socket and socket wrench in clockwise direction for securing the balancer on the crankshaft.
- Now you are almost done with replacing the harmonic balancer and you can position the harmonic balancer on the puller against the balancer. Once you are done with this, then you can install and start tightening the pulley with some retaining bolts with the help of a wrench.
- You are done with replacing the harmonic balancer, so you can slide the accessory drive from the belts on the grooves of the harmonic balancer pulley. Later you can start pulling out every accessory from the engine to keep some tension on the belt. Tighten all the retaining bolts to complete the process of replacement.
Now, you know how to replace harmonic balancer, so this will save your trips to the mechanic.
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