Can I replace my harmonic balancer?
Harmonic balancers do have many names, though, such as damper, crankshaft pulley and crankshaft balancer, among others. While this part may not wear, or be known to wear, as quickly as a traditional idler pulley or belt tensioner, balancers do in fact wear and eventually must be replaced.
How do you know when to replace a harmonic balancer?
Signs that your crankshaft harmonic balancer needs to be replaced include:
- The engine is loud and you feel vibrations coming from your engine.
- The pulley belt may slip causing your vehicle to backfire or misfire.
- The vehicle’s ignition timing will be off.
- The vehicle will not start at all.
How do you tighten a harmonic balancer bolt?
The only way to tighten the harmonic balancer bolt properly is to lock the motor up somehow and tighten it with a torque wrench to the correct tension. Which means usually wedging the flywheel some way. Or you could just use a impact wrench (rattle gun) and tighten it up really tight if you want the easy way out.
Can you drive with a bad harmonic balancer?
Although the harmonic balancer may seem simple enough, if it fails, it can cause major problems. Without the balancer dampening unwanted crankshaft vibrations, engine failures, such as worn rod bearings and a broken crankshaft, may result. A faulty balancer can damage the belt and engine-driven accessories as well.
How long should a harmonic balancer last?
On certain engines, sometimes these last forever, last the life of the engine. And certain engines they might only last 50,000 miles or less than 10 years. This is a good example – because it’s got such a massive piece of rubber – you can see the rubber literally tears apart into two sections.
What happens if you drive with a bad harmonic balancer?
If the harmonic balancer gets too old or fails and can no longer properly absorb the harmonic vibrations, the engine will shake excessively. The shaking will become even more pronounced, and therefore dangerous to the engine at high speeds.
Is it okay to drive with a bad harmonic balancer?
It’s not okay to drive with a bad harmonic balancer. The bouncing crankshaft will wear on the main bearings. It can also tear up drive belts and possibly come apart posing a danger to people and property.
What problems can a bad harmonic balancer cause?