Harmonic Balancer

[Defective]

I cannot seem to get the harmonic balancer off my 1996 4.0.

I have a puller, the crows foot type, but it doesn't want to pull it off.

Is there a trick to this? Do I need a different puller?

 

[Mutant Pony]

when you pull the bolt there is a big washer that comes off with it. If that is still in there it will never come off.

 

[MAKG]

Thread the bolt back in a few turns, and let the puller push on that. It will come right off that way.

This happens all the time. At least you stopped before you broke the puller.

 

[Defective]

Thanks guys, MAKG's seen this enough I guess.

I actually found the answer very shortly after posting this thread. I ended up needing a bolt slightly longer than the one in there, but luckily I had one handy. Funny you should mention breaking the puller, I was afraid of breaking the bolts attached to the pulley. I used the mounting bolts for the a/c pump. They were the only ones I could find long enough that fit through the holes.

Is the harmonic balancer bolt reusable or is it a torque to yeild type bolt?

Also, I've seen both ways outlined now for installing a water pump, one with sealant on both sides of the gasket, one without any. Which is the prefered method? And if the sealant one is, whats the prefered sealant to use?

Lastly, I've nearly stripped out three of the water pump mounting bolt holes. I want to know whats best to do in this situation. Use heli-coils, or just tap it the next size larger, from 6mm to 7mm?