Have puller - can't remove harmonic balancer

[rangerama]

Hi all,

First of all, thanks for all the great info here! Haven't posted here as my Ranger has been relatively trouble free since I purchased it for a whopping $500 in 2006. Anyway, I failed state inspection in a blaze of glory. Belts, front brake hoses, etc...

All repairs are complete, but I fear I've slightly fubared the harmonic balancer. The timing belt age was unknown to me, so I decided to replace it for good measure. No problem with 22mm bolt, no problem getting the belt off as the belt guide had been slightly bent by during the last replacement prior to my ownership. However, I bent it slightly more to get the new belt installed and I managed to also bend the metal wheel that that passes through the crank sensor and now have a tick coming from the bottom of the motor which is evident by running the motor with the timing cover and all belts removed.

So, being one that does not like extra noises from the engine bay, I borrowed a puller set from advance to try and bend it back into shape and cannot get the darn thing off. I had enough pressure on the breaker bar to actually spin the back tires with the truck on jack stands. Also bent the the heads of the M8 puller bolts. Not cool!

This is the exact puller set up I was using, but with two bolts not three. Any words of wisdom? Thanks in advance. - Andrew

PS - Replacing the brake line on the passenger's side was a royal PITA! If I have to do that again, the truck will need a new home. Fortunately, they should last another 20 years.

 

[Ozwynn]

did you take the washer out with the bolt? I have done that before.... you need a mechanic's pick to pull the washer out, it could be rusted in there pretty good.

 

[rangerama]

did you take the washer out with the bolt? I have done that before.... you need a mechanic's pick to pull the washer out, it could be rusted in there pretty good.

No! And thank you for the quick reply. Will try and report back.

 

[rangerama]

Sure was a lot easier without that washer in the way.

The balancer looks fine, but I'd like to straighten out the belt guide that sits over the crank sprocket. I have 3 bolts out of the bracket that holds the crank sensor. Clearly, there is a fourth hidden somewhere. Haven't yet found it feeling around with my fingers. If it's behind the back timing belt housing, I'll leave well enough alone.

 

[rangerama]

Any thoughts on getting the belt guide off before I put the beast back together? The bracket holding the CPS prevents the guide from coming off. I've removed 3 bolts holding the bracket and I thing there is only one more. I just can't find it.

 

[rangerama]

For anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation, it's easy enough to reshape the belt guide with a pair of pliers when the hub is off. Purrs like a kitten now with no strange noises.

 

[Mutant Pony]

The sensor is located by an alignment pin. The pin rusts and it is really hard to get the sensor off. you just need to pry, wiggle, pry, wiggle. you may destroy the sensor before it cames off. Clean and antisieze the pin before you put a new sensor on.