PSA: harmonic balancer removal 2.9

[meatshieldchris]

After finding conflicting answers, I figured out how to get mine off, and thought I'd post here.

I have two motors infront of me, one is a 1989 2.9, the other is a 1992 2.9. You must unscrew the center bolt about 1/4", remove all 4 pulley bolts (if there are any), clean the holes, and install the M8x1.25 bolts that come with the harmonic balancer puller. Push on the center large bolt (I center drilled a little divot to center the puller with, otherwise it walked off). Make sure it's all lined up straight, with the bolts inserted equal lengths, and it'll come off 1/4" easy. loosen the puller, remove the center bolt another 1/4", and do it again. Once you're so far out that there's no more threads for the center bolt, just give a few good tugs on the pulley on the outward direction. It's not heavy, but as it comes off the crank it's heavier than you think, and will smash your pinky into something else.

It doesn't matter if there's a washer or not, at least on these two 2.9's, if you remove the center bolt and try pushing on the crank, you're not actually pushing on the crank, you're pushing on the center of hte pulley hub which looks like it might be the crank. The only way you can see the crank is looking through the hole the center bolt came out of.

Don'ts:
Don't try to use a claw type puller that pulls on the edge, it'll chip the pulley and won't move it.

 

[IMenriched]

Nicely stated !

verified on the don't.

 

[Bill in Arizona]

Thank you. I encountered this issue tonight. I was using a claw type puller

 

[micahmcgee98]

I’m no mechanic so please spare me any crap talk I’m 2 hours from home and it’s cold.
So I’m almost in the situation as described above . But I got the harmonic balancer hub and pulley off, using the pulley puller . they came apart as one but the 3/4” bolt is still in the crank. It was dark and about 30 degrees outside last night and I missed the part where you unscrew the 3/4” bolt and just removed the 4 screws on the pulley and thought that’s what needed to be done. Used two of those holes for the puller and cranked on it till it came off then noticed the big bolt

 

[micahmcgee98]

Here’s some pictures. Did I screw up. No pun intended. What to do now?

 

[Uncle Gump]

It appears you're missing the big washer between the crank bolt and the balancer.

The balancer would have never come off if the washer was in place... until you loosened the bolt.

You will need the washer to put it back on... as that is what pushes on the balancer when you tighten the crank bolt.

 

[micahmcgee98]

I just got to thinking the same thing. So if I can get the bolt off( how do I do that without crank turning?) and get a washer it should all go back together fine correct? Theoretically could I use my calipers to measure the gap between the bolt and crank which looks about an 1/8” and fab up a washer. I don’t see why that wouldn’t work unless I made my washer to thick or thin but I imagine I can find something I have on me to do that

 

[Uncle Gump]

 

[micahmcgee98]

View attachment 121066

I made the washer , got it back together and drove the two hours home. Thanks for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it