SOHC Harmonic balancer alert/question!

[shaneb]

Hey guys, I am looking for people who have had problems with the HB on a 4.0 SOHC. Mine is a 2004.

In Oct. I had the AC line rupture that runs under the motor near the front crank pulley. I had originally thought it was the fault of an oil change monkey who bent the line into the HB/Pulley, but now I believe it was the start of a wobbly HB.

Since then I have changed an alternator, half a dozen belts, 2 tensioners, an idler pulley and now a crank sensor and a harmonic balancer.

The thing is that the HB balancer Ford just gave me is totally different and they changed the part number at some point this year. Also, the belt size that fits the truck is a 860k6 but all the parts houses have 868k6 listed for it. This pulley on the new HB is much larger than the old one.

Has anyone else had any problems with this? The truck is now in Dallas and I am in Tulsa, OK. But I will post some photos later this week to show you the damage and the differences.

This is a problem I have dealt with for close to a year and I am getting pretty sick of it.

I am concerned that there may be a problem with the original design that ford isn't telling us (when I told my story to the parts man he instantly knocked $45 off the price of the HB)

Anyhow, has anyone had problems?

Thanks,
Shane

 

[Bird]

Did you buy it new or used - there are underdrive (smaller diameter) pullys / balancers available that someone may have put on yours prior to you purchasing it if it was 'pre-owned'. Last time I checked, Ford was still using the same balancer as always on these things, albeit with a little different keyway for the later models.

Bird

 

[shaneb]

Did you buy it new or used - there are underdrive (smaller diameter) pullys / balancers available that someone may have put on yours prior to you purchasing it if it was 'pre-owned'. Last time I checked, Ford was still using the same balancer as always on these things, albeit with a little different keyway for the later models.

Bird

Nope, the part is factory stock. As of this year they have changed the HB design and part number completely with no explanation.

This is not a pulley/HB balancer combo... it's one piece.

 

[Bird]

Nope, the part is factory stock. As of this year they have changed the HB design and part number completely with no explanation.

This is not a pulley/HB balancer combo... it's one piece.

Yep - when it's all one piece, it's a 'combination' (been building 4.0's for more than a few years, so I know the difference) - what diameter is this new balancer?

Bird

 

[shaneb]

Yep - when it's all one piece, it's a 'combination' (been building 4.0's for more than a few years, so I know the difference) - what diameter is this new balancer?
Bird

Not sure of the new diameter, but it looks to be larger than the front pulley on the old part. Yes it's one piece, what I meant is it is not the old style pulley that bolts to a balancer.

Any idea if the bolt is torque to yield? Or can I reuse it. I know some of the new GMs are TTY.

Thanks,
Shane

 

[pillen140]

ford or any maker changes and redesigns things all the time.... most are known as tsb's. its like a recall, but you have to pay for it because it is not a safety issue. that probably happened to quite a few, so ford desided to redesign it. i wouldnt be worried about the new one, since its redesigned, it probably wont do the same thing.... or it could be designed to fit another vehicle, and it happens to match the same specs?

 

[shaneb]

ford or any maker changes and redesigns things all the time.... most are known as tsb's. its like a recall, but you have to pay for it because it is not a safety issue. that probably happened to quite a few, so ford desided to redesign it. i wouldnt be worried about the new one, since its redesigned, it probably wont do the same thing.... or it could be designed to fit another vehicle, and it happens to match the same specs?

Yeah, I know what a TSB is... and there is not one on this part. I have talked to my buddy who is an engineer with Ford in Dearborn. He is looking into some things for me.... I just got the truck put back together and I am exhausted. But Sunday when I get back home I will post of some photos of what I found when I got it torn down.

Trust me... it's the most bizzare mechanical failure I have ever seen.

 

[Bird]

shaneb - do me a favor and measure across the face of the new balancer with a tape measure. If it's larger, would be perfect for upping the boost on my 'project'

Bird