balance shaft problems

laserturbo · 08-02-2012, 12:55 PM

hey guys, i have a 1992 plymouth laser RS turbo 5spd and i am doing timing belt and a blance shaft belt work on my car. i am almost ready to put both belts on and i was told to take a plug off the back of the engine and insert a screw driver in the hole to make sure the balance shaft is in the right place or you will have terrible vibration. so i was attempting to do this and the guy said it needs to be inserted 60mm and touch the balance shaft for it to be in the right position. wel i am having problems because i can not get my balance shaft set correctly. i was told to just drop the engine and do a balance shaft belt eliminator.

opinions and help are needed thanks!

spyderdrifter · 08-02-2012, 01:02 PM

I have done this with mine prior to removing the balance shafts all together. Just stick a screwdriver into the hole after you line up all your marks. If your screwdriver doesn't hit anything upon inserting, you should be good to go.

laserturbo · 08-02-2012, 01:37 PM

yea thats what i thought but i was told that i had to have it hit for it to be right because it was all lined up correctly and it hit nothing. and i just figured i would make a post about it because i really dont want to pull my engine just to do a balance shaft eliminator.

sciondan · 08-03-2012, 10:38 PM

You don't have to pull your engine to remove the balance shafts. I did mine in the car, its not hard.

bryanwheat · 08-03-2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laserturbo

yea thats what i thought but i was told that i had to have it hit for it to be right because it was all lined up correctly and it hit nothing. and i just figured i would make a post about it because i really dont want to pull my engine just to do a balance shaft eliminator.

When the shaft is correct you will be able to install an allen wrench into the hole and it will lock the shaft in place.

white92talontsi · 08-03-2012, 11:55 PM

Grab the oil pump sprocket with the timing belt off of course, Line the oil pump mark up with the case mark.

Rotate the oil pump sprocket 10-20 degrees either left or right.
If the sprocket falls "away" from the Timing mark on the case then it is 180 out
If the sprocket falls "towards" the timing mark on the case then it is correctly in phase.

iugrad92turbo · 08-04-2012, 07:16 AM

I had to figure that out when i did my first tb, got it right, but no more shafts.

pauleyman · 08-04-2012, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Rotate the oil pump sprocket 10-20 degrees either left or right.
If the sprocket falls "away" from the Timing mark on the case then it is 180 out
If the sprocket falls "towards" the timing mark on the case then it is correctly in phase.

Neat trick but it's not fail safe. Newer seals do not allow that. THe sprocket won't "fall".
The screwdriver thing isn't difficult. If memory serves the shaft is in phase every third rotation of the sprocket. You can tell this with the screwdriver because it will hit the shaft one two of those and won't on the third. It's the one that won't that tells you it is in phase. To the OP the sprocket fall trick will likely work just fine for you unless you just replaced the seals. It's easy and what I use also sometimes.