420a harmonic balancer pulley replace/install

[edikshion]

I was wondering how to remove and install a new harmonic balancer on a 420a. Im pretty sure its going out because at idle it wobbles and sometimes makes a noise like a belt hitting something on the passenger side wheel wall. Also wondering where to buy it cheap :]

sorry i swear this was the 420a mechanical forum. How come I cant post anything except here?

 

[VelocitàPaola]

Thread moved to appropriate forum.

You can post in the 420A Bolt-on Tech forum as a new user.

 

[psycho]

This is the correct puller for the job:

Pullers OTC Tools OTC 6284 - Chrysler Harmonic Balancer Puller Set

You remove the bolt holding on the pulley and the thin rod goes into the hole. The puller uses the crank shaft snout to push against. The "teeth" of the puller go on the inside ring.

If you use a regular 3 jaw puller (which I don't suggest but could work if you do it correctly), you have loosen the bolt but not take it out. The center shaft of the puller uses the bolt to push against. Most people remove the bolt completely, which is obviously wrong because the puller is working against itself.

And you can get a used OEM pulley from someone or buy an ebay under drive one.

 

[Project2G]

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[Fotowntalon]

Also wondering where to buy it cheap :]

If your going through all the trouble of getting to there, you might as well just install an aftermarket udp! Beyond that you can get lucky on ebay or search on here or 2gnt for a part out. Other options would be googling one for sale or going to the manufacturer but anything new oem from them is far from cheap

 

[edikshion]

If your going through all the trouble of getting to there, you might as well just install an aftermarket udp! Beyond that you can get lucky on ebay or search on here or 2gnt for a part out. Other options would be googling one for sale or going to the manufacturer but anything new oem from them is far from cheap

what is an aftermarket udp? Does it change anything ? If its affordable and some how adds hp ( ) then ill get it!

nvm just found out hahaha. So underdrive pulley "CAN" increase hp and mpg by almost to nothing? Is the underdrive pulley the same as the harmonic balancer?

 

[Fotowntalon]

you said you found out, but not sure which information you found out and which you didn't so I'll just list some for ya. Yes udp= under drive pulley, it is a replacement crank pulley (also refereed to as harmonic balancer pulley). Kind of like how aftermarket exhaust manifolds are called headers.

They are relatively affordable, actually one of the cheapest mods considering the bonus they give you. I think i read for each pound you shave off your crank rotational mass equals to roughly 2hp.

This works by having your crank work less to rotate, which makes "free" horsepower. Also it adds power by under-driving your accessories. Basically what all this equates to, is your engine will rev faster/easier, so you can get to your power band and other gears quicker. Wow i am starting to sound like a commercial or something.

Anyways I have a ## udp ->Unorthodox Racing but i got it off eBay for about $100 cheaper. I know howell has some for sale for cheaper but they are normally on back order. If you go with eBay, make sure that a) if will fit your car and b) I'd personally go with a name brand like ##.

Hope this helps ya some. Feel free to ask anymore questions ya might have.

 

[edikshion]

dang that sucks really bad because I already ordered the harmonic balancer off rockauto , but I saw one on ebay for around $40 and it was Billet aluminum

 

[Denaran]

Ummm.....I need some serious help here. I've got a 420a and I went to reomove the harmonic balancer pulley. The outer pully has come off cause and now it's just the center part of the pulley left on. I rented a puller and put it on using exactly what I was supposed to and 2 of the tabs where the claws connect to the pully have broken. Now I have to idea what to do. This pulley needs to come off so I can get to the water pump. and replace it cause I'm dumpong about 2 gallons of coolant in 2 miles. Any ideas....the only other idea I have is to put it in the shop which is obsurdly over priced for the cost of the parts.....how do I get this pulley off.

 

[Locke]

Find some place suitable to place the jaws of the puller, set some tension, then start applying heat to the pulley. When the pulley begins to move, remove the heat and start cranking the puller to get the pulley the rest of the way off.

If there is no suitable place for the puller jaws, then you may have to resort to heating the pulley and trying to pull it off by hand. It won't take very long, and you don't want too much heat to soak into the crank and the front main seal. Add heat, then try to pull it off, then add more heat, and try again. Use welding gloves.

 

[Denaran]

Tried everything I could....no luck...gave up and sent it to the mechanic to have the whole ball of shit fixed. Water pump, timming, and that damn pulley....gonna cost me 600 or better when the parts cost all of 100. This is my first DSM ever...just wishing the 420a wasn't such a pain in the but to work on sometimes.

 

[bagged420a]

its not really a pain to work on when your parts aren't broken

 

[xcelr8npimp]

How did you fellas install the pulley back on?? I bought an underdrive and slides in too easy on the crank snout. It will tighten up with the bolt and turn when the bolt is torqued down, but is that enough??? Some advice guys?

 

[Fotowntalon]

lotta people recommend using locktite to help

 

[TenSecondSTi]

Sorry to bring this back from the dead but It won't let me create a new thread so yea..

Anyways I will never touch a 420A again nor a neon nor a PT loser or any car with a 420A that needs a timing belt and water pump unless the owner pay's me 120/hr hahaha

My main issue is I had to heat the harmonic damper more then twice on this 99 eclipse and with a very good torch set. And that stupid special puller lame. Still wouldn't come off.

Now if this wasn't a good friends car I woulda said take it somewhere else I'm not replacing this junk motor on my account..

So I ended up having to cut 2 slit's in the hat in order to get it off what a PITA.

I wanted to take my plasma cutter and just cut the car until nothing was left i was so pissed of the time It took never in my life have I been threw such crap. And I've done timing belt's on 3000gt's like butter.

So now that's off anyway the stupidest thing ever is how they have both pulley's pressed on.

So does that key way need to come out before pulling this dumb design pulley off? Next step is I'm gonna pull the damn crank right out of the block. Then the genius turns the motor over from the crank I was like umm dude wtf are you doing..

So moral of the story is I will not touch this junk engine ever again unless I get 120/hr for labor.

 

[CODE4]

Why are you attempting to take the crank sprocket off? It is not necessary to remove it for a timing belt service. Only reason to pull it off is to replace the front seal or remove/replace the oil pump. Regardless, the woodruff key is not removed until the crank sprocket is off - otherwise it would defeat the purpose if the key could slide out.

 

[bullettdsm]

Yup, you have a good idea. Stay away from the car. Let someone more competent do it.

How/Why would you attempt to remove a key-way without removing the piece that is surrounding it first? The key-way is embedded in a slot in the crank. How could you think about pulling that out first?

And Dave, as for removing the crank sprocket, I'm guessing he's removing it to fix the seal that he melted down.

You come on strong with angry words about our vehicles, but posting up like you did has very little value.

Here is the post of the thread;

This is the correct puller for the job:

Pullers OTC Tools OTC 6284 - Chrysler Harmonic Balancer Puller Set

You remove the bolt holding on the pulley and the thin rod goes into the hole. The puller uses the crank shaft snout to push against. The "teeth" of the puller go on the inside ring.

If you use a regular 3 jaw puller (which I don't suggest but could work if you do it correctly), you have loosen the bolt but not take it out. The center shaft of the puller uses the bolt to push against. Most people remove the bolt completely, which is obviously wrong because the puller is working against itself.

And you can get a used OEM pulley from someone or buy an ebay under drive one.

with a picture of how it is used in the next post;

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

.......and even after Jonathan posted that up we get this;

Ummm..... I've got a 420a and I went to reomove the harmonic balancer pulley. The outer pully has come off cause and now it's just the center part of the pulley left on. I rented a puller and put it on using exactly what I was supposed to.

Where the poster claims he used his proper tool the correct way. But it is not possible to pull the outer ring off when you are using the Chrysler tool the proper way. It pulls from the inside of the pulley.

Its ignorance like this that's posted up that confuses people. I have yet to have a problem with pulling these using the Chrysler tool (we're talking severly overheated engines, heavily rusted New England engines and engines that have been sitting for years). I'm not saying its not possible, but for those searching around who come upon this thread, it is a highly unusual event that is often the fault of the person pulling the pulley.

MB