How to take off a stubborn harmonic balancer

[douglaslovin]

First. Tried using the OEM Puller, and it broke the metal off the harmonic balancer (the think inside metal ring, not the thin outer one)

then we tried a blow torch and a 3 foot prybar. nope

I said screw it and started to dremel / drill holes and slices into this stupid thing and then went to town with a hammer until it fell off.

i feel much better now.

anybody who has this same problem in the future, go get a metal drill bit and try to drill where I drilled

 

[brian9397gsx]

You used the oem puller with the proper extension? Ive never seen this before and I worked in a Chrysler mitsu dealership for 5 yrs as a tech.

 

[bryanwheat]

You did not use the puller right. I see the indention's on the pulley for the puller to set and there is no marks there from the puller. The puller hooks to the center of the pulley, not the outside.

 

[douglaslovin]

The first puller wouldn't fit, I don't have any holes required for the 2nd one. (but looking back, we should have just drilled them and threaded the hole.

Finally used a 3 jaw puller which broke the metal (the 1/4"~ metal lip on the very inside) We also had a 3 ft prybar and a torch when using the 3 jaw puller.


I'm just glad this bi*** is off. The wife is tired of listening to me whine about it.

 

[brian9397gsx]

Top left is the correct puller, I know they can be stubborn but Ive literally taken off hundreds of them whether it be a pt neon or the odd nt eclipse and never had one break that's a first.

wait you used the 3 jaw puller and Im guessing no insert, no wonder it broke

 

[douglaslovin]

The first one wouldn't fit. The spaces around the inside circle were too small and it wouldn't fit. The 3 jaw puller was the only one that would fit.

I screwed the crankshaft bolt in but left like 1/2 an inch sticking out so it wasn't pulling on itself.

Next time I'm going to just drill 3 holes in the balancer and thread the holes to use the better puller.

 

[bullettdsm]

The first one wouldn't fit. The spaces around the inside circle were too small and it wouldn't fit. The 3 jaw puller was the only one that would fit.

^This would be an extremely unusual situation. It would indicate that something was done to the pulley (prior to you attacking it) that would have altered it from stock.

Next time I'm going to just drill 3 holes in the balancer and thread the holes to use the better puller.

Having never been stymied by using the correct puller (as brian9397gsx, I also have done many, many), I think you are correct in doing the drill holes and tap them thing. It would be my next best option.

Glad you finally go that off, but I think you're gonna have a hard time reballancing it

MB