new harmonic balancer?

[f350flatbed]

I am working on putting the engine back together after a total rebuild. Should I get a new harmonic balancer or put the old one back on? I read somewhere that they can wear out. Thanks all.

Paul B

 

[Agnem]

Wear out? How does a chunk of steel wear out?

 

[f350flatbed]

Some harmonic balancers are filled with fluid to counter the torsional forces.

 

[towcat]

Wear out? How does a chunk of steel wear out?

mel-
the steel doesn't but the rubber strip sandwiched by the hub and outer ring does. I've haven't heard consistent reports on the IH idi having rubber ring failures compared to chevy 6.5's which are very frequent. To answer the first question, replace only if the rubber shows sings of excessive drying and embrittled. Do mark the hub and outer ring like how you mark a Ip to housing but this is done to indicate outer ring movement which is the result of the failure of the rubber ring. I usually will check if there is a vibration issue or when I'm changing belts.

 

[f350flatbed]

I had a pretty bad wobble going on down there somewhere before she blew. i will check this rubber ring tonight. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Agnem]

OK! I learned something today.

 

[towcat]

OK! I learned something today.

mel-
that's the beauty of the basement, you never know what info you find in some dark forgotten corner

 

[icanfixall]

I'll add this to what towcat posted. When the rubber starts slipping then the timing marks will move. This makes a really big mess plus the balance is off too. My 79 chevy 454 just after a complete rebuild and balance slipped. It started to vibrate and the balance was lost. Had to replace it and that sure made some smoke comen out of my ears..