Harmonic Balancer repair?


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By bird55 - 19 Years Ago
Have any of you repaired the Balancer on a t bird. The sheaves are fine on mine but it needs to have a sleeve installed I guess or turned smooth. I know the sleeve can be purchased from places like Cassco. so I guess it just needs to be pressed on? any advice would be appreciated.
By Pete 55Tbird - 19 Years Ago
Hi; On the 302 Fords I have done you just use acetone or laquer thinner on crank snout where the seal rides on the damper , then glue the sleeve on. No press required. This is not a load bearing area. Hope this helps. Pete
By paul2748 - 19 Years Ago
Put the balancer in the freezer overnight. Take out and immedialtely try to put the sleeve on. I've done a couple of things like this and it has worked. Never tried a balancer.
By Hoosier Hurricane - 19 Years Ago
Al:

Yes, I've done it on my Bird.  I got the sleeve at my local bearing store.  All they need is the diameter of the balancer where the sleeve goes.  Comes with an installer sleeve and instructions.  Also, the small block Ford damper is the same size, and local parts stores list those.  They probably don't list the Y Block.

John

By GREENBIRD56 - 19 Years Ago
Al - great numbers on your dyno run - thanks for publishing them earlier. Makes me think there's light at the  end of the tunnel.

I got the damper sleeve kit for my bird at NAPA - carried it in the door already marked with a size and they re-measured it anyway (sure to get a guy's nose out of joint). But they had the right one the next morning and now I've pitched the box.

Without a handy press at the house, I used the rack drive on my drill press for a smooth push to seat it. Like John mentioned, the kit was equipped with everything needed to push the sleeve squarely in place.

I think it would be worth putting it on a rebuild - even if the damper looked fairly good. The increase in diameter increases the preload on the seal lip and the material they use to make the sleeve is a harder, maybe slicker surface than the damper OD.  

By Duck - 19 Years Ago
Hello- When I realized the Duck's balancer had a groove wore into it where the seal lip rested, I filled the groove in with a brazing rod and then had our local machine shop turn it down to the correct dimension on their lathe- I always take the long way around problems, it seems...