DQOD: How far on does the Harmonic balancer go?

[rrubel]

Dumb Question of the Day...

I'm trying to install the harmonic balancer, and wondering how far onto the crank it needs to go. One difficulty is that there's no transmission on the other end to provide drag and keep the crank from turning. The other issue is that it's fairly obvious that the crank does not extend all the way through the balancer. But how much beyond the crank DOES the balancer go? How close to the timing cover? Argh!
thanks.
[RICHR]

 

[Mart]

Hey Rich, I just checked my books and it does not say, wierd thing is I replaced my HB last summer and for the life of me I can't remember how I knew when to stop.

Does the bolt have a washer that will not let it push it any further?

Mart :confused

 

[corvette66]

hmm

On my L98 the face of the crank (the front were the center bolt goes in) it is exactly 1 inch in from the face of the harmonic balancer. So in other words, if that sounds confusing, if you stick a rod in the center hole of the harmonic balancer it should go in exactly 1 inch before hitting the crank.

But if you have a different harmonic balancer, then it could be different. The cranks are all the same, so if your balancer is 1 3/16" thick like mine, it should work. Another way to look at it is, the harmonic balancer is 3/16" on the crank.

And the gap between the face of the timing chain cover and the balancer is 11/16"

good luck

 

[rrubel]

Mart, there's a washer, but the bolt bottoms out earlier than I think it should.

Corvette66, many thanks - that's what I was looking for. Haven't measured yet, but it looks like almost an inch of depth to the crank. I'll check and verify.
[RICHR]

 

[Mart]

The HB is only 3/16 on the crank??

Thats not much, this sounds wierd, I'm gonna have to look at this one because I know mine is on further than that.

:confused Mart

 

[corvette66]

The HB is only 3/16 on the crank??

Thats not much, this sounds wierd, I'm gonna have to look at this one because I know mine is on further than that.

:confused Mart

Come to think of it, maybe the balancer is on more than 3/16, If the center of the balancer protrudes out further than the width of the balancer. But the gap between the balancer and timing chain cover is exactly 11/16"

I have my L98 on an engine stand right now, I'll go pull the balancer off and see whats up with it.

 

[Ken]

Everything I find Rich, simply states to...

Place an installing tool in position and press the harmonic balancer on the crankshaft, then install the harmonic balancer retainer bolt with a washer and tighten to (the recommended) torque.

 

[rrubel]

I guess that means that if you use the stock bolt and washer for installation then you'll always have the right placement. One of my concerns was that I had to use a piece of bolt stock and a nut to even start the balancer into position because the bolt was too short. So I could have even pressed it on too far...

Thanks for all the replies, folks.
[RICHR]