Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Harmonic Balancer out of position

[grimesja]

Okay I need some help here. I had a guy work on my truck to fix an oil leak. He pulled the harmonic balancer off but did not mark it. Apparently it is not installed correctly the truck is louder and seems to have more vibration then usual. What would you guys recommend as a solution? I know I could remove the balancer a couple of times to geet it right or is ther a better idea. Thanks John

 

[WestTN]

There is no indexing on these. They are simply a mass to reduce the impulses from the cylinders firing. An in-line six is inherently in balance.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I wonder if a chunk of something or a bit of debris got behind the mating surface and it's not running perfectly true. Cummins are internally balanced, the damper is only to quell the twisting forces of the cranksaft, not for balancing purposes. . . like WestTN says it doesn't matter what position it's bolted on.

 

[grimesja]

I just know the truck has gotten really lound and has more vibration since he worked on it. I know the pubs tell you to mark it before removing and that Genos sells pin kits. so i was thinking that the balancer had mated to its position over time. I don't see any chuck or markings. Thanks John

 

[grimesja]

From what you guys are telling me, there is basically no need for a fluid dampeer or ATI harmonic balancer for our trucks.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

For a stock truck not really but guys who put them on say it makes a noticeable improvement. Even as stout as the Cummins crankshaft is it's still subject to twisting forces and a viscous damper will help with torsional harmonics. Not sure about the pin kit but I think it's to help take stress off the retaining bolts in higher RPM situations and probably to more effectively transmit torsional vibration to the damper.

 

[Tinman]

The metal pieces of the stock damper are connected by rubber type material. It can wear out. At about 165K on my 01 I noticed more vibration at around 21-2300 rpm. I figured the damper much be worn out, so I put on a Fluidampr. Wow, what a difference! Smoother that the stock truck was new. I didn't change anything else at the time, so I think the two damper pieces probably rotated against themselves. Truck has been run at about 350rwhp for most of it's life.



I also put a Fluidampr on the 06 at the same time at it didn't' make any noticeable difference, but that truck runs about 450hp all the time so I figured it'd be a good idea.

 

[Joe Mc]

I'm with Tinman. My damper started to separate and I went fluid. What a difference.

As for there being something different after the work was done. I take it off and make sure there's no debris on the mating surfaces, check to see if the movement mark on the hub and weight portion are not aligned and if the rubber looks dry rotted consider new. If all looks good make sure you torque all 4 bolts - sorry forget the torque number.

 

[grimesja]

I'll take it off over the weekend and inspect it. If I do need to replace it understand the ATI is a better product then Fluid Damper and the prices are comparable. Does anyone have experience with ATI on the Cummins?

 

[Joe Mc]

Used a Fluid Damper, got it from Summit, haven't had any problems with it. Sorry, no experience with ATI units.

 

[Tinman]

Inspection may not be useful. Mine looked fine but didn't work too well. If the two pieces rotate related to one other, you won't be able to notice it. The torque is 35ft-lbs plus 60* of rotation. Very tight. Use new bolts.

 

[grimesja]

The visual inspectionn looks good, mating surfaces are clean and the bolts are torqued to specifications. There is no chanfge in vibrations or noise.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

Okay I need some help here. I had a guy work on my truck to fix an oil leak. He pulled the harmonic balancer off but did not mark it. Apparently it is not installed correctly the truck is louder and seems to have more vibration then usual. What would you guys recommend as a solution? I know I could remove the balancer a couple of times to geet it right or is ther a better idea. Thanks John

just wondering what all your friend did to fix your truck prior to the truck making the new sound and vibration.

 

[grimesja]

The good ole boy mechanic fixed the oil leak coming from the front of the timing cover up near the ID plate.