Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Vibration Damper

[grtescpa]

Is it possible to install the vibration damper wrong? I did a KDP job 20k ago. I might have put it back on different from its original bolt location. The damper just does not look right. I can see excessive side to side movement. Now my cover seal has started to leak.

 

[JGheen]

It's very possible to install it wrong. What do you mean side to side movement? Side to side looking at it from which direction? It depends on why the seal is going out already..... but if your damper is installed wrong that could be the answer as to why your seal is leaking. But then again, now that I think about it, I wonder if you would get a big vibration of some kind from the damper being installed differently. Not sure, maybe someone else will chime in and give their opinion.

 

[DSiemens]

I have had my harmonic balancer off a few times. Balance is not dependent on reinstalling in original position. What is leaking? The crankshaft seal or the cover gasket. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but the rubber??? ring in the damper might have shifted OR deteriorated. I have no side to side movement.

 

[alkirmer]

The damper can't be put on wrong... . there is no special alignment required...

 

[grtescpa]

Damper movement

Looking at it from the bottom or top you can see it vibrating like a wheel wobble. From the naked eye I'm guessing . 015 inch. It also looks like some up and down movement. The bolts are tight and the seal and dust ring were replaced 20k miles ago. I did not have any leaks until now when the damper condiction changed.

Its only a small leak. About a drop in 36 miles. The KDP job was done with the tab method. I know that was done correctly. I used 1/8 band iron, a longer bolt and lock nut. All bolts were cleaned and locktite. The seal was put on dry. Does the rubber in the damper go bad? Could the front main bearing be going?

 

[DSiemens]

The rubber material can deteriorate. I have experienced this on gassers, but not on my Cummins. Look for cracks in the rubber ring as well as pieces missing and-or the rubber swelling out of place. I would check the easy stuff first (damper) before suspecting a main bearing. When the crankshaft seal was done, was there any groove on the crank? If so, this could be the cause of the leak. Cummins sells a speedi-sleeve to fix this.



Dan

 

[Howard Durand]

Pull it off and make sure the mating surfaces are perfectly clean. Something could have got stuck to the back side of the dampner or the face of the crank.

 

[britannic]

YMMV, but don't wait to fix this, a faulty balancer can destroy a crankshaft in very short order.