polo1134

Rebuilding the motor and to start things off with already having trouble. I borrowed a puller from my uncle to get the balancer off. Every time I really crank the puller the whole engine balancer etc.. rotates. How much torque does it take to pop the balancer off?

I can jam a screw driver in the rear gear to get the engine to stop rotating but I don't want to break the puller.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks!

DJordan442

i had a problem with an old junk puller (bent the main bolt), then bought a high quality puller kit from Jegg's or Summit Racing (i think $60) and it came right off.

polo1134

This is the type of puller I am using.
Note: this is not the exact puller but it is very similar.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/OTC-6930/?rtype=10

Ben Lurkin

That should work and yes, after umpteen years they can be a pita! I have a similiar puller and had to get grade 8 bolts for it because the cheapies that come with it started to stretch in the thread area.

you may have to use a pry bar between the bolts to keep the engine from turning over. Make sure you use the flat button between the crank snout and the puller center bolt or you will ruin the crank threads.

snoopykissedlucy

My 2 cents:

Make sure to screw in the three harmonic bolts all the way down until there is no thread left. By doing this, you make sure the Y looking thing is equidistant and completely perpendicular to the crank centerline....in other words, you are pulling directly at a 90 degree angle instead of a slightly cocked angle.

polo1134

I got it! I just had to put a bit more elbow grease into it. It was still a PITA!

Thanks for your help.

another-user

i was going to say, it took two of us to get it off of mine.

i dropped the oil pan on mine (was replacing a leaking seal anyways) and my dad was cranking on the puller, while i was holding the crank in place by hand.

73StreetRace

This tool is really good :

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G1025/?rtype=10

And you can use it to install the new harmonic balancer too !

Golden

I little extra tip, I find once you've got the puller under tension, if you tap the puller with a medium sized hammer the shock through the assembly will often unseat the balancer.

L88Plus

I had a buddy who tried for a couple of days to unseat one. He heated the end of the crank and beat on that thing until it didn't even look like a balancer. I stopped by to check his progress and he had that wild-eyed look like we all get sometimes. I removed the puller, stuck a small bolt in the hole and dug the washer out for him. It came off with the puller like butter after that. Of course, he'd ruined the crank by this time, but he was happy it was off. He has that balancer (what's left of it) hanging on the shop wall as a reminder...

damoroso

Don't forget to use and installation tool to put it back on...not a hammer!! I finally bought the right tool, and it makes installation a breeze!

TopGunn

This is a good investment, I've pulled mine a couple of times and also used this tool to re-install it.

jordan89

I bought my puller at Sears and it worked great.

vettehardt

I had to use an impact gun to help me get mine off of my 73. It has a stock 71 motor and I don't think it was ever off. I tried for a couple of hours to get it off by hand. When that wasn't working I grabbed the impact gun, set it on low torque, and had it off in 2 min.

billla

X2; I have this and it's paid for itself many times over...completely trouble free on and off.

68/70Vette

This is the tool I used last weekend to remove a balancer off of an unused BB to install on a new engine I'm working on. Worked great.

This tool will not cause the crankshaft to turn as you remove/install the balancer. For one thing it has a torrington bearing to reduce friction as the threaded shaft collar pushes against the install/pull plate. Also, you use wrenches: one to turn the threaded collar down or up the threaded shaft, the other to hold the threaded shaft motionless.

PS: I'm not really going to run the new engine with an old balancer. I'm installing the old balancer as a place holder to mount the engine pulleys and make sure they line up, etc.

76GlassY

Agree with everyone here. Read about the summit puller/installer on this forum and bought one, then gave away my old puller. Was told by a friend to use a hammer to help "coax" the balancer back on and after using the install feature to get it back on, I can tell you I would have needed a sledge to get it back on. Invest in the puller/installer tool or see if you can borrow one, just DO NOT use the hammer method.

polo1134

I almost had the look in my eye last night! Funny story.

Thanks for the tips.

DJordan442

also heat to 200 F when reinstalling - makes it go back on real easy

76GlassY

200 deg F... not on my engine... not with a rubber band holding the two halves together... but I do agree it would go on a lot easier... as long as it's someone elses engine.