Is there a easy way to prevent the Harmonic Balancer from turning during Bolt removal and installation

Tiny
OLDSMOBILEINTRIGUE
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE
  • 245,000 MILES
Trying to replace the Crankshaft Position Sensor on a 3800 engine by myself. No luck in getting an assistant, nor any luck obtaining the GM recommended flywheel tool. Loosening the pulley bolt is much of an issue, but its more of torqueing the bolt 110 pounds plus an additional 76 degrees. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Saturday, April 7th, 2012 AT 3:58 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,737 POSTS
Remove a spark plug and fill the cylinder with dirt! OR, . . . if you don't really care to destroy the engine, there should be three holes in the center of the balancer. Find a pair of metal pins to stick in two of them, then use a pry bar between them to keep it from turning. Rebar used for concrete works well and is just the right diameter. If you have the room, you can use a pair of punches too but I find that cumbersome because I need three hands to hold everything in place.

This video shows how to remove the balancer on a similar model.

https://youtu.be/NZIMNkLxCMA

Please run down these guides and report back.

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Saturday, April 7th, 2012 AT 4:41 AM
Tiny
TJ GREEN
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If you gain access to harmonic balancer by taking off tire and small panel on firewall you'll obtain an almost straight shot to bolt and with proper wobble extension use an impact wrench.
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Saturday, June 6th, 2020 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,737 POSTS
Thanks for adding your suggestion.

The problem is tightening the bolt to specs. GM engineers like to use the low torque spec with an additional angle for a lot of their specs. This is particularly important for "torque-to-yield" bolts. Those will never reach a high torque value as they are designed to stretch as they're tightened. That's why they use the torque angle gauge to achieve the proper clamping force. Be aware too that torque-to-yield bolts are usually a one-time-use bolt and must be replaced, not reused.
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Saturday, June 6th, 2020 AT 5:37 PM
Tiny
TJ GREEN
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  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE
  • 3.5L
  • 143,000 MILES
What is the pin that goes in the crank behind harmonic balancer?
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Monday, June 8th, 2020 AT 12:52 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

There is a woodruff key on the crankshaft for indexing the pulley for timing and balance.

Roy
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Monday, June 8th, 2020 AT 12:52 PM (Merged)

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