Harmonic balancer installation issue

JGANAWAY

MEMBER
1993 FORD F-150
4.9L
6 CYL
4WD
MANUAL
270,000 MILES

I replaced the harmonic balancer and the timing cover. When I put the new harmonic balancer on, there wasn't much clearance between the balancer and the timing cover. After I started the truck, It was scrubbing the timing cover. Is it possible, to install the balancer to far on the snout or is there a spacer to prevent it from going back too far? I used a balancer removal tool to take it off and to press it back on. I then used an impact to tighten the bolt.

5 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Here is not a spacer but I just want to make sure you put it on the correct way. Clearly the side with the snout on the pulley should go towards the engine but it is possible to put these ones on backwards as they are just keyed to fit on the crank.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-harmonic-balancer-works

Then we need to make sure the one that you replaced it with has the snout on it that is shown in the picture. If not, then I suspect you go the wrong part.

If all this checks out, can you get a picture of the balancer that you have and one with it on the crank so we can see what may be going wrong? Thanks

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Wednesday, January 13th, 2021 AT 6:52 PM

JGANAWAY

MEMBER
42 POSTS

Here are the photos of the balancers. Sorry I did take one of it on the crank, before I pulled it off. Also, the timing cover is new. After I took it off, I noticed that the groove is uneven, unlike the old cover. It was gauged all the way through. It is possible that cover is warped or I didn't put it on correctly?

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Thursday, January 14th, 2021 AT 5:18 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Are the areas that I am pointing where it was making contact? Clearly the pulleys don't look like they are the issue.

The fact that you are seeing something with the cover that is different would have to be the issue.

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Thursday, January 14th, 2021 AT 8:09 PM

JGANAWAY

MEMBER
42 POSTS

I got rtv on the left side. Here is a better picture of the area in question.

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Friday, January 15th, 2021 AT 2:59 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

It just looks like that is a groove cut into the cover. Is that correct? If so, that cover has to be the issue. Or did you already conclude that? So if I am behind you. Thanks for the pictures.