Hello all, I am trying to get my Craigslist special Chevy 350 road worthy. It was/is leaking oil from the harmonic balancer shaft. I replaced the seal just recently and I noticed the shaft was worn but figured the new seal would compensate, I was wrong, it leaks like crazy! Most noticeable when under a load. My questions are: Is replacement a common thing? When I pulled it to replace the seal the pulleys are welded to the balancer, I just figured that was the norm, but is it? A new balancer is roughly $50.00 from napa, I would have to grind the welds off the pulleys and swap them over, should they the be welded back onto the new balancer? I would think that I would be able to just bolt the pulleys back on, no welding involved. I am afraid of doing all this work and finding out it was caused by a more in depth problem, and maybe the rear seal is leaking as well. I am about to drive the car into a lake and just take my lumps. Thanks,Ron (The engine is mid-late 70s, not really sure what it came out of.)
They should not be welded. I would recommend buying a new balancer and getting a pulley From a salvage yard. These pulleys a bolted on with 3 small bolts and the main crank bolt. I would not drive the car with the current balancer on there as the welds will throw the balance off possibly harming the crank and rod bearings. Good luck
Have never seen pulleys welded to a SBC harmonic balancer. But a sleeve for the balancer will put you right back in business. Clean your old seal surface well apply some red loctite were the sleeve will go and GENTLY tap the sleeve into place. I use a small piece of wood on top of the sleeve and tap the wood but go slow and make sure its going on straight. These should be available at any parts store. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FEL-16202/
Ugh, I think the damage has already been done. I will probably try the sleeve suggestion and see where it goes from there. Thank you for your help, Ron
^ What he said X2!!! If you use the repair sleeve but the balancer/pulley assembly is ouot of balance, you might quickly end up back in the same situation....
Some seals have a sleeve that you put over the balancer where the seal rides and they seem to work well. I have used them before and they have always worked for me?
With the welded pulley and the grooved OD on the damper I would just pony up and get a new balancer and pulley. Who knows whether the outer ring is slipping on the inner hub as well. Sounds like you'd be better off just starting over with the correct parts and doing it right. I've used those sleeves in the past and I've never been terribly successful with them, but part of that could be installation error.
Sorry I'm a little late on this thread but these guys can rebuild any balancer: www.damperdoctor.com Or maybe already have one.
