Stuck Harmonic balancer bolt

[_R_J_K_]

what I did was take the washer off the bolt, used the bolt to pull the balancer in a bit, then put the washer back on and tightened it.

Should be fine, it's how I've done every harmonic balancer, the woodruff key (the bit that goes into the keyway slot on the harmonic balancer) will index and make sure it goes on straight.

For a bolt that big and a thread that course it should have been pretty apparent to you if you had threaded it when you installed it. Sometimes harmonic balancers are just hard to get off.

 

[lmoengnr]

Should be fine, it's how I've done every harmonic balancer, the woodruff key (the bit that goes into the keyway slot on the harmonic balancer) will index and make sure it goes on straight.

For a bolt that big and a thread that course it should have been pretty apparent to you if you had threaded it when you installed it. Sometimes harmonic balancers are just hard to get off.

Woodruff key on an LS?

 

[_R_J_K_]

Woodruff key on an LS?

Hmmm, looks like you're right. For some reason I thought the key extended out past the timing gear.

 

[krusing]

Woodruf Key is nonexistent on my LY7,
The Keyway is cut into the crank, but not on the bottom pulley,
as I don't think it's a harmonic balancer on a LY7, as its just a twin pulley.

 

[convas]

Update, not fixed yet but threads on crank will def be stuffed.
I had been trying to loosen the bolt by cranking the engine but engine would crank then stop and bolt was still tight, so I assumed it was not working.
Then I had a thought maybe I forgot to put the washer back on the bolt after I did the initial tighten to pull the balancer in.
I checked and washer was there .... but loose ... turns out the cranking was turning the bolt.
I have driven about 1000km like that ( was on holidays) and does not look like balancer has moved at all even though the bolt is not hard against it.

Will find what damage I have caused when I eventually get it off, I assume will probably need a timecert or heli coil for the crank.

 

[krusing]

Pull your starter motor out,
Drown the harmonic balancer bolt it with WD40,
And jam something in the starter motor hole to hold the motor still,
Then, Breaker bar and piece of tube on the breaker bar to loosen the bolt. I am guessing it has Loctite on the thread.

 

[convas]

Pull your starter motor out,
Drown the harmonic balancer bolt it with WD40,
And jam something in the starter motor hole to hold the motor still,
Then, Breaker bar and piece of tube on the breaker bar to loosen the bolt. I am guessing it has Loctite on the thread.

Hi,
No loctite was used, I am petty sure the threads in the crank/bolt will be stuffed otherwise why would the bolt sill be stuck when it's not even touching the balancer now.
My car is a manual so I put it in sixth gear to stop the engine spinning.

 

[vc commodore]

Hi,
No loctite was used, I am petty sure the threads in the crank/bolt will be stuffed otherwise why would the bolt sill be stuck when it's not even touching the balancer now.
My car is a manual so I put it in sixth gear to stop the engine spinning.

First would be better...

 

[convas]

First would be better...

Interesting ... some have said first ... some have said 6th ... not really sure which is best.

 

[convas]

And to conclude this story ... my mechanic managed to get the bolt out and as it had not really gone very far in when it got stuck it did not mangle too many threads, so he fixed the threads in the crank and all back together again.