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VR 304 Harmonic Balancer

wildfiremaint

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Hi all,
I suspect that the HB on my SS is failing. A high pitch screech for a few seconds on startup and if you rev it up. Probably the rubber is slipping.
I have eliminated the A/C, the Power Steering and the alternator by removing belts and noise still there
on startup. ( unless its the water pump !).
It looks like there is a separate 3 groove pulley attached to the HB.
I guess that has to be removed before
using the HB puller.
Is that the case?
The balancers Ive seen on Ebay dont
have a belt pulley on them.
Thanks for any advise :)
 

rambunctious

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Yes, remove the bolt on pully before using the balancer puller, however, a screech is usually a belt slipping.
Remove all belts then test again.
Don't run for long as the pump will not be pushing coolant through the engine.
 

wildfiremaint

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Thanks, I haven’t tried with all belts off as didn’t want to run it without the
water pump !
I’ll give that a try in the morning :)
Ta.
 

delcowizzid

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It will be the belts the front pulley is bolted onto the centre of the balancer and can move
 

Deuce

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Take all belts off and start it up. Engine will be sweet as with no belts for at least 5 mins.
So 2mins idle will not do any harm.
 

wildfiremaint

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Thanks guys.
Yes I started it up with all belts off and no screeching noise :)
So the only belt I always had on when
testing is the alt / water pump belt.
I had previously tried tightening up
the belt tension with no effect.
So whats the secret with belt tension.
Looks might need to be super tight.

Its a new Gates 11A1130 - maybe try another brand ?
Or possibly some kind of spray-on belt
grip ? ? ?
Thanks for your help.
 

Wozza

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yeah spray on belt grip or just a bar of soap run around belt doesn't last as long as belt grip, but is quick and cheap
 

wildfiremaint

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Thanks again.

I now remember years ago fixing belt squeels with a bar of soap and holding it against the running belt while engine is running.

The old brain is fading
 

BlackVXGTS

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The belt needs to be reasonably tight. The alternator belt is easy to tension. You just need to insert a pry bar (or large size screwdriver) between the top of the alternator and the engine, and just use the leverage to tighten the belt. It's one belt you can adjust easily without an assistant - unlike the power steering belt.
 

wildfiremaint

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EBDE7780-9089-414C-AAE5-AA3B70443394.jpeg 01964C70-8FC7-4B32-8ADB-70A309D56615.jpeg

Now that I know it is the alternator belt that is schreeching I have worked out that I can get it nice and tight using a wooden door stopper wedge from Bunnings. Works really well :)
 
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