Harmonic balancer

[LGAFF]

Pulled the balancer today, any thoughts on the condition? Looks alittle rough, and rubber seal is cracked? I see there are rebuild kits available?

Thoughts?
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/lgaff/DSCN0012.jpg

LGAFF
92 ZR1
#234

[Jeffvette]

No rebuild kits. Clean it up with some emery cloth of maybe a little fine grit sand paper and then paint it. Although get me a better picture of the cracking in the rubber isolator.

And damn your balancer has a lot of pins in it.

[LGAFF]

Tried to take a few more shots, but hard to take one thats not blurry, there are a total of 14 pins, three are raised in different partsa of the balancer. The rubber appears to be the same weight all the way around, however, it is cracked much like an old tire.

LGAFF
92 ZR1
#234

[LGAFF]

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q115/lgaff/untitled1.gif

[Jeffvette]

Doesn't matter if the pins are raised. The hole depth is the same in each position in the balancer, and the pins are all the same length and weight.

Your camera have a macro function? And don't use the flash, use auxiliary lighting.

Email me the originals.

[Polo-1]

with all those pins, you must a good mix of A & B piston/liners combo's.

[Ccmano]

When in doubt throw it out... works for food, anything rubber and a few other things I can think of. With all that cracking if it isn't separated today it will be.

If you think if how much time and money you will put into this engine don't skimp on a balancer. It will only come back to bite you later.

Hans
:cheers:

[Chris_32212]

Tried to take a few more shots, but hard to take one thats not blurry, there are a total of 14 pins, three are raised in different partsa of the balancer. The rubber appears to be the same weight all the way around, however, it is cracked much like an old tire.

LGAFF
92 ZR1
#234

if you have zoom on your camera, step back and zoom in. its easier to get close ups that arent blurry that way. just trying to help. and i agree, if in doubt swap that shizz. lol. who wants to pull the motor back out to replace a balancer 5,000 miles down ther road? i know i wouldn't.

Chris

[flyin ryan]

it's not too bad, for a used factory dampr. do you know how much power your making?

[LGAFF]

I should be in the low 500hp range when the engine is done.

LGAFF
92 ZR1
#234

[Polo-1]

make sure it not just paint on top of the rubber.

[flyin ryan]

I should be in the low 500hp range when the engine is done.

LGAFF
92 ZR1
#234ya, well...that changes things a little. understand i don't like factory rubber dampr's in the first place. you can spend a ton of time trying to find one in a "little" better shape than yours, but in the end...is it really?

[Chris_32212]

ya, well...that changes things a little. understand i don't like factory rubber dampr's in the first place. you can spend a ton of time trying to find one in a "little" better shape than yours, but in the end...is it really?


hey ryan, what would you use in place of stock. does fluidyne or TCI make a damper for the LT5?

Chris

[flyin ryan]

since we're on the subject, a customer recently dropped off a 316 cube Super Stock engine, it's on the left & the DRCE-2 i just finished up is on the right. the 316 regularly see's 10,000 RPM. so i get looking at this thing & notice something looking not right with the dampr. it's a TCI Rattler (SFI approved) but it's cracked clean accross in three places:jawdrop:. you wanna bet how ugly that would have been at 10,000 plus. not sure how good the pics will come accross so i marked two of the cracks with an "X". it's not a timing mark folks...it's a crack.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee142/flyinryan_ZR1/IMG_1006.jpg

[flyin ryan]

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee142/flyinryan_ZR1/IMG_1007.jpg

[flyin ryan]

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee142/flyinryan_ZR1/IMG_1008.jpg

[Jeffvette]

hey ryan, what would you use in place of stock. does fluidyne or TCI make a damper for the LT5?

Chris


Yes there is an aftermarket piece, 6 month lead time and roughly 800 bucks.

[flyin ryan]

Yes there is an aftermarket piece, 6 month lead time and roughly 800 bucks.money well spent though, right Jeff. better than tossing bills on a stage, hold it...well maybe not?:mrgreen:

[Jeffvette]

money well spent though, right Jeff. better than tossing bills on a stage, hold it...well maybe not?:mrgreen:

You never made it out with us when you were in Portland. :mrgreen:

[Chris_32212]

Yes there is an aftermarket piece, 6 month lead time and roughly 800 bucks.

what is it and who makes it? or is that a secret?

Chris

[flyin ryan]

You never made it out with us when you were in Portland. :mrgreen:don't remind me:o

[Jeffvette]

don't remind me:o


Just ask Ted or Dwight about "Star Girl". :thumbsup:

[Jeffvette]

what is it and who makes it? or is that a secret?

Chris

Have to go through my notes, but ATI I believe.

[tomtom72]

Sorry about this fairly ignorant Q from the peanut gallery.....but if the rubber is rotted is it possible to have the balancer rebuilt?

Also, another ignorant Q....I thought our rotating assemblies were balanced internally ( I may not be using that term correctly).....I have no good knowledge of LT5's, so I'm trying to extrapolate from my small experience with my LT-1 350. That motor was internally balanced, the LT-1 used a different harmonic balancer than the other 350/4BBL's, the diameters were different but they all had a two pc w/ rubber design.....unless you bought an aftermarket unit.

It's obvious to me I'm missing something. I was thinking that between the addition of the D/M flywheel to quite the gears in the ZF and the "pins" in the balancer, the balancer cancels out the D/M flywheel so as not to disturb the rotating assembly's balancing?

:cheers:
Tom
TIA:o

[FU]

Find someone thats putting a stroker combo together, they are best off changing out the stock one and using a better harmonic balancer. Or try ATI , they have a quick turn around time.

[flyin ryan]

if the rubber is rotted is it possible to have the balancer rebuilt?


TIA:ono.

[Polo-1]

Also, another ignorant Q....I thought our rotating assemblies were balanced internally ( I may not be using that term correctly).....I have no good knowledge of LT5's, so I'm trying to extrapolate from my small experience with my LT-1 350. That motor was internally balanced, the LT-1 used a different harmonic balancer than the other 350/4BBL's, the diameters were different but they all had a two pc w/ rubber design.....unless you bought an aftermarket unit.


:cheers:
Tom
TIA:o


The LT5 is internally balanced and uses no bob weight outside the motor ( like the SBC's, balancer/flexplate,flywheel) It is also dynamic balanced too. This is were the pins on the front and back of the motor come into play. The extra dynamic balance is what makes the the nickle on the motor trick work.

[flyin ryan]

The LT5 is internally balanced and uses no bob weight outside the motor ( like the SBC's, balancer/flexplate,flywheel) just to add to Kevin's post for some that are un-informed, all SBC's are internally balanced except for 400's that have weight added to the flexplate/flywheel & usually a good size notch out of the balancer/dampr as well. these engines can be internally balanced as well but usually require heavy metal (mallory metal) installed into the crankshafts counterweights & can take considerable more time to balance. it helps if the engine builder keeps the piston, pin, rings & connecting rod as light as possible therefore not needing as much mallory in the opposite end, counterweight. i always shoot for light rotating assemblies for a bunch of reasons, & thats one of them.

[tomtom72]

Thank you gentlemen!:thumbsup:

Sorry I just had more BFO generated Q's.....:redface:

there must be a life span to our balancers.....anyone have any idea what the service life might be? Time + miles, or just one or the other?

I know that my balancer will be 19 yrs old come May 09. Should I be looking for a new one?

:cheers:

[flyin ryan]

there must be a life span to our balancers.....anyone have any idea what the service life might be? Time + miles, or just one or the other?



:cheers:depends...lots of factors, time, miles, type of miles (mild cruising), hard miles (RPM), conditions...high humidity, low humidity, high heat, lower temps, stored indoors VS. outdoors. not to metion if oil gets on it & helps the breakdown process. no magic formula:dontknow:, sorry.

[tomtom72]

Ryan, thanks for sharing the light!:thumbsup:

I suspected as much about the life span vs conditions. Thanks for your time.

:cheers:
Tom

[flyin ryan]

most of the better SFI dampr's don't use rubber that you have to worry about & the ones that do, ATI, you can send back & have it re-built. usually every ten years or so, agian...depending. at least it's nice to have the re-build option open.

[digg101]

I just received a new harmonic balancer made by Dorman in China and distributed by Rockauto. It appears to be the correct size but doesn't have the pins like my original. Does anyone now if thats a problem?

Thanks In advance

Kevin

[GOLDCYLON]

I just received a new harmonic balancer made by Dorman in China and distributed by Rockauto. It appears to be the correct size but doesn't have the pins like my original. Does anyone now if thats a problem?

Thanks In advance

Kevin


No idea but if your looking for a low mile original for a 91 LMK. I have a spare in excellent shape

[Polo-1]

I just received a new harmonic balancer made by Dorman in China and distributed by Rockauto. It appears to be the correct size but doesn't have the pins like my original. Does anyone now if thats a problem?

Thanks In advance

Kevin

If you plan to use it, take it down to your local Machine Shop and make sure it's a zero balance damper. You wont be able to pin it like stock, so no more nickle balance trick.

[flyin ryan]

If you plan to use it, take it down to your local Machine Shop and make sure it's a zero balance damper. You wont be able to pin it like stock, so no more nickle balance trick.X2...
Great advice

[Chris_32212]

I just ordered one of these Dorman dampers. Its been a long time since I have been in the ZR-1 forum and I just had my car shipped to me after sitting in storage across the country for 3 years. It arrived with a coolant leak from the water pump and bad damper. So I guess I will put the cheep damper on and try it and send my original in to have it rebuilt. I eventually will need to pull the motor for a full rebuild (probably next winter) so I can put the rebuilt (original damper back on when the motor is out).