Harmonic balancer help

[Zach]

Howdy, my harmonic balancer wobble has gotten significantly worse I can easily see it at idle, noticed a very marginal wobble last year. I keep the rpm’s under 4k on pulls. Previous owner put in a crank shaft 20 years ago so I have no idea if it was all installed properly. Can anyone tell me the proper torque for the bolt and or any other steps I should take, will also take suggestions on a new quality balancer I’m 99 percent sure it’s the original one. Also any tips on how to lock the engine to torque the bolt. I have a video of the wobble if you are curious but I figured a wobble is a wobble so it shouldn’t matter. The max performance py forums that all my googling brings me too seems to have a database error on my end and I can’t look at any old forum posts and couldn’t find any on this forum easily.

Thanks.

[71455formula]

On a Pontiac engine the balancer only goes on one way. There is a woodruff key the puts it in the right position. The bolt is torqued to 160 lb-ft. Here is the balancer i use. It's a great upgrade over stock. Here is the balancer and a woodruff key.

https://butlerperformance.com/i-24453461-powerbond-pontiac-1968-up-except-301-performance-street-4-bolt-harmonic-balancers-dampers-w-timing-marks-non-sfi-pbo-pb1056st.html?ref=category:1234723

https://butlerperformance.com/i-30861834-crank-key-standard-each-pio-pk-126.html?ref=search:http%3A%2F%2Fbutlerperformance.com%2Fsearch.html%3Fq%3Dkey

While the balancer is out; its a good time to look at the front main seal to see if it's still good or needs to be replaced. Make sure to put a little oil on the balancer to help with front main seal to slip over the balancer.

[tinpusher]

X2

[tajoe]

If you can visually see the balancer "wobbling", you probably have bigger problems then a loose bolt. Doesn't matter if it's 50 in/lbs, or 50 ft/lbs, if it's that far gone, it needs replacing, "before" it comes apart. If your belt pullys aren't following the outter shell of the balancer, then maybe the rubber has deteriorated so bad, it's gunna go...maybe any day. Hoping for the best.

[Zach]

If you can visually see the balancer "wobbling", you probably have bigger problems then a loose bolt. Doesn't matter if it's 50 in/lbs, or 50 ft/lbs, if it's that far gone, it needs replacing, "before" it comes apart. If your belt pullys aren't following the outter shell of the balancer, then maybe the rubber has deteriorated so bad, it's gunna go...maybe any day. Hoping for the best.

Yeah that is sort of what I was thinking, I have it parked currently. Ordered a powerbond balancer a few days ago and a new bolt. I really just need this engine to survive another year or so for the 71 to be done then this engine will come out and get a full refresh.

[FormTA]

Let us know how it goes

[Zach]

The balancer it self was pretty easy. Non stock radiator without a petcock so I took an antifreeze shower, saved half of it at least. Power steering belt is always a pain for me as well. The bolt was at least 160 ftlbps when I put a torque wrench on it. Old one rubber was given out I can see it was uneven. New one torque on nicely, New ARP bolt called for 180 ftlbps. Seems to all be good now, much smoother and quiet, except trying to burp my cooling system is always annoying. Thanks for the responses.

[tajoe]

I can't imagine the length of the torque wr needed to accomplish 180 ft/lbs. If it were locktited, and even at 100, it would still work.
Can't imagine why the engineers would come up with that number, but then again, (being in aviation), I've asked that question countless times over 50 yrs of this trade. Glad to hear you've gotten past that step. Now...what's next? 

[Zach]

I can't imagine the length of the torque wr needed to accomplish 180 ft/lbs. If it were locktited, and even at 100, it would still work.
Can't imagine why the engineers would come up with that number, but then again, (being in aviation), I've asked that question countless times over 50 yrs of this trade. Glad to hear you've gotten past that step. Now...what's next? 

Had to do similar treatment to the pitman on the mustang a few weeks ago so I was prepared with an adequate wrench, 1/2 drive goes from 50-250 quite a nice unit. Next is subframe connectors and solid body bushings I bought today. Hopefully after this it’s labor free for a while so I can focus on the mustang.