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Harmonic balancer wobble

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Old 11-25-2013, 09:26 AM
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Car: 84 Camaro z28
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Harmonic balancer wobble

Just noticed today after putting everything together that my harmonic balancer has a little wobble to it. Turned it off after I saw that! What could cause that? have I done any damage?
Old 11-25-2013, 09:37 AM
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Re: Harmonic balancer wobble

Originally Posted by Mrbanados
after putting everything together

What all did you have apart or put back together ?
Old 11-25-2013, 09:52 AM
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Re: Harmonic balancer wobble

This is something they do in da hood. The Harmonic Balancer Wobble!
Old 11-25-2013, 10:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Restrorob
What all did you have apart or put back together ?
Replaced the cam
Old 11-25-2013, 10:37 AM
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Re: Harmonic balancer wobble

If the hub is on the crank properly, and the damper (it's not a balancer) is properly bolted to the hub, then it's a simple matter of your damper being worn out. The rubber elastomer bond between the inner and outer ring has deteriorated and failed. It's not uncommon with years of age/use on them. Just replace the damper.
It was probably like that before you disassembled the engine. No use worrying about whether you've done any damage; just replace it and motor on.
Old 11-25-2013, 12:23 PM
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Re: Harmonic balancer wobble

Hold up abit.How are you taking it off and putting it back on??.
Old 11-25-2013, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 86LG4Bird
If the hub is on the crank properly, and the damper (it's not a balancer) is properly bolted to the hub, then it's a simple matter of your damper being worn out. The rubber elastomer bond between the inner and outer ring has deteriorated and failed. It's not uncommon with years of age/use on them. Just replace the damper. It was probably like that before you disassembled the engine. No use worrying about whether you've done any damage; just replace it and motor on.
It's a brand new damper with less than 2 hours of runtime
Old 11-25-2013, 12:29 PM
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Re: Harmonic balancer wobble

Originally Posted by Mrbanados
It's a brand new damper with less than 2 hours of runtime
Oh ****.......that means 1Gary is on the right track!
Yes.....hopefully you used a damper installation tool and didn't pull/push on the outer ring ?????

And DON'T pull it on by turning in the crank snout threads! Attach the installation tool and use the INSTALL TOOL THREADS to pull the damper into place on the hub.
Old 11-25-2013, 02:17 PM
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Car: 84 Camaro z28
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Can a cracked or loose flywheel have anything to do with it? I'm also hearing a light thus/knocking noise coming from the bell housing. I used a stethoscope and placed it around the cam gear, crank gear, valve covers and oil pan. Didn't hear anything unusual. Placed it by the bellhousing and heard a light knocking noise. The noise is very inconsistent. Not like a rod knock at all.
Old 11-25-2013, 04:39 PM
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Re: Harmonic balancer wobble

My T56 makes a hellacious racket sometimes when the clutch pedal isnt pressed in and it's in neutral. I have a suspicion that it's a flywheel runout issue and the clutch fork is bouncing around in there. But even LT1 guys complain about their factory T56 cars doing it. Just a thought... but try pressing in the clutch.
Old 11-25-2013, 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by InfernalVortex
My T56 makes a hellacious racket sometimes when the clutch pedal isnt pressed in and it's in neutral. I have a suspicion that it's a flywheel runout issue and the clutch fork is bouncing around in there. But even LT1 guys complain about their factory T56 cars doing it. Just a thought... but try pressing in the clutch.
I'll check that out! I'll push in the clutch with it running while someone checks down there and see if the noise disappears.
Old 11-25-2013, 06:08 PM
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Re: Harmonic balancer wobble

The clutch shouldn't affect your dampener, though. If the dampener is on all the way and it's new you have two rather unappealing causes:

1. Bad dampener

2. Your crank snout is bent (yes, it's exactly as bad a job to address this as it sounds)
Old 11-25-2013, 09:40 PM
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Car: 84 Camaro z28
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Originally Posted by Damon
The clutch shouldn't affect your dampener, though. If the dampener is on all the way and it's new you have two rather unappealing causes: 1. Bad dampener 2. Your crank snout is bent (yes, it's exactly as bad a job to address this as it sounds)
I know I have more torque than what the tranny is rated for... 😳
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