Balancer removal

67camaroracer · 04-27-2009, 10:44 PM

Got an ATI balancer on a bbc that won't come off. Anyone ever run into a situation where the puller just isn't strong enough to do the job. I'm using the snap on puller with breaker bars, impact gun, etc. I'm thinking of buying ATI's puller as it looks like it could be stronger.
Anyone?
Thanks
David

Jim Cimarolli · 04-27-2009, 10:56 PM

Yeah I ran into the same problem before. If the hub isn't honed to fit before it is installed the sob is almost impossible to get off. What I did was put all the meat on the puller that it will stand, then hit the end of the drive bolt with a big hammer, it should jar the darned thing just a bit, then run the bolt in a bit more and keep hitting it.

Good luck.

BEDNAR1320 · 04-28-2009, 10:47 AM

Many,many,many years ago when i was a kid(17),i was trying to remove a balancer on a bbc-broke many bolts,could'nt figure out why it would'nt move,well i forgot to remove the washer under the balancer bolt! I trust that is not what is going on with your balancer.

rayfin · 04-28-2009, 10:55 AM

I like the idea of puting a little tension on it with the puller and then give the center puller bolt a little smack with a hammer. Penetrating oil?

richie 2 · 04-28-2009, 11:58 AM

not too many hits...dont forget theres a thrust bearing on the other end of the crank.

Jim Cimarolli · 04-28-2009, 04:12 PM

If it ever budges, it should pull on off, shouldn't have to hit it more than a couple of times.

A customer brought an engine in here for a teardown that had the same problem. I worked my ***** off for an hour or so, broke almost all my pullers before I finally tried the hammer method. When I finally got the balancer off he was sitting there watching me and he said: I knew you were going to have hell gettin' that thing off there! I think he tried to take it off himself before he brought the engine over....

njk53 · 04-28-2009, 08:00 PM

I just bought a new ATI balancer and their tech sheet says that they machine their balancers to stock Chevrolet crank nose diameter specifications. They also said aftermarket crank manufacturers crank nose diameters can vary. I don't have the sheet in front of me but if I remember correctly, they said to hone your balancer to .0007-.0009 in. press fit.
IMHO I think a lot of the problems associated with balancers that are hard to get off are caused by too tight of a fit between the balancer and the crank and then trying to beat them on with a hammer and a block of wood.

Alan Roehrich · 04-28-2009, 08:34 PM

I put all of mine on with a coat of moly lube and oil inside the balancer hub and on the crank snout. They still usually come off hard, they often snap real loud when they break loose. I use a Snap On puller, with grade eight bolts and hardened washers.

Chad Rhodes · 04-28-2009, 08:44 PM

anti seize works wonders. i always put it on my balancers when i install them, never had a problem. Have had to cut one off of a friend's 5.0 ford.............wasted a good crank

Jim Cimarolli · 04-28-2009, 09:18 PM

Well,,,,,, Hey 67camaroracer, did you get the darn balancer off?

04-27-2009, 10:44 PM	#1
67camaroracer Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ct Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Balancer removal Got an ATI balancer on a bbc that won't come off. Anyone ever run into a situation where the puller just isn't strong enough to do the job. I'm using the snap on puller with breaker bars, impact gun, etc. I'm thinking of buying ATI's puller as it looks like it could be stronger. Anyone? Thanks David

04-27-2009, 10:56 PM	#2
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 728 Likes: 112 Liked 135 Times in 40 Posts	Re: Balancer removal Yeah I ran into the same problem before. If the hub isn't honed to fit before it is installed the sob is almost impossible to get off. What I did was put all the meat on the puller that it will stand, then hit the end of the drive bolt with a big hammer, it should jar the darned thing just a bit, then run the bolt in a bit more and keep hitting it. Good luck.

04-28-2009, 10:47 AM	#3
BEDNAR1320 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: OCALA,FL Posts: 11 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Balancer removal Many,many,many years ago when i was a kid(17),i was trying to remove a balancer on a bbc-broke many bolts,could'nt figure out why it would'nt move,well i forgot to remove the washer under the balancer bolt! I trust that is not what is going on with your balancer. __________________ I'd sure like some of that stimulus money-to go racing,of course

04-28-2009, 10:55 AM	#4
rayfin Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: sioux city Posts: 134 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Balancer removal I like the idea of puting a little tension on it with the puller and then give the center puller bolt a little smack with a hammer. Penetrating oil?

04-28-2009, 11:58 AM	#5
richie 2 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 918 Likes: 321 Liked 157 Times in 73 Posts	Re: Balancer removal not too many hits...dont forget theres a thrust bearing on the other end of the crank.

04-28-2009, 04:12 PM	#6
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 728 Likes: 112 Liked 135 Times in 40 Posts	Re: Balancer removal If it ever budges, it should pull on off, shouldn't have to hit it more than a couple of times. A customer brought an engine in here for a teardown that had the same problem. I worked my ***** off for an hour or so, broke almost all my pullers before I finally tried the hammer method. When I finally got the balancer off he was sitting there watching me and he said: I knew you were going to have hell gettin' that thing off there! I think he tried to take it off himself before he brought the engine over....

04-28-2009, 08:00 PM	#7
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Balancer removal I just bought a new ATI balancer and their tech sheet says that they machine their balancers to stock Chevrolet crank nose diameter specifications. They also said aftermarket crank manufacturers crank nose diameters can vary. I don't have the sheet in front of me but if I remember correctly, they said to hone your balancer to .0007-.0009 in. press fit. IMHO I think a lot of the problems associated with balancers that are hard to get off are caused by too tight of a fit between the balancer and the crank and then trying to beat them on with a hammer and a block of wood. __________________ Nelson Kowal Stock 345

04-28-2009, 08:34 PM	#8
Alan Roehrich VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 4,915 Likes: 996 Liked 1,044 Times in 274 Posts	Re: Balancer removal I put all of mine on with a coat of moly lube and oil inside the balancer hub and on the crank snout. They still usually come off hard, they often snap real loud when they break loose. I use a Snap On puller, with grade eight bolts and hardened washers. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

04-28-2009, 08:44 PM	#9
Chad Rhodes VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Where the Green Grass Grows, AL Posts: 2,375 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Balancer removal anti seize works wonders. i always put it on my balancers when i install them, never had a problem. Have had to cut one off of a friend's 5.0 ford.............wasted a good crank __________________ Chad Rhodes 2113 I/SA

04-28-2009, 09:18 PM	#10
Jim Cimarolli Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Sulphur Springs Texas Posts: 728 Likes: 112 Liked 135 Times in 40 Posts	Re: Balancer removal Well,,,,,, Hey 67camaroracer, did you get the darn balancer off?