4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem(Update)

[jdtower23]

Trying to swap parts from an '87 4.3 OMC donor motor to a '95....having trouble with the harmonic balancer....I'm pretty certain it is all the way on, but my pulleys are slightly off...by about an 1/8th to 1/10th of an inch....the original balancer on the '95 was for a serpentine setup and has a big lip on it so it won't work with my V-belt setup....

Really at a loss what to do now.....if I need a different balancer I have no idea what to look for......

Any advice would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks,
John

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Are you not swapping the external parts off the old motor that uses the serpentine belt? Trying to figure out why your going from one to the other..

You could always buy another balancer for a 4.3.....

 

[jdtower23]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

I'm swapping from the '87 motor to the '95, which is a truck motor....so I need to use all my marine parts from the '87....

It just seems like for some reason the '95 isn't as "deep" where the balancer snout goes in, when pulling it off and trying again it became apparent it was going in as far as it could....

Just not sure exactly what balancer to look for...

Thanks,
John

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

The 87 and the 95 are basically 2 different kinds of engines. One has a balance shaft, the old one doesn't.
You MUST use the newer style harmonic balancer with that engine. You probably have a truck HB, where you need a marine HB just because the pulleys are set up differently.
This is the kinds of things you run into when trying to change vintage of engines.

 

[jdtower23]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Don,

So if I get a marine harmonic balancer for a '95 it should work with my v-belt pullies?

Here is a pic of the original balancer on the engine with my '87 water pump...

http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=boat039qr1.jpg

Thanks,
John

 

[jdtower23]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Also, is it possible I'm just not getting it on quite far enough? I'm using the installer tool, but don't have a lot of leverage....the balancer I'm using looks like the standard one without the lip.....Thanks

 

[jdtower23]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

The harmonic balancer I'm using looks exactly like the ones I see on newer Vortecs for sale...I'm thinking maybe I just don't have it all the way home...it went in fairly easy at 1st with the tool then progressively got harder to turn....should I try a hammer?

Thanks

 

[jdtower23]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Still having trouble with this....it's only off by the width of one of the edges of the pulley....if it isn't the right balancer, how can I find the right one??

Thanks,
John

 

[jdtower23]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

ttt....this is driving me nuts! Totally holds up the whole project....just would like to know where to proceed....ANY advice would be appreciated!

 

[jdtower23]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem

I believe I've found the problem....there is a plate on the lower timing gear which isn't present on my '87....here is a pic of one.....

Is it ok to take this off? I don't see what it's purpose is other than a spacer....

Thanks

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem(Update)

Just a guess: a counterbalance for the balancer or a crank position sensor item.
Does this motor use a conventional dist?

 

[jdtower23]

Re: 4.3 Harmonic Balancer problem(Update)

Yes, it had a conventional distributor....the crank position sensor makes sense looking at the inside of the timing cover....