Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

[Bill B.]

I am needing a harmonic balancer removal and installation tool. In the past I've always borrowed rented the tool but I want to buy one and after reading several horror stories of the tool breaking I want to get a good quality one at a decent price. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Bill B.

[E B.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Bill, tip for removing. Take a heaven pull on the screw, hit end with a heavy hammer to get it moving. Re tighten repeat as necessary. Ed

[Ray G.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Hello;
Corvette Central has a Harmonic Balancer removal/installing tool in their catalog for about $25.
Hope this helps.
Ray

[Tom E.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Bill,
just my .02 but harmonic balances are not overly difficult to remove, a Harbor Freight $15 kit will work perfectly fine. No need to spend $100 bucks or more on something you may only use a few times in your life. Plus you can find HF 20% coupons to reduce the price even more. Again, just my opinion.
Tom

[Larry M.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Personally, I would get a good used "Made in USA" one from Ebay. Snap-on or similar. Cost should be about 1/3 of new.

Larry

EDIT: Here is one to bid on. https://www.ebay.com/itm/SNAP-ON-TOO...gAAOSwsaRgA3l~ There are also BIN at about 2x the price.

OTC is another good company for this tool.

[Bill M.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Bill Be carful with Harbor freight most of their hand and power tools only work once. Wife bought me a wire welder to replace my Craftsman that my son lowered a car on. I had to bring it back twice before I got one that worked. a set of car dollies had one dollie collapse the first time I pushed the car. That's it for me.

[Tom E.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Bill,
In general I would agree with you, I have been buying quality tools such as Snap-On, Mac and old craftsman before they changed for years. I have a Lincoln Welder and many other quality tools and I would never begin to consider Hobo Freight for tools as I generally buy my tools for life. However, for people who do not have heavily outfitted garages or shops can benefit from tools like pullers that have relatively few moving parts and will likely only be used a few times if that. Unless you are buying a USA made major name tool brand then they will all be made in China. Why waste the money when you can get the job done for much less. Again, as I stated just my .02 FWIW.
Tom

[Bill M.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Tom
agreed I have a cheap brake caliper resetting kit that I probably use once a year.

[Chris H.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Bill, I recently went through this with my '69 427. The parts store pullers bent like spaghetti. I finally borrowed my buddy's antique no-name puller that did the trick. Concur with others who recommend Snap On or Mac. I had to use heat and a hammer tap to get is started.

IMG_8307.jpgIMG_8308.jpg

[Tom E.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Chris,
Those pictures pretty much speak for themselves. As in most things in life, there’s always the outlier. I’ve removed a few in my life but never had one that tight. In that case the cheap Chinese steel isn’t gonna cut it!
Tom

[Richard M.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

I am needing a harmonic balancer removal and installation tool. In the past I've always borrowed rented the tool but I want to buy one and after reading several horror stories of the tool breaking I want to get a good quality one at a decent price. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Bill B.

Removal is easy with proper tool. Installation depends on whether or not the crank snout is threaded or not. IIRC 1965 only used threaded cranks for SHP engines and those not SHP did not have threads, unless of course it was threaded by a rebuilder or owner.

If not threaded, installation requires the use of 2 tools....

1- Hardwood Block
2- BFH

As a side note, see Addendum C in this document for additional info that applies to any Cn engine. It is located in the DoRD Sticky at top of the TDB Main page.
283 CI Engine Build for Harmonic Balancer-compr.pdf

Rich

[Bill B.]

Re: Harmonic Balancer Removal/Installation Tool

Great article, Richard. Thank you for sharing.