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In-car balancer replacement

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 10:06 pm
by 138
I was about to install the harmonic balancer with the engine in the car, when I noticed a notch carved into the bottom edge of the radiator panel , lining up with the middle of the crankshaft. This must have been forethought by GMH, as I sure can't swing a BFH in the gap where the radiator sits, but nowhere in the manual does it mention this. A 18" piece of 20mm shaft in there should make the job easier (after cooking the balancer for a while to heat it up). Apart from balancer access, the only other reason it is there is for a hand crank to start. I have had early Chevs with the special drive on the pulley to take the hand crank, but never seen a Holden with one. Anyone else have this notch, or is that why my FB is "Special"?!

Re: In-car balancer replacement

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 10:16 pm
by Errol62
It is there to allow space for the removal tool I believe. There was never provision for handcranking.

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Re: In-car balancer replacement

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 10:16 pm
by gpi
what was wrong with the old balancer?

Re: In-car balancer replacement

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 6:30 am
by Harv
The grey motor industrial engines came with a hand crank option (… though no bodywork for the notch).

Hand crank, magneto and mechanical gauges allowed simple, no battery operation on stationary engines, cement mixers etc.

Cheers,
Harv

Re: In-car balancer replacement

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 9:12 am
by 138
gpi wrote: Tue Apr 05, 2022 10:16 pm what was wrong with the old balancer?
Nothing wrong with the old balancer, just the timing cover seal.
I used a removal tool which I made, and didn't need that clearance on the front panel.