balancer install

[mopower04]

hey guys. puttin the harmonic balancer on my 440 this past weekend and well, i know they go on tight, and with that how do you get the thing to line up with the keyway? any tricks? its a real nice chrome balancer so i dont wanna hit it or do anything to it, haha. i just tapped it a little with a rubber mallet to set it on the crank, then put a bolt in with a washer and started crankin it on, goes fine till i get to the keyway, cant seem to get it lined up just right. help!

[John Kunkel]

Factory balancers have a stepped bore, the first 3/4" or so is slightly larger so that they can be installed by hand far enough to engage the key.

If yours isn't stepped you can scribe a couple of lines parallel to the key and carry them over the nose of the crank to make the key location visible when installing the balancer.

[mopower04]

yeah, this is a dampner from catpep. no step in it to help start on crank all well!

[wilks3]

I wouldn't be afraid of using a half-round file to gently, gently mind you, take some of first 3/4" out alittle. File alittle, try it. Keep going until your close to the keyway.
Old trick that works on kingpins is wipe STP on pin and bushing, and push in.
Should work the same on your balancer.

[BigBlockDude]

Whats wrong with the stock one?

[bOb shingler]

put some moly on the crank and balancer to help it go on, also file the entry to the keyway opening at a 45* angle to help it.