[iceman2]

I got the balancer off last night with a balancer removal tool borrowed from AZ, also borrowed the installer, but, after further review, I don't think there's anything wrong with the balancer, the rubber strips were from the first belt, I pick up the new balancer tonight and will compare it to the old one, will probably return the new one to AZ, I now believe it might be the belt tensioner. I'm dreading the install, the removal was a total pain, had to tie off the balancer with a rope to stop it from turning, then the 3 removal tool bolts were difficult to thread in, stripped all of them. Lesson learned - use the detachable point on the main bolt! I can't decide if I'd rather the problem be the balancer or the BT, although the BT is cheaper and easier to install I have to install the balancer anyway. My strategy for tightening the middle holding bolt will incorporate one of the long bolts that came with the removal tool - I'll thread it into one of the holes where it will catch the frame, so the thing can't turn, it's only calling for 76 ft. lbs. I do not know how difficult it is to remove the starter, but I don't think it will be that easy.