harmonic balancer

[pau143]

Are the threads right handed or left handed on the harmonic balancer bolt? If I'm facing the front of the engine the pulleys does it come off counter-clockwise or clockwise?? Help please..

[maxwedge]

Counter clock wise, you probably will need a puller designed for this also, especially on the 380011.

[richtazz]

Depending on the year, you'll either need a puller, or a BIG breaker bar. SOme of the older 3800's had a crank bolt torqued to 240 ft/lbs, then the balancer slides off. The other style isn't torqued as tight, but requires a puller to remove. Look for the 3 threaded bolts the puller mounts into. If your balancer has the 3 holes, you need a puller. If your's is smooth on the front, you need a BIG breaker bar.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by richtazz

a crank bolt torqued to 240 ft/lbs, ..............
If your's is smooth on the front, you need a BIG breaker bar.

And 3 gorillas to help you turn the bar and stop the flexplate from turning at the same time!!

[maxwedge]

Impact gun all the way, problem is retorquing on the way back together. Need 6mm 3" bolts for the puller to work.

[pau143]

Got it off with a breaker bar and extra leverage bar..Thanks for all the help!! Car seems to be starting fine now since I replaced the crank sensor...You guys are great!!!

[stangdrvr]

I use an old trick that works like a charm to get the super duty crank pulley bolt out...

-take off the small plastic inspection cover from the trans, exposing the flexplate.
-clamp a vice grips onto the side of the toothed outer ring of the flexplate.
-using a 1/2" drive breaker bar, the crank bolt will break loose.

This was after fighting for hours with a high powered 3/4" drive impact gun with no luck.