Crankshaft pulley / harmonic balancer

[KirkLipscomb]

I need to replace the crankshaft pulley on a 1990 Cherokee Laredo.

Any hints on doing this job? Is a special tool required, or will I be able to remove the pulley with standard tools?

[AlohaBra]

There is a tool called the harmonic balancer puller.
Just did a search and a bunch came up....yes, I use yahoo search..

Might be easier to pull the radiator and all the relevant stuff....belts, etc.

Just curious, what is wrong with it?

[KirkLipscomb]

All the rubber, or whatever it is that separates the inner pully from the outer, came out. So, the pulley does not properly pull the serpentine belt, causing overheating and loss of power steering. You can see the pulley wobbling and hear a loud knock from it.

[AlohaBra]

You should be able to rent the puller you need. It is on there kinda of tight.

Recommend replacing the seal.

[KirkLipscomb]

I found the tool locally for $15, so I'll pick that up.

Is the seal just a round seal that goes into the timing cover - fairly easy to replace?

[AlohaBra]

I haven't done the seal myself...but on the service manual diagram...it looks staight foward. I always pack the spring with vaseline so it does'nt pop out when installing it.

[KirkLipscomb]

I bought a used harmonic balancer to save some money. After installing it, I now get a rough vibration during acceleration. Apparently it was out of round, so I'm ordering a new one.

[AlohaBra]

Check the tightness of the flex plate screws if it is an automatic equipped vehicle first ...or also.

[KirkLipscomb]

Can you give me instructions on how to tighten the flex plate screws? How do I access them?

[AlohaBra]

There is a plate facing foward on the trans bell housing.

You do have an automatic right?

Then you have to turn engine over until you can reach each bolt.

[KirkLipscomb]

Yes, it is an automatic. I'll give that a try before I install a new harmonic balancer.

Thanks!

[KirkLipscomb]

So, I ordered a new aftermarket harmonic balancer and dove into the project this morning.

First, I checked the flex plate and it was tight.

Then I pulled off the used harmonic balancer that I installed last week, but I could not get the new one to go on. It appears to be designed for the same shaft size, but after trying for about an hour I gave up and put the used one back on. I'll try to get hold of a new one from the Jeep dealer and see if I have better luck with it.

[AlohaBra]

Did you mike it?....strange...???

[KirkLipscomb]

I don't have a gauge to mike it. It is very odd, especially since the used one starts onto the shaft quite easily.

The new one came with a new half-moon metal guide that goes in the crankshaft. I didn't change that out because I am not removing the timing cover and it would be very difficult to install. The original doesn't seem to be dinged up or anything and the used balancer has to trouble with it. I really don't think it's getting that far anyway - I think it was just machined too small.

[AlohaBra]

Hope you have it fixed by now...some of those balancers are a tight fit....that's why I recomend miking it.....may a shop could check for you.