NUTS! Can I use a cracked Dampner

[Earlsfat]

Harmonic Damper has a crack on the inside of the part that goes over the crankshaft. Don't have a pick or I'd post it. It's on the part of the shaft that rests against the crankshaft sprocket of the timing chain, and the crack itself is goes from the end that touches the cranksprocket through the keyway hole, and up to the part where the actual fat part of the damper is.

Can I reuse it, or do I lay down the scratch for new? I'm leaning towards new, but not sure if this is common or not.

[Morley]

New. Never use a damaged damper.

[skibum1111]

And how did the damper get cracked? If you weren't beating it with a hammer to get it off, have your crank checked to make sure its straight. But definately buy a new one, the cracked one could come apart at the worst moment and cause all sorts of damage.

[Earlsfat]

Thanks, I thought so. It's OE, and in BAD shape... I figured I'd clean it off and paint it, even though I was going to put a cover over it.... even after I cleaned and stripped it down I couldn't see the crack. Only after I painted it a polished aluminum color did the crack show up. And the damper itself is pretty banged up... bunch of dents and deep scratches in it. The rubber in the middle is in bad shape too. I guess it's a good thing that I am an anal retnetive nit-picky son of a bitch... otherwise I'd have never known. lmao, forget eating, you'll be able to perform surgery right on this motor when I get done, all my buddies are shaking their heads. But if I'd have done it their way, I'd be using a crack damper.

I think I'll just get a new one, same thing. No need to get all fancy (and expensive), is there?

How would I go about having he crank checked? Wouldn't they have to pull it? (The engine didn't vibrate / shake at all before I pulled it.)

[skibum1111]

Crank would have to be out of the block. If you had no vibration before, and there was no violent removal of the damper, things should be ok. I've seen one bent crank, the damper was removed with a sledge hammer.

[Earlsfat]

Yeah... used a puller and it came off real easy.

Thanks guys.