front engine pulley removal

[tom servas]

Am removing the front cover on our 64 engine with AC. Have all 6 bolts that hold the pulley onto the damper removed, can wiggle the pulley BUT it will not come fully off the damper, Is there something other than dirt and rust that keeps the pulley from fully coming off?

[Russ Austin]

Use a mallet to knock it off.  More often than you would guess, people hammer the balancer in place. That mushrooms the flange and traps the pulley onto the balancer.   

[tom servas]

Thanks Russ will do that, maybe that means someone changed the timing chain and gears too? Will find out latter. Picked up a puller from advance auto and its bolts are a little short so thought it would be fine to seperate the pulley from the balancer to get the puller closer. Already found some longer bolts to use with the puller BUT would like to get the pulley off anyway. 

[Russ Austin]

NO NO NO and NOOOOOOOOOO.  You will destroy the balancer by using long bolts.  The holes for the puller bolts only go so far in. The bolt will bottom out into the rubber part of the balancer. If you go further than that, you will push the balancer part right off of the center hub. Don't ask how I know this.   Just clean out the holes and go finger tight

[tom servas]

Russ,

 Where is the mushroomed "flange" that you say is trapping the pulley on the balancer?

 thx

Tom

[tom servas]

Russ,

 I am aware of not threading bolts to far into the balancer.

 The puller from advance auto will NOT fit into the pulleys diameter and that is why I would need three longer bolts--than they provide in the puller kit)- to reach far enough in to the balancers' hole threads. .

Also why I would like to remove the pulley from the balancer BEFORE setting up the puller to remove the balancer from the crankshaft.

Let me know where this "mushroomed flange" is -- part of the pulley? crankshaft?

Thanks

Will be working on the car tomorrow/saturday.

Tom

[Russ Austin]

The round ring in the front of the balancer that sticks out past the pulley. It gets smashed out and traps the pulley.

[tom servas]

Got it- did not know it had a round ring in there-- will see what we can do in morning.

Just watched that video,again,  that Jason has on this site and I think I see what you mean by a "flange"

That would be what I needed to know.

[Tony and Ginny 429]

Important to  make an effort to be keeping the stock harmonic balancer in good condition as  it is keeping the crankshaft in your car in proper balance as the name implies 

The crank and balancer are balanced as a unite together  before installed into the engine 

Some having a need to change the balancer for another one  due to damaging it have possibly  had vibration issues in there drive train 

Theses balancers  can be damaged easily if you do not know what to watch out for as Russ has indicated

Often it is unknown what changes took place to the car before the current owner has purchased the car over the years 

Using the proper care to remove and install the HB is very important for that reason 

Drive train vibration issues are one of the more difficult issues to be trouble shooting and working thru as there are so many possible issues causing the problem from  the front to the back of the car 

Our Cadillac rides need to be supper smooth and the best because — nobody says “ it rides like a Lincoln “ for a reason ! 

The Cloud 9 ride on your living room couch our year cars offer is one of the very best rides possible making these cars keepers for the long haul ( in my case 55 years ) 

Enjoy 

[tom servas]

Tony and Ginny,

I have already lined up the position of the pulley to the balancer so it can be installed relative to the balancer as I have found it. Plan on using some emery cloth and possibly a dremel brush and trying to get that pulley off without beating the hell out of it.

Will see in a few hours if it loosens up more.

Question-- is the "flange" Russ talks about metal and actually the crank end?

[Tony and Ginny 429]

Russ  one of our best authorities   on the subject of harmonic balancers 

Sure he will be along shortly to answer 

Enjoy 

[tom servas]

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[tom servas]

Removed the pulley and the damper-- thanks for the help.

Tom