Repair 7

How to Install a Harmonic Balancer in a Vette

The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car that has been in production since 1953, and the sixth generation Corvette includes models made since 2005. The engine in a Corvette uses a harmonic balancer, or crankshaft balancer, to reduce the vibrations that the crankshaft makes when it spins rapidly. The crankshaft balancer in a late-model Corvette is a weight that fits on the end of the crankshaft. The procedure for installing the balancer is generally the same for all Corvettes made since 2005.

Instructions

1

Hold the flywheel in place with a flywheel locking tool, and detach the drive belts from their pulleys. Disconnect the mounting bolt for the crankshaft balancer with a socket wrench.

2

Mark the crankshaft balancer and the crankshaft with white paint to indicate the correct position of the crankshaft balancer. Attach a puller to the crankshaft balancer, and pull it from the crankshaft.

3

Record the position of the weights on the crankshaft balancer. Remove the washer and weights from it.

4

Mark the new crankshaft balancer with white paint using the mark on the old balancer as a guide. Mount the weights in the new crankshaft balancer according to the notes made in the previous step. Install the washer on the new crankshaft balancer.

5

Place the new crankshaft balancer on the end of the crankshaft. Attach the balancer installer "J-41665" to the crankshaft seal installer "J-41478". Place the small end of the installer assembly into the balancer.

6

Hold the hex end of the threaded rod for the installer assembly with a box-end wrench. Turn the nut on the installer assembly clockwise with a second box-end wrench to mount the crankshaft balancer onto the crankshaft.

7

Remove the small end of the installer assembly from the crankshaft balancer, and place the large end of the installer assembly against the balancer to seat it onto the crankshaft. Remove the installer assembly from the crankshaft.

8

Fasten the old mounting bolt in the crankshaft balancer, and tighten it to 240 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Remove the old mounting bolt with a socket wrench. Use a depth micrometer to ensure the crankshaft nose is recessed to between 0.094 and 0.176 inch within the balancer bore.

9

Fasten the new mounting bolt for the crankshaft balancer, and tighten it to 37 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Tighten the mounting bolt an additional 140 degrees with a socket wrench.

10

Attach the drive belts to their pulleys. Detach the flywheel locking tool from the flywheel.