Does my harmonic balancer need rebuilding?

I

IHCScout78

Member
Hi,

I am rebuilding an ih345 from a Scout 2. Started to wonder if it is time to get the harmonic balancer rebuilt.

The hub/pulley have not seperated nor spit out the rubber. Just wandering if 35 years of heat and aging have a noticeable effect on the harmonic damper, or if this is something that should be done while it is out.
 
I'd say leave it alone. Mostly it's oil or paint that breaks down the rubber over time, so if it looks okay it most likely is.
 
Agreed. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless it looks like it is actually falling apart. There has been a couple times where I questioned one or two balnacers like you. At that point I check with a competent crank balancer and see what they say. More often than not they are still good even after 40+ years if they aint too beat up
 
Here's what we do on balancers new and old.
The biggest problem is if the outer ring begins to slip. That's the first sign of a problem.

Choose a good visible location and with a white paint pen Mark a line across the parting line, perpendicular to the crank, where the ring and hub meet. The line will become your inspection index Mark. If they begin to drift apart it's time to have it rebuilt.
 
Thanks for the input.

I over-think this stuff. A harmonic balancer is tuned to damp the crank from acting as a torsional spring; the flywheel/flexplate are the anchor, power pulses from the pistons wind up the crankshaft/torsion spring. Seems old rubber would change the stiffness/frequency of the harmonic balancer.

That's the theory. What I hear from the guys with experience is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it":yesnod:
 
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