Thread: Harmonic Balancer pulley

the bearing is pressed into the steel outer,
the rubber centre which has a steel ring around the outside presses inside the steel outer, so the bearing is sandwiched between the 2,
so when its all done up tight on the crank if you have a worn bearing, the whole pulley will have excess movement,
Very hard to explain but this clip may help you understand
not my clip either

TD5 Engine Crankshaft Pulley - WORN - YouTube

Thanks again
Yes the bearing acts as a hub spacer but where how does the bearing rotate as a bearing does? confused

By the way i don't take any credit for this info,
I learnt it here from Davros
I just thought i had nothing to lose as the rubber part of the pulley looked very good when removed, but the inner bearing was rooted with a capital R, mainly from being dry

TD5 Harmonic Balancer repair project! Check it out.

Originally Posted by northiam

Thanks again
Yes the bearing acts as a hub spacer but where how does the bearing rotate as a bearing does? confused

Yes, the bearing doesn't rotate constantly
The rubber centre and the outer pulley flex against each other, so it needs something (bearing) to move back & forth
it's the rubber part that the has the counter weight bolted to it and the outer steel housing with the bearing bolted to the crank, so it works more as a back & forth motion, taking some of the shock & flex from the rubber i suppose.
The bearing seem to get dry and then excess play in them, amplified by the counter weight = vibration.
The youtube clip shows what im trying to explain

How did you separate the two parts of the balancer (rubber center and outer pulley)?

Same way as davros, (who done it to start with)
tapping out the rubber disc (pressed in with an outer thin metal ring) with a screwdriver after marking its position.
I ground sharpness off the 2 corner edges of a flatblade also.
Alot of patience, tapping & turning the pulley, and being very careful not to damage the rubber.
It's no 5 minute job but worth the effort if the rubber looks good and not perishing to start with.
I smeared loctite around the inner & outer as well before reassembling.

Originally Posted by roverv8

Same way as davros, (who done it to start with)
tapping out the rubber disc (pressed in with an outer thin metal ring) with a screwdriver after marking its position.
I ground sharpness off the 2 corner edges of a flatblade also.
Alot of patience, tapping & turning the pulley, and being very careful not to damage the rubber.
It's no 5 minute job but worth the effort if the rubber looks good and not perishing to start with.
I smeared loctite around the inner & outer as well before reassembling.

agree 100% with this post. just take your time and work around the edge (without stuffing rubber) and it will come apart.
when reassembly time comes make sure you line up the two parts correctly before tapping the thin metal ring(outer) back in.
if the rubber part is in good nick you will save a lot of dollars,(to spend elsewhere on same disco)

On TD5 have been replacing bearing that is for viscous fan (the hideous one in the timing housing that does not want to go back in).
While doing this, I notice that the crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer can move forwards and backwards perhaps 4-5 mm, with a metalic "clunk" when goig back towards timing cover/engine.
Have not undone any crankshaft bolts or harmonic balancer bolts.
What's the likely problem with that movement? bearing or do they move backwards and forwards?