Thread: To speedi-sleeve, or not to speedi-sleeve?

G,day Ben

Depends on how wide the groove is. If you Speedi-Sleeve, you need to source a seal with a corrected I.D. to allow for the larger diameter. Std seal WILL stretch and eventually fail plus after a short time, will start leaking as it alters the lip profile from the increased diameter.

Other alternative is to have it metal sprayed and remachined back to std measures or find a sleeve the exact O.D. of the balancer, machine down to fit and use the usual seal.

Cheers

Andrew

Hi,

I did the balancer on the Chev in my RRC with a sleeve after filling the groove with metal epoxy. Used a standard seal and its still good after 40k kms.

cheers, DL

Originally Posted by isuzurover

That is the question

The crank pulley (harmonic balancer) on the 4BD1 has a slight groove worn in it - 0.05 mm deep (OD in the groove reduced by just under 0.1 mm ).

Should I bother speedi-sleeving it? Or should I just adjust the position of the new seal slightly so it runs in a slightly different spot?

I can post a pic if it matters.

Use a speedi sleeve and the standard seal, have done this many times in various applications, no problems to date.
Ray

Thanks very much for the replys. This is a pic of the pulley:

You may be able to reposition the seal but I dont like the chances overall. Pulling it forward will run the front lip on watermarked metal and I dont think you will get enough room in the cover to set it back further.

To metal spray and machine would set you back at least $200 so a Speedi would be the go.

before you fit it, measure behind the worn journal dia with a micrometer, get correct sleeve and then measure the journal dia again.

Check for the overall difference, take the old seal to CBC or Statewide bearings and get them to select a new seal with the correct ID. If you can, get a NOK Brand seal.

They will have listings on the std seal measurements for the 4BD1 and can make sure you get the right seated lip seal profile.

Cheers

Andrew

Hi,

Take the pulley with you to the bearing place and get them to measure it. They do that sort of stuff all day, everyday and should be able to provide the perfect fit sleeve.

They'll also be able to advise on the right seal.

The groove looks just like mine did.

Clean with acetone or prepsol and fill it with metal epoxy like Loctite, etc. Even Araldite would probably do the job, and just carefully file off the excess before fitting the sleeve.

Would be good in Tutorials if you take pics because its a common enough problem.

cheers, DL

How much is a new balancer, Ben?

Originally Posted by rovercare

How much is a new balancer, Ben?

Don't know - never priced one. But when I bought the seal from ISUZU a while back, the parts guy said "the balancer often needs a speedi-sleeve" - so I took that to mean TOO MUCH!