08 Explorer 4.0v6 harmonic balancer removal tools?

[relentless85]

I am getting ready to replace the harmonic balancer on my 08 Explorer 4.0L.

I am looking to rent the puller tool but I’m not sure which one would be best. Looks like there are several different ones from Autozone.

Has anyone rented the puller tool? Any suggestions on which tool to rent from the auto parts store? Any specific part number for the tool or any tips/tricks to make pulling the harmonic balancer easier?

I’ve read that possibly the bolts that come with the puller tool are not long enough?

I have access to all the major parts stores (Napa, Autozone, orillies and Advance auto parts)


Just want to have everything ready to go when I replace it.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Hope that helps.

Harmonic Balancer replacement - few tips and part #'s

 

[michael loibl]

I posted a brief write up with pictures and bolt types and sizes in November 2018. If you don’t find it or have additional questions let me know

 

[michael loibl]

Here’s my post from November

 

[relentless85]

View attachment 169062 Here’s my post from November

I found your post, thanks for the pictures of the bolts. What kind/type/brand of puller tool was used to remove the pully from the crankshaft? Also, i assume the same tool would be used to press the new harmonic balancer back on to the crank?

I would like to rent one so I don’t have to purchase one, I don’t see my self using a harmonic balancer puller tool on anything else, don’t want to waist money on a tool that won’t get used often. Unless there is a cheap one that will work at harbor freight/amazon?

Explorer_PL I see in your post that you used one from harbor freight, do you know the part number bu chance?

 

[michael loibl]

I used one from Harbor freight as well, it was borrowed so I can’t go check the part number but I can look on the site and figure out which one it was. If I recall it was less than $20.

As far as installing the new balancer, if you look at my pictures you’ll see the longer bolt that I used to pull it onto the crankshaft, the factory bolt is not long enough to catch any threads initially, plus it’s better to catch as many threads as possible when starting the installation. Once I got the balancer about halfway on, I backed out the bigger bolt and continued using the factory bolt.

 

[michael loibl]

I believe this was the kit I used, but all I needed out of the kit was the main yoke and the big center bolt.

The bolts that I threaded into the old harmonic balancer are noted in my write up.Soak the bolt holes in penetrating oil in advance, and work the bolts in and out gently to clean up the threads

 

[relentless85]

View attachment 169067 I believe this was the kit I used, but all I needed out of the kit was the main yoke and the big center bolt.

The bolts that I threaded into the old harmonic balancer are noted in my write up.Soak the bolt holes in penetrating oil in advance, and work the bolts in and out gently to clean up the threads

So basically the bolts that come with any of the harmonic balancer puller tools are useless. I would need to buy the longer bolt that goes into the crank and by the other 2 metric bolts that screw directly into the harmonic balancer itself.

 

[michael loibl]

I’m sure they fit some things, but they didn’t include the size I needed, so $2 at Home Depot for the pair of bolts, but as I mentioned, try getting one size longer than I got... I believe the package in my pictures was 85mm... I’d recommend at least 90mm.

And as for the big bolt for the crank, that $1.25 was well spent to ensure a safe installation, which doesnt involve using the puller tool

 

[relentless85]

I’m a little confused. How does the harmonic balancer get pressed back on to the crank shaft?

Do you use the longer bolt that screws in to the crank to press the pulley back on? Or do you use the harbor freight puller tool to press it back on?

 

[michael loibl]

The new harmonic balancer goes on without using the puller. What I did was
1) light coat of oil on the crankshaft

2) applied some heat to the new balancer for 5 minutes with a heat gun hopefully expanding it ever so slightly.

3) line the balancer up straight on the tip of the crankshaft, noting that it has to match up with the keyway, and smack a few times with my hand

4) insert the longer crank bolt, Catching as many threads as possible before bottoming out in the pulley

5) use ratchet and socket to turn bolt as you watch the pulley slide in.

6) after you get a few full turns of the long bolt sucking in the pulley, take that bolt out and insert the factory bolt, which should now catch a few threads in the crankshaft, and finish tightening and torquing. Be advised many say you need to get a new crank bolt, but I didn’t.

 

[relentless85]

I’m guessing the M8x1.25 85 mm bolts that you got from Home Depot screw directly in to the harmonic balancer when using the puller tool to remove the pulley off the crank?

I’m having trouble finding those size bolts.

 

[michael loibl]

Yes, they screw directly into the threaded holes in the balancer, after a few sprays of penetrating oil. I’m surprised you’re not finding them...for me, I had a hard time locating the big bolt that threaded into the crank. Depot didn’t have that, I had to get it from a truck parts supplier near me

 

[michael loibl]

I used 85mm bolts, but they were barely long enough. I’d recommend the 90mm in the second picture

 

[relentless85]

I was able to find these online for the longer crank bolt. I hope they work.

BH12X1.5X90FBLK - Hex Bolt Black 10.9 Full [BH12X1.5X90FBLK] - $6.99 : Bel-Metric, Metric Hardware, Metric Fasteners, Metric Bolts, Metric Nuts & Time-Sert Thread Repair

They say they are M12x1.5x90.

I went to another Home Depot and found the M8x1.25x90 bolts. I threaded them into the new balance to make sure they are the correct size. They only treaded a few threads in the hole. I’m hoping that’s enough to remove the broken balancer.

 

[Explorer_PL]

The holes in my old balancer were either dirty or some odd size. I used 8mm bolts and got them started and then drove them deeper as much as I could. I did not care about the balancer as it was trash anyway. I just wanted to make enough grip to pull it off the shaft, after that who cares.

 

[michael loibl]

Ok good, I was about ready to package up my three bolts and offer to mail them to you. Hopefully I will never need them again LOL.

I agree that they only threaded in a few turns both in the new and the old balancer. My new one had a lot of paint residue in the threads, and the old one had a lot of rust in the threads.

Just remember when removing the original pulley, break the crank bolt loose, but leave it in a few thread just remember when removing the original pulley, break the crank bolt loose, and back it out a few full turns (4-5) before attaching the puller. That will leave you with about four threads still in the crankshaft so you don’t risk damaging the crank threads when you begin pulling, because it’s been on there for quite a few years. Once you have moved the pulley out to the point where it feels like you have got up to the bolt head, you can take that bolt out the rest of the way and then thread in the newly purchased long bolts a few threads and then press off that one till the pulley comes free