Mercedes 617 Harmonic Balancer problem

Problem with the union between the crankshaft and harmonic balancer on my 1985 Mercedes 300CD with the 5 cylinder turbodiesel motor.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• harmonic
• balancer

[vlbansil]

How did you remove the dowel pins? I am doing mine as well and stuck with the dowel pins removal? Did you use the gear puller or harmonic balancer remover? Please let me know

[TWeatherford88]

@vlbansil Just use a harmonic balancer puller, available as a free rental from many auto parts stores. As you pull the balancer the dowel pins will come along.

[R5alive]

Don't worry about people saying it won't hold under the strain of the engine and accessories because it will. And yes the original dowel pins are desinged to shear off to protect the crankshaft, but the crankshaft is already damaged at the dowel pin indents. There's no need to replace the crankshaft if you don't have to.

[R5alive]

The balancer should be replaced (low miles used part), but since the dowel pin indents are damaged on the crank as well you could drill out the holes with the balancer on and make some heavy duty pins out of grade 5 bolts machined down to size on a metal lathe. The redneck way is to chuck the bolt in a drill and spin it, while your holding against a grinding wheel or belt sander. Use a mic or vernier caliper to measure the outside diameter. Cut the new dowel pins to length.