So I just got my harmonic balancer bolt off. With out question the hardest bolt I ever removed that came out intact. Broke an impact socket getting it done and I was waiting on my 24" breaker bar to snap while leaning on a 50" cheater pipe. At one point I was laughing hard enough for my wife to come out to see what was going on.

Plenty of posts here to confirm I was doing the right thing. Used a 15/16 socket since it fit better than a 24mm. Would have braced the flex plate but I used a pipe between the balancer and block to keep it from spinning since the flex plate was off. Then used all of my 230# body to break it free with that 50" cheater bar.

 

Those are never fun!! A 50" pipe on a 24" breaker bar....Don't know the exact math but that's a lot of force!!!

 

Lol, I did the same thing. Literally started laughing because I had about 4 ft of cheater bar.

Finally just got mad, turned green and decided.....welp whatever happens, happens lol went hulk on it.

 

It makes my breaker bar turn into a smiley face before it comes loose.

 

So I'm thinking of removing the locking compound on the bolt face, that by all accounts is the culprit and it feels like overkill on a bolt that requires 250# of torque.

I'd rather toss a little silicon on the face to seal it and maybe add a few dabs of locktite to the threads if there is some reason to worry about the bolt backing out.

Any thoughts?

 

I have taken a lot of Harmonic Balancers off over the Years and other than cleaning the threads i have never put anything on it other than a very small dab of oil on the threads. As far as i know none of them have ever come loose!

 

I had to break one free on a friends Infinti G35. We ended up using a 6' cheater pipe on a break over bar. Had to run four ratchet straps, hooked into the pulley, then wrapped around it, then wrapped around the engine stand and hooked to the opposite side of the motor mount. Ridiculous!

 

Would have never thought to use ratchet straps...

I'll be removing the locking compound from the bolt face before installation and throwing a dab or 2 of tread lock on. I have never experienced tread lock causing a problem on removal and I guess it will just be piece of mind. Note this is a doorman OEM style bolt not an ARP

Interesting note on a G35. Guy at the track borrowed my large adjustable and my threadlock to re-install a balancer bolt that fell out during a run and was found in the belly pan!

 

reuse the stock bolt ?? ( face palm )

 

No, new one

 

I finally broke down and bought the torque plate (flywheel) holding fixture from Goodson. Saves lotsa skinned knuckles and cussing..

 

Indeed. I finally bought one of those tools earlier this year after (of course after, right?) doing my like 100th balancer RR. Number 101 went so much easier, lol.

 

I happened to buy a new 2000 pound engine stand and a full mounting plate since I plan to make it short use run stand. I had thought I was nuts buying a 2000 pound stand but it was cheap so I did it anyway.

Given what is needed to remove the bolt I'm glad I had it!