cgill87

Hi all. I'm new here and first I want to say, Great Forum - tons of great info, thanks!!

Here's my problem... my old harmonic balancer completely gave out (rubber sheared between the inner and outter pulleys) and for the life of me, I cannot get the new balancer installed on my 2001 Tundra with the 4.7L V8. I've searched all the forums and the internet and can't find anyone who's run into this same issue.

Problem 1: The replacement balancer seems to be EXTREMELY tight. I realize its supposed to be a press fit, but it does not even begin to go on the crank. I've verified no burrs on the crank or balancer surfaces, cleaned them both with emory cloth, lubed them up, tried a deadblow hammer... No luck. I also heated the balancer in boiling water for 30min to expand it but still couldn't even get it to start on the crank. I even ordered a second replacement balancer, thinking the first one might have been machined incorrectly, but its just as tight as the first one. The 2 balancers I've tried are aftermarket and come from Dorman. They're $112 each. Toyota wants almost $300 for a balancer. Do you think the Toyota part would fit better? Has anyone had to hone out a new balancer to get it to fit? I'm assuming that's my next step unless someone else has better advice? If so, does anyone know what diameter it should be honed to?

Problem 2: The crank is tapped with M18x1.5 threads and none of the universal balancer install kits have this adapter. I've literally either been to or called every autopart store within a 10 mile radius of me to see if their loaner tool has this adapter. Not a single one of them does. I've also looked online and don't see this adapter specified in any of the kits I've found. The balancer will not slip over the crank at all, so the crank pulley bolt is not long enough to catch any threads in the crank, much less have enough thread engagement to where I wouldn't worry about stripping threads if I used the bolt to install it. I've also looked for hardened m18x1.5 bolts that I could use to make my own install tool, but the bolts I've been able to find that are long enough, do not have threads far enough up the shank to be useful. Is there a special Toyota tool for this that only dealers have or is there something unique about my setup?? (The truck has 212k miles on it. I bought it with 200k and do not know its prior history.)

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! What was supposed to be a quick job has turned into a nightmare... Please help!!
Thanks!

cgill87

UPDATE...

The aftermarket Dorman balancers just don't fit on the crank shaft snout. I bit the bullet and bought a Toyota OEM balancer and low and behold... it slipped right on! No hammering, no installation tool required - it literally just slipped right on... My old balancer slips on/off the crank the same way but I assumed this was because it was worn out because everything I had heard was that the balancer was supposed to be a very tight, press fit on the crank. I guess that isn't the case with at least these motors.

I can't believe that the Dorman balancers are so under-bored yet can still be sold as a drop in replacement part. I have no idea how anyone gets them installed without honing them out. Live and learn I guess...

Well hopefully my struggles can save someone else a lot of frustration.