Harmonic Balancer

[JayRicciardi]

So I was given a 1998 Limited, beautiful truck. Has about 209k on it. This past week I was driving home from work when I happen to notice my power steering was gone. At the same time I looked up at my radar detector (which I have set to a voltage meter) and it was dropped down to around 11v.

I'm thinking to myself "thats just perfect". I pull into my driveway and pop the hood. To my amazment the main pulley, harmonic balancer, or whatever the hell its called, was half cocked forward.

A buddy of mine that I work with took a look at it, we stripped off the belts, the fan w/shroud, radiator, and just about everything that I knew that I could take off without really messing it up some more.

Come to find out there is a little.. almost a slab of metal like a keyway was sheered off, right in half, that take up the extra room for the balancer. That of course is hooked right on to the crank shaft. To my dismay I noticed a huge gouge in the exposed crankshaft almost like it was put on a lathe and then forgot about.

My big question is, what kind of money am I talking to replace that crank shaft and/or can i get away with just replaceing the balancer.

I'm new here and I love the forums. I've found a lot of useful information, and I appreciate everything you guys have got goin on here,

Please help me get my 4runner goin again! I love this truck and I've had a LOT of plans for it.

Thanks again!:beer:

 

[Deep_palancar]

This is a common failure following a timing belt replacement if the crank bolt is not torqued to the full spec of 217 ft/lbs.

Find out if that work was done recently. If so, then they should buy the problem.

If the crankshaft nose is not too damaged you may get away with cleaning it up with emory cloth and installing a new crank pulley. The pulley is ~$310, plus a new woodruff key and crank bolt. Then find a torque wrench that will pull 217 ft/lbs. You will need to block the crank from spinning with a pin inserted into the 8mm holes that you see in the front of the pulley in order to tighten the bolt. There are many methods that DIYers use, a drill bit, a grade 5 bolt, or a steel rod. Run that through something like a notched and drilled 2x6, or piece of iron square stock found at Lowes.

If the crank nose is really bad, then I'd start looking for a salvage engine. The cost to repair yours with crank and all new bearings and seals will be much more than a salvage engine. I've seen them for less than $800 with <50k miles.

 

[JayRicciardi]

Thanks! Your reply was incredibly helpful.

I'm just going to say skrew it and start lookin for a new engine. Either that or I'll sell my harley and the 4runner and buy a new one =D

Thanks again!!