Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Balancer

Any idea on how or why a balancer would move/rotate? I have a 66' Chevy C-10 with 250, I was driving it around last wk and it was running rougher than normal. Pulled it into the garage yesterday, checked the plugs, adjusted the carb, let it warm up and checked the timing and could not find the mark. When I found it, it is about 180 off. I know for sure that it was lined up because I replaced it this summer. So back to the question, how does this happen? How do I fix it, and prevent it from happening again.
Thanks
Jason

Get a paint pen and draw a line fom the edge toward the center, that way you can find out if the outside ring is slipping.
It is possible(but not likely) you have sheared off your your woodruff key or keyway. (or installed it without one?)
Did you match it up with the old one when you installed it?
Dan

That balancer ring is also used as a belt pulley.
Age and belt tension will cause them to slip.

i have run into the outter ring sliping on 350 sb a lot in fact if it has not sloped it is either a new one or aftermarket. they generaly slip about 8deg. so i remark them and if they slip again they get replaced.

it is also a good idea that when you are installing a balancer that you check it to make sure it is marked right tobegin with.

one other question how was it installed? with an instalation tool or just tapped on witha hammer?

OK, with the indexing marks applided took it for a drive. Checked, and it move some more, just the outer ring. Not sure how long its been happening. Is this something that needs to tbe addressed ASAP, it looks like it may actually be sliding off also but Im no expert.

Instalation was done with the install tool, what a pain.

Is there a pulley setup that does not use the outer ring on the balancer as the pulley?
Thanks

Greeting's Jason,
Yes this is definately somthing that should be adressed ASAP. If you wanted you could bolt on a SBC pulley, and then space all of the other pulleys forward by using double groove pulleys and/or spacers. But either way you will have to replace the defective balancer, it would be easier and less expensive to just replace it
(maybe a different brand)and be done with it. Well good luck, and don't let that thing come apart on you.

yes i would not even try to run the motor till that balancer is in the trash. if that outter ring comes off while the motor is running you will lose more then just the balancer

I had the outer rings on mine give out once. It began overheating cause it was slipping so bad but we couldnt figure out why so after cooling it off we got back on the highway, didn't even make it off the ramp and the outer ring took flight. Bounced out from underneath the engine bay and shot into the highway... luckily there was no traffic. Replace that before you drive it again.

Same thing happened to me with a '74. the sucker came apart and went into the ditch. If it happened in town, someone could have been hurt. There is a lot of energy there when they split. I second what RevOD says - replace asap

Thanks to everyone, just what I thougth, wont drive again till I replace that peice. Ill do some checking on the pulleys, sounds to me its a better way to go anyway, no strain on the internals of the balancer. Thanks again
Jason

last one i looked at that came apart took out the radiator and dimpled the hood. found it wedged above the bellhousing. holeshot!