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Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - Printable Version

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Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - Waterloo - 02-27-2016

For you guys with older trucks, it is recommended that the Harmonic Balancer/Damper be replaced at 500,000 miles. I replaced mine at 700,000 miles after figuring out it was bad on my 2008 Cummins CM871... The Balancer/Damper is the big chunk of metal, the round disk, that is installed at the end of the motor's crankshaft on the outside of the motor. I figured out mine was bad when I kept popping belts, lost the tensioner, then the alternator and AC compressor. All of this happened at the same time and I was like WTF? I did some reading and discovered that these balancers go bad and cause these very issues. There is a viscous fluid inside of these balancers, that after time and use hardens and renders the balancer useless. Imagine what is going on inside the motor if a bad damper is doing this to your accessories and belts?

I went with the OEM Cummins balancer/damper, it cost $635 at my Cummins shop, the install was another $500 for labor. It was winter, temps running in the teens, I am not doing this in my driveway. Anyhow, I took the truck in on a Tuesday evening and got it back the following morning. I fired her up and thought WTF? Am I in the right truck? The motor was much smoother, to the point I thought they through a new motor in! That was what, two years ago? Everything has been fine, no more popping belts or failing parts.

So, if you have a motor at that 500,000 mark or better and have not replaced that Damper/Balancer, it would be a good time to seriously consider having it replaced. Sadly, there is no way to diagnose a bad or worn out balancer, replacement is the only option. If you are going to keep the truck, I would highly suggest getting this done.

Hope this helps!


RE: Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - Running rough - 02-27-2016

Would a new vibration damper help with a slight uneven ideal in an 2005 Ih cm870 with roughly 350000 km on it?


RE: Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - Waterloo - 02-28-2016

(02-27-2016 )Running rough Wrote:  Would a new vibration damper help with a slight uneven ideal in an 2005 Ih cm870 with roughly 350000 km on it?

At that age, and having the original factory damper on, which is more than likely dried out from age, I could not say that replacing it will solve your idle issue. But, saying that, I would say it is time for a new one. If it was my truck I would have it replaced. When I replaced mine it made a noticeable difference in smoothing out the motor, and my belt issues went away.


RE: Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - yamajason - 02-29-2016

Has anyone removed a Crankshaft Damper from a 2009 International Prostar with the radiator still in? Probably depends on if it comes out easily and does not need the 12 Ton Puller and 20 LB Sledge Hammer that Rawze had to use on his.


RE: Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - ynot - 02-29-2016

(02-29-2016 )yamajason Wrote:  Has anyone removed a Crankshaft Damper from a 2009 International Prostar with the radiator still in? Probably depends on if it comes out easily and does not need the 12 Ton Puller and 20 LB Sledge Hammer that Rawze had to use on his.

I haven't seen how much room is under a prostar hood but i would imagine it can be done, and just switch from a 20lb to a 5lb hammer and prybars and lots of penetrating fluid.


RE: Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - Rawze - 03-01-2016

(02-29-2016 )ynot Wrote:  
(02-29-2016 )yamajason Wrote:  Has anyone removed a Crankshaft Damper from a 2009 International Prostar with the radiator still in? Probably depends on if it comes out easily and does not need the 12 Ton Puller and 20 LB Sledge Hammer that Rawze had to use on his.

I haven't seen how much room is under a prostar hood but i would imagine it can be done, and just switch from a 20lb to a 5lb hammer and prybars and lots of penetrating fluid.

You had to be here to understand. It really was that bad, and had been soaking for 3 days already. Wildpib was here helping me get it off.

Even with sanding the shaft in front of it, 12-ton puller, and a 20-lb hammer smack at high impact, it barely moved about 1/32" at a time.

It was the worst one i had ever seen.


RE: Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - Waterloo - 03-06-2016

(02-29-2016 )yamajason Wrote:  Has anyone removed a Crankshaft Damper from a 2009 International Prostar with the radiator still in? Probably depends on if it comes out easily and does not need the 12 Ton Puller and 20 LB Sledge Hammer that Rawze had to use on his.

I let my Cummins shop do the work, they billed me for 3.5 or 4 hours. I took it in at 5pm, they called at 7am the next morning that it was ready. From the looks of things, they left the radiator and such intact. But I cannot confirm.


RE: Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - marek4792 - 04-05-2016

Just thought I'd show you guys a catastrophic failure of my dampner. Driving down the road with a slight driveline vibration at certain speeds actually planning to pull the ujoints and driveshafts after my trip then suddenly hearing a god awful scraping sound from the motor which would come and go after pulling into a truck stop I found this.


RE: Harmonic Balancer or Damper... - gatow900 - 04-05-2016

Never seen that happen