Another problem. After removing the harmonoc balancer and installing new water pump, re-installing starter, etc. with no problem, I find that the motor won't crank - either manually with the breaker bar on the hamonic balancer bolt or with the starter. I noticed that when I went to torque the harmonic balancer bolt the crank wouldn't turn at all. ( and yes, the half inch extension I used to lock the flywheel was already removed since I was getting ready to re-set it to lock the flywheel in the other direction in order to torque the HB bolt) Help!

 

so you can get it to turn over at all? it should not take much effort to turn the engine clockwise by using the harmonic balancer bolt to turn it.

 

Update -Thanks, Fantastic site by the way, A lifesaver! I ended up tightening the HB bolt down without need for the flywheel locked !!! It surprised me because, you're right, it was very easy to turn the crank with just the 3/4" breaker bar and 1 17/16" socket prior to loosening the bolt. Since my last post I started charging the batteries and the motor did turn over with the starter, but ran very rough. I am continuing to charge batteries and I'll try again when they are fully charged. But I am still wondering why I couldn't get that crank to budge even after fully tightening the crank (HB) bolt. Could ther be that much compression? It has been very cold here, down to zero at night, since I last started the truck, but I don't think that would have any effect ??

 

i know this fourm is a few years old, but i was wondering what the password was for the waterpump rebuild videos on photobucket. thanks for posting this!

also, did you remove the power steering pump & ac bracket to gain access to the water pump, or did you just work around it? Thanks again

got down to the harmonic balancer and had it off in just over an hour, took a few seconds to find where the cover was on the bell housing on the tranny, but worked like a charm, i'd finish up but i work early, so it has to wait until saturday!

 

I didn't view any video, just pictures that someone had posted which were a great help. So I don't know that password. It is frustrating when you get so far and then have to stop because you need your sleep for work. All you can think about is getting this truck back on the road again.

 

Not sure if this was mentioned but they have a ring gear holding tool that makes it a bit easier the remove and install the nut that holds the balancer on! This will also prevent damage to the teeth on the ring gear! It bolts in place of the starter after removal and has teeth that mesh with the ring gear and prevent it from rotation..

 

Yeah I saw this mentioned on another thread I believe the part number started with a j, it was so much faster to remove the inspection plate on the tranny bellhousing and jam it though

 

your prolly right but with the tool you install it and remove when done wich means you go under twice! And you can do it by yourself. Oh and by the way you dont want to remove the trans on a K body truck to replace the ring gear,not pretty! And yes all GM tools are J series.

 

Im dirty tired angry and thanks to this posting, relieved. Im going to get a 1 7/16 wrench
and finish this job with my print out. thanks agin jettrash

 

if you have a sears close by check and see if they have a 36mm 12point socket. if you are going to buy one.