In-car balancer replacement

[138]

I was about to install the harmonic balancer with the engine in the car, when I noticed a notch carved into the bottom edge of the radiator panel , lining up with the middle of the crankshaft. This must have been forethought by GMH, as I sure can't swing a BFH in the gap where the radiator sits, but nowhere in the manual does it mention this. A 18" piece of 20mm shaft in there should make the job easier (after cooking the balancer for a while to heat it up). Apart from balancer access, the only other reason it is there is for a hand crank to start. I have had early Chevs with the special drive on the pulley to take the hand crank, but never seen a Holden with one. Anyone else have this notch, or is that why my FB is "Special"?!

[Errol62]

It is there to allow space for the removal tool I believe. There was never provision for handcranking.

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[gpi]

what was wrong with the old balancer?

[Harv]

The grey motor industrial engines came with a hand crank option (… though no bodywork for the notch).

Hand crank, magneto and mechanical gauges allowed simple, no battery operation on stationary engines, cement mixers etc.

Cheers,
Harv

[138]

what was wrong with the old balancer?

Nothing wrong with the old balancer, just the timing cover seal.
I used a removal tool which I made, and didn't need that clearance on the front panel.