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Harmonic balancers "slipping". How many have you seen on SB/ BB mopars?

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R413

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Seems most Times a tune up question comes up someone always throws out the dreaded "slipped balancer." Has anyone seen this on a 60's or 70's mopar SB or BB? I have never had one on a car slip. I have seem some with the rubber in terrible shape on junk engine sitting out or at swap meet tables.

What have you folks seen on Mopar V8 cars? Ever had one slipped?
Don't tell us about your brand X please.
 
Last edited:
No never have.

But my son's 98 5.9 had one go bad.
Probably had about 270,000 miles on it.

I think he swapped it out in less than 45 minutes which was pretty remarkable
 
Never on an older engine but saw a couple on V6's when I was a dealer tech back in the 90's.
 
I had one slip on a 383 Road Runner 20 years ago. It was no doubt the original that came on the motor when it left the factory.
 
It's definitely happened, though not to me personally but I think it's more given as one as those "easy stuff first" checks to do when having tuning issues...you hope a guy trying to get a tune has confirmed his timing marks are good but ya just never know!
 
I have never seen one. What I have seen on alot of old small blocks is the nylon cam gears that some years had be worn out and have lots of timing chain slack, which messes with the engine timing.
 
No, not to me either. Honestly, the only reason ive ever found one to be "bad" is incredibly rough handling by others, stripped pulley bolts or extreme wear one the seal ring area. I've seen some very cracked rubber rings that would make me pass and grab a different one tho.
 
I haven't seen one slip, but seen the wrong chain cover or timing tab so the damper TDC line don't match the timing mark on the cover / tab.
 
Vertex_Jeff said:
I have never seen one. What I have seen on alot of old small blocks is the nylon cam gears that some years had be worn out and have lots of timing chain slack, which messes with the engine timing.
Click to expand...

and then plug up oil pickup or chain jumps a tooth and now motor plays Wack A Valve (or depending on make both)..
 
R413 said:
Seems most Times a tune up question comes up someone always throws out the dreaded "slipped balancer." Has anyone seen this on a 60's or 70's mopar SB or BB? I have never had one on a car slip. I have seem some with the rubber in terrible shape on junk engine sitting out or at swap meet tables.

What have you folks seen on Mopar V8 cars? Ever had one slipped?
Don't tell us about your brand X please.
Click to expand...
I think 'slipping harmonic balancer' is a term used for someone who cannot properly tune an engine.

Just my opinion. Car has to be in pretty rough condition for that to even begin to happen.
 
I had a 67 383 that had been put in a 69 rr. It was fine, then started squealing a death sound like a rod or main bearing does when it is spun. I hadn’t had the car long, thought I let a bum engine slip by. Was pretty mad at myself and the situation, but a deal is a deal and it didn’t do that when I bought the car. Pro mechanic I know agreed that was the sound as well.

Rolled up my sleeves to pull the thing, tore the front down, saw outer ring had slipped backwards and was rubbing the cover. I installed a balancer off a spare engine I had and all was good. Beat on that car quite a bit after that.
 
Somewhere around 1988-89 on the 58 392 Hemi/NP 435 I had in my 66 town wagon, I had the outer ring come off toward the rear and chewed on the timing cover. I got it back on but it wouldn't stay so I said it wants off, so I pulled it off and throwed it in the back. I was work'n out of town and had to make do.

Lost number 1 rod bearing later but heard detention just before on that deal.

6.jpg
 
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