Crank Pulley/Harmonic Candid help
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 17
From: Western Mass
2011 c63 AMG
Crank Pulley/Harmonic Candid help
Ive been mulling over my continuing crank pulley probs and got to thinking about the harmonic balancer itself.. When I got the car years back, it had already a 180 mm crank pulley upgrade from a company that i believe, utilized an MB balancer, which has the rubber, and they an add larger crank ring. Never really had an issue. When I replaced my crank seal, i decided on a smaller 172mm pulley and used a different company, which has the crank ring attached to a solid piece of steel.. and since, have had the bolt loosen and crank spin free 3 times now in 8 months.
So it got me thinking, the point of the harmonic balancer is to alleviate harmonic resonance / vibrations from the engine which is why there is rubber in the balancer. If there is a pulley on the car thats solid steel,l ike ive had now for a year, all those vibrations are now transferred throughout the engine and through the crankshaft, there by allowing the crankbolt to loosen over time, which has now happend three times.. Seems highly coincidental.
How else could a bolt with 250-300 lbs of torque eventually come loose? does this make any sense to anyone?
Im thinking about doing my own repair"again", this time cutting keyway, and going back to the original pulley utilizing the MB balancer.
any opinions ?
Thanks !
Paul
So it got me thinking, the point of the harmonic balancer is to alleviate harmonic resonance / vibrations from the engine which is why there is rubber in the balancer. If there is a pulley on the car thats solid steel,l ike ive had now for a year, all those vibrations are now transferred throughout the engine and through the crankshaft, there by allowing the crankbolt to loosen over time, which has now happend three times.. Seems highly coincidental.
How else could a bolt with 250-300 lbs of torque eventually come loose? does this make any sense to anyone?
Im thinking about doing my own repair"again", this time cutting keyway, and going back to the original pulley utilizing the MB balancer.
any opinions ?
Thanks !
Paul
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Joined: Aug 2012
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From: DownEast Maine
CLS 55 AMG E500 ML320
Makes sense to me. Get a new bolt, Green loctite sleeve retainer (slow set) Would hold it, but you may never get it off again. I'm guessing at this point you might be ok with that.
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From: Republic of Texas
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
Use the harmonic balancer to dampen the crankshaft resonance harmonics. Solid pulleys can aggravate resonance in the crankshaft to the point of failure.
Pull an internet search on "Crankshaft resonance" and read to your heart's content. Good images out there also.
Pull an internet search on "Crankshaft resonance" and read to your heart's content. Good images out there also.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 17
From: Western Mass
2011 c63 AMG
i actually had an interesting chat today with the owner of euro-charged. He told me they basically have stopped selling the crank pulley, awhile ago.. just to many issues just like mine and wasn't worth it.. Suggested I cut myself a new keyway, go back to OEM harmonic balancer with stock bolt and green locktite, and use a supercharger pulley, and i prob would never have an issue again
I think this is a very good suggestion
I think this is a very good suggestion
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 166
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From: East Coast
2005 E55 AMG
I have a 185mm, it has been on the car for probably 20k+ miles. Getting another crank pulley from a reputable vendor (the name is escaping me currently, but I have a company in mind - starts with an A) and having it professionally installed - torqued and pinned - is probably the way to go.
Crank pulleys, in my opinion, are infinitely better than supercharger pulleys. Honestly, the risk between them is basically the same. Plus, crank pulley cars seem to make better power.
Crank pulleys, in my opinion, are infinitely better than supercharger pulleys. Honestly, the risk between them is basically the same. Plus, crank pulley cars seem to make better power.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 17
From: Western Mass
2011 c63 AMG
I have a 185mm, it has been on the car for probably 20k+ miles. Getting another crank pulley from a reputable vendor (the name is escaping me currently, but I have a company in mind - starts with an A) and having it professionally installed - torqued and pinned - is probably the way to go.
Crank pulleys, in my opinion, are infinitely better than supercharger pulleys. Honestly, the risk between them is basically the same. Plus, crank pulley cars seem to make better power.
Crank pulleys, in my opinion, are infinitely better than supercharger pulleys. Honestly, the risk between them is basically the same. Plus, crank pulley cars seem to make better power.
Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 166
Likes: 20
From: East Coast
2005 E55 AMG
At this point my main concern is keeping things the least troublesome and as close to normal... Im unconcerned about which has better power and so forth. I need my car to just drive at this point. So a stock balancer that does its job, and an sc pulley that matches the tune already on the ecu seem logical at this juncture.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 17
From: Western Mass
2011 c63 AMG
SO.. with al of that, im hopeful of success... cause if it fails again its off to the yard or getting parted out
Thanks for the insights thus far !!
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