Crap...I stripped the 3 bolt holes on the balancer

[garydan]

I bolted up the puller, the bolts seemed to fit perfectly fine. I went to tighten down the middle to pull the balancer and the three outer bolts came out. The threads on the bolts were all torn up and you can tell I stripped up the bolt holes as well. Unbelievable, what the hell am I supposed to do now!!!

 

[cegusman]

Maybe tap to the next larger size.

 

[HarrisonTX]

how many threads deep were you before you started "pulling"

 

[cuervo]

Drill and tap them larger, but I would not reuse the balancer after doing so. I'm sure it will be thrown off a little. You can also try to put smaller grade 8 bolts with washers and nuts on the back if you can get your fingers behind it to get the nuts started.

 

[driney]

Clean the threads up with the right size tap, and try again with the right bolts. There may be more threads left than you think.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Did you use the correct bolts? The GM balancers came with both course or fine thread. At this point you need to heli coil the holes then start over. You might also want to flip the balancer puller head over the correct way (the flat side should be facing you. This wasn't a problem but could be if you used it on a balancer that had a smaller bolt circle).

 

[garydan]

You can also try to put smaller grade 8 bolts with washers and nuts on the back if you can get your fingers behind it to get the nuts started.

This is what I did, and I was able to get the balancer off. Now I guess I should buy a new balancer?

 

[garydan]

Did you use the correct bolts? The GM balancers came with both course or fine thread. At this point you need to heli coil the holes then start over. You might also want to flip the balancer puller head over the correct way (the flat side should be facing you. This wasn't a problem but could be if you used it on a balancer that had a smaller bolt circle).

I must not have had the right bolts. I found them in a drawer separated from my pulley puller. I've only used this puller on my ls1, so the bolts that worked with that pulley were with my puller. Obviously I should have kept them all together. Is the balancer worth fixing or should I just order a new one?

 

[4X4HIGH]

Fix it, it's an easy fix with little cost (assuming you have access to a heli coil kit).

 

[cuervo]

This is what I did, and I was able to get the balancer off. Now I guess I should buy a new balancer?

I would, but that's me. Slinging a pulley off in the middle of no where Vs the cost of a balancer.

 

[garydan]

I would, but that's me. Slinging a pulley off in the middle of no where Vs the cost of a balancer.

I don't see how it was damaged in any way. Luckily I called up my father, who has access to a machine shop. I'm going to give him the pulley tomorrow to get it threaded, and get the matching bolts for it.

 

[cuervo]

I don't see how it was damaged in any way. Luckily I called up my father, who has access to a machine shop. I'm going to give him the pulley tomorrow to get it threaded, and get the matching bolts for it.

Like I said, I would, but that's just me.