harmonic balancer moved and timing??

hipo50mustang · Sep 26, 2007

Ok, so i decided to avance my timing today, so I ran my tank almost empty and filled up with 93 and picked up a timing light. I removed the spout and marked the timing, both 10 and 14 degrees, and checked my base timing, but the marks came up about 2" to the left of the pointer, they were right in the big hole of the pointer bracket and not at the tip where it says "TIME". so I think that my harmonic balancer rotated on me :lame:, so i advanced it to where it started to ping, and then backed it off a little, reconnected the spout, and now she is running stronger with no pinging, but i have no idea how much advance I have. does this sound right or should I go ahead and replace the harmonic balancer and reset the timing? :dunno: :dunno: any help would be nice.
thanks,
scott

hipo50mustang · Sep 26, 2007

.... also, she is idling ALOT smoother and the exhaust tone is quiter at idle, but the same about 2k rpms. any comments or ideas?

red9535 · Sep 26, 2007

Well i can't picture what you're referring to - but your harmonic balancer can't 'rotate' on you.. it's held in place in a specific spot by a woodruff key. Just re-set your timing then put it wherever you want.

tommybunz · Sep 26, 2007

there is no way it can do that when you mark the bal. use the tip of the pionter to set it your probably looking at the hole on the other side of the pointer. reset and try again.

Mr. OAM · Sep 27, 2007

If the harmonic balancer is the type that is two pieces of metal that are bonded to and sandwiching rubber inbetween them then it can rotate if the bond to the rubber fails. If this has happened then you need to replace the balancer. It will not perform correctly and it can also cause engine damage. Worst case, it can seperate and then really do some nasties.

Steve

hipo50mustang · Sep 27, 2007

it is the 2 piece type with the rubber sandwiched between. i only thought of that because it was an issue discussed on other forums. i reset the timing to 10 degrees to the pointer, and it stalled and then wouldnt start, so I set it back to where it was originally and ran fine, then i used that as a referance to advance it to about 14. but like I said the degree markings dont line up with the pointer. I am not imagining it or making it up. :drunk: I think I need a new balancer.