Lost balancer bolt.

[TransAmDan]

Drove all the way to Kelmarsh Hall and back yesterday, just over a 300mile round trip. A couple tank of gas. Car ran great, but as you know I have some oil loss issues, so did stop at a few services to check. All was good. A bit of traffic on the M1 and M25. As soon as got onto the A3, feeling like I'm almost home, as it was quite worrying taking the car all that way.

Gave it some beans after the roundabout near Petersfield. It accelerated very well, very happy with that.

Came off the A3 at Waterlooville, heard a clunk under the car, perhaps I ran over something, perhaps a bolt had dropped out of the sump. Pulled over into a layby. Looked under the car the best I could, looked in the engine bay, everything seemed normal.

Got the car up in the air as soon as I got home. Some sump bolts I couldn't get in a position to see, so took a photo of them all, and all looking good. As I got to manouver myself under the canr I put my hand on the pulley wheel, and its feels kinda hollow.



Where did my bolt go. Oh no, it must have been the bolt that came out. The pulley has walked forwards about 3mm. I have another bolt somewhere. Don't some research it is not unusual for these bolts to come loose, as new ones come with threadlock painted on them. So even if you do up a used one to torque there will be no threadlock to hold it there.

I have ordered a new bolt from rock auto. £2.19 for the bolt. While i'm at it, I ordered a complete oil pan bolt kit and another gasket, in plan to remove the sump some time soon after dropping the suspension and get that sucker sealed good.

 

[TransAmDan]

The moment the balancer bolt got ejected.
[video=youtube;HcYKca46lK0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcYKca46lK0[/video]

 

[TransAmDan]

Spare balancer bolt fitter with loctite. Pulled on the pulley wheel very well, Used 2 ft bar, moving the car in 4th gear with handbrake on and bricks in front of wheels. That bolt should hold, will keep an eye on it.

 

[AmericanThunder]

Just as well the pulley didn't walk off the crank snout any further....

 

[TransAmDan]

Yes that could have been bad if it walked off. I do have a spare, but would do some damage as it passed under the car as well as loose oil out the front. It was probably loose when we were looking at the engine at Kelmarsh.

 

[saleen 192]

Not having much luck . but could of been alot worse,

 

[TransAmDan]

Yeah, could have jammed between the floor and sump, or gearbox, making a nice hole. Lucky escape.
Maybe I ought to stick with working on computers.
I keep checking soo many things on the car, just didn't check that bolt. You cant see it, but you can get your hand down there to feel.

 

[AmericanThunder]

I know when I did the Pontiac 400 lump in my 78 Firebird years ago, it called for a huge torque on the balancer bolt. Something like 360 lb/ft or something. I know I couldn't pull it and burst a blood vessel in my bicep and eye trying!

 

[TransAmDan]

lol, yes its tough. My arms are both aching today, right in the elbow joints. I did keep swapping arms it was soo knackering. The breaker bar was bending a bit. That bolt gave me more exercise than the gym. lol.

 

[AmericanThunder]

Unfortunately I didn't have a breaker bar I could fit over the end of the torque wrench so I was trying to pull the torque on a relatively short torque wrench.

 

[TransAmDan]

Had a look for the bolt at just gone 1am this morning. Couldn't see it. It may be further onto the grass edge. Not the best place to be loitering at that time of the morning, at least there was less cars around.

 

[TransAmDan]

lol, So true.

 

[TransAmDan]

Well been working in the shed today. Good progress. A few boxes in there from the car, like the old Crank / Cam. Popped it up in the loft. I have an area where there is spares for the car, like oil pump, and a few other bits, light bulbs, electric areal repair kit.

Found a balancer bolt, so now I have two new ones.