I have the new harmonic balancer; I have the puller I need to get the old one off. I have found the bolt that holds the balancer ***'y to the crankshaft, but twisted off a 3/8 extension trying to loosen it.
My next course of action is to heat the bolt and apply some serious torque (3/4 ratchet adapted down to a 1/2 drive socket). Before I do this, can someone please warn me if this bolt is left-hand threaded? It would make sense given the direction of crankshaft rotation; if it is right-hand threaded, it is probably prevented from loosening itself by a gob of high-strength loc-tite (which I can burn away by heating the bolt-head with an oxy-MAPP torch).
(The truck in question is a '96 Maz, 2.3L-4, 2WD, 5-spd.)

 

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Welcome to FTE!

Righty/tighty - Lefty/loosy still applies in your situation.

 

just be careful with the heat what ever you do, remember the crank sensor is right there. if you use a big impact wrench, heat is not needed

 

Thanx for your advice. The job is now done, and the engine is a lot quieter (although the same noise is still just barely audible at the same rpm's as before; maybe I'll try replacing the serpentine belt next.)
For anyone else who, like me, is attempting the job for the first time, some notes:
Lacking an impact wrench, I used a 3/4 drive ratchet, about 18" long, on the retaining bolt. Even with this leverage, I had to lie on my side and push the handle with my foot, holding onto the right front tire so as to avoid pushing my body over the snowy ground. This was after heating the bolt head with a small, but very hot flame; I doubt that the crank sensor even got warm in the process. Being of "Joe average male" build, I was able to do the entire job without raising the vehicle, which is the safe way to go given the amount of torque it took to break the bolt loose.

 

Glad to hear you got it done and thanks for the tips!!