How do you guys get the harmonic balancer on. I dont really want to hammer it on in fear of damaging the thrust bearing.

O 96 F350 460 5 speed. and the engine is in the truck

 

My bud and I just took one off where the prev owner had had a pipe wrech on the snout of the crank!!!
It came off fairly well but to put back on was like you said - hate to be pounding on stuff and 'shrooming the thrust bearing surface.
If you have access to threaded rod, thread the rod into the crank as far as possible , then "pull" (push?) the h.b. on with some thick washers and a nut. If you just start with the original bolt + washers there is a chance you can pull the threads out of the crank before there is enough threads engaged to do the trick.
Good Luck!

 

I always put them on with a install tool. Hammering on them is a bad idea.

 

I bought some threaded rod today to install the balancer. My next question...... Should i put some form of sealant on the weight that goes on before the balancer... you know, to seal the oil from going between the weight and the crankshaft? Or are the tollerances tight enough to not worry about it

 

I wouldn't use sealant, there isn't much oil there, being thrown off too. A pro might think differently.
But... Keep an eye on the deal as it gets started so it is going on straight and then a tap or two is the right thing.
I mean just enoough to keep things parrallel and in line. Even with a few washers and all it can start to be crooked because of a burr or rough spot on just one side that would make it upset as it gets started.

 

The best way is to side it on the crank with the key way lined up with the keyway slot on the balancer....slide it on as far as it goes! Then take the balancer crank bolt that goes in the center of the crank. Thread it in the crank with the trust washer and tighten the bolt down. DO NOT use any kind of sealer on the balancer of crank weight!!!!!

 

ok. Thanks guys