Flywheel knocking
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Flywheel knocking
From what I can tell, the 2 piece flywheel in my truck has loosened over the last week or so. Hard to say for sure but I noticed a knocking noise and tonight traced it to the flywheel.
Noticed the retaining nut for the torque converter wasn't centered in the passing hole of the cast iron part of the flywheel. reached in with a screw driver and was able to get movement to center it again, so the two pieces are no longer properly clamped to the crank shaft.
At this point I think the holes in the flexplate might have been stretched and eaten into ovals by the crank shaft bolts beating against it. I haven't torn into it yet other than dropping the bell houseing access cover but I'm guessing retorquing the crank bolts won't be enough at this point.
I don't suppose anyone else ever had this problem, did they?
Noticed the retaining nut for the torque converter wasn't centered in the passing hole of the cast iron part of the flywheel. reached in with a screw driver and was able to get movement to center it again, so the two pieces are no longer properly clamped to the crank shaft.
At this point I think the holes in the flexplate might have been stretched and eaten into ovals by the crank shaft bolts beating against it. I haven't torn into it yet other than dropping the bell houseing access cover but I'm guessing retorquing the crank bolts won't be enough at this point.
I don't suppose anyone else ever had this problem, did they?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,496
Likes: 94
From: So. Jersey
I've seen this happen on work trucks. Most the time it's the torque converter bolts or nuts coming loose. For the future though since you have an automatic refer to it as a flexplate. Flywheels are for clutches. The title of your post first made me think you had a case of another dual mass flywheel coming apart.
But yeah I'd get another flexplate or you'll just keep having problems.
But yeah I'd get another flexplate or you'll just keep having problems.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Well I just confirmed the situation - I'm screwed.
The converter bolts were fine and the holes for them are undamaged. However, I can pry against the converter stems to slide the flexplate independantly of the flywheel about 1/2" overall.
I don't know how reasonable it would be, but I am wondering if the damage to the flex plate is small enough to simply re torque the flywheel bolts after repositioning everything and let it run. Called the only autoparts store that is open today and asked about 7.3 IDI style a flexplate but they couldn't find anything. I'll know more when I tear into it, but don't want to do that until I have a plan B for parts in case I have to replace everything.
NAPA will be open tomorrow along with the auto wreckers. There's no way I'm getting a $1000 ATS billet flywheel. Ridiculous!
The converter bolts were fine and the holes for them are undamaged. However, I can pry against the converter stems to slide the flexplate independantly of the flywheel about 1/2" overall.
I don't know how reasonable it would be, but I am wondering if the damage to the flex plate is small enough to simply re torque the flywheel bolts after repositioning everything and let it run. Called the only autoparts store that is open today and asked about 7.3 IDI style a flexplate but they couldn't find anything. I'll know more when I tear into it, but don't want to do that until I have a plan B for parts in case I have to replace everything.
NAPA will be open tomorrow along with the auto wreckers. There's no way I'm getting a $1000 ATS billet flywheel. Ridiculous!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
The flex plate is really thin so I'm thinking that the bolt stems beating against that smaller cross section allowed the flex plate to rotate slightly as it got eaten away by the vibration. Its possible the flywheel has some damage too, but the thicker cross section prevented the same kind of material loss. Thats my guess at this point.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
I hope you can get one locally, but if you have trouble finding one I have one that was in a running rig when I bought it to part out if you need it.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Well Crap! I went to NAPA today to have a look at the flex plate they have in stock and its not the right one. It had a 6 bolt hub so I would guess it was intended for a gasser. The part number for that incorrect one was all over their books like a rash for any IDI diesel from 1983-1994.
The next couple weeks look to be fairly busy but I won't need any longer trips so I will probably tear into it as is to see what happened. I'm almost tempted to try and salvage what I have depending on how bad it is.
Starmilt, what type do you have? C6 two piece, E4OD two piece, or Single piece E4OD?
The next couple weeks look to be fairly busy but I won't need any longer trips so I will probably tear into it as is to see what happened. I'm almost tempted to try and salvage what I have depending on how bad it is.
Starmilt, what type do you have? C6 two piece, E4OD two piece, or Single piece E4OD?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Well if it comes to replacing it and I can't find anything around here, I'll send you a PM and you can tell me if we can work something out.
I'll let everyone know what I find.............................................
I'll let everyone know what I find.............................................
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Hey at least I didn't have a runaway or broken crank shaft. Been a few of those lately too.
By any chance, have I ever told you guys how much I hate pulling this transmission?
Got it unbolted and shifted back about 4 inches on stands under the truck. Plenty of room to get at the flywheel. But then I got hungry so I went inside and ate food for a while and now the day is over.
I'll pull the flywheel tomorrow and will know more after that. Nothing seems obviously wrong though. Also, I seem to be remembering things wrong. I thought I removed the backing plate ring for the bolts to cheat some extra clearance against the TC hub, but that ring is still there.
By any chance, have I ever told you guys how much I hate pulling this transmission?
Got it unbolted and shifted back about 4 inches on stands under the truck. Plenty of room to get at the flywheel. But then I got hungry so I went inside and ate food for a while and now the day is over.
I'll pull the flywheel tomorrow and will know more after that. Nothing seems obviously wrong though. Also, I seem to be remembering things wrong. I thought I removed the backing plate ring for the bolts to cheat some extra clearance against the TC hub, but that ring is still there.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Well mystery solved. The flex plate broke clean through, see for yourselves:
My dad had this happen to him years ago on some GM car. Guess it was my turn lol.
The center popped out with little effort after some tapping with a peice of scrap metal (which is what the plate is now).
I don't remember seeing any of this damage when I put the engine together about 30 000 kilometers ago. Whatever happened, it was recent. Although that would mean that this plate had some 430 000 kilometers on it. 263k miles isn't that much but maybe I drew the short straw on this one.
Any of you guys see a failure like this on an IDI?
My dad had this happen to him years ago on some GM car. Guess it was my turn lol.
The center popped out with little effort after some tapping with a peice of scrap metal (which is what the plate is now).
I don't remember seeing any of this damage when I put the engine together about 30 000 kilometers ago. Whatever happened, it was recent. Although that would mean that this plate had some 430 000 kilometers on it. 263k miles isn't that much but maybe I drew the short straw on this one.
Any of you guys see a failure like this on an IDI?