ATI Balencer removal

Keith 944 · 10-15-2014, 03:11 PM

I am trying to remove the balancer and it is not budging, this one was put on not by me so I don't know if they used anything to prevent seizing but I was using the remover/installer I bought from ATI a while back (with many good results) but now it has started to split the adapter into the big screw and is trying to dig a hole into the crank snout, I know the parts are guaranteed for life but gezzzz. any tips on what to do? don't want to heat it, but plan on sending the balancer back for a refresh anyway. heeeeeellllllllpppppp!!!!!

FED 387 · 10-15-2014, 03:55 PM

Remove tha balancer body from the hub FIRST---attach puller to the hub then remove the hub from the crankshaft-- hub should come of easily---FED

Keith 944 · 10-15-2014, 04:58 PM

thanks, I will give that a try!

Rich Biebel · 10-15-2014, 05:01 PM

ATI balancer hubs are supposed to be honed to fit the crank snout. ATI gives a range of interference or press fit for various sizes. Sounds like the balancer was never honed and was installed with more press than it should have.

I have broken many std balancer removal tools but have had good luck with that ATI remover/installer.

Lube the threads with anti seize or a high pressure type grease and it may help to use a propane torch on the hub area.

I have had balancers on so tight I had to use a pipe on an adjustable wrench and wedge it under a bench to get extra leverage so the balancer/remover/crank does not turn.

The first move is the tough one....once it starts moving it should come off.
Once it's off someone has to measure it for proper sizing and you need the crank snout size measured with a Mic.....

If you have the ATI remover it should work as it is about the best remover out there and mine has never failed me....

The heat from the torch is really not hot enough to hurt anything but the front seal........heat might help...

Keith 944 · 10-15-2014, 06:06 PM

well that put an end to it for now, I went and placed the wrench under a bench and tried again, this time it broke the bolt off in the balancer, and finished off the puller. grrrrr. can a machine shop get this thing off now?

Rich Biebel · 10-15-2014, 06:19 PM

Getting the broken bolt out should not be to bad if you don't bugger it up...

The bolts you were using look like poor quality.

Once things start to go wrong and mushroom or deform....it's time to stop and regroup.

We just did a job in our shop that went like this.....

Pull the front of a 6.0 GM engine in a van......Could not get the balancer off until we borrowed a puller made specifically for the new style balancers.

I think your ATI tool was damaged and right there you needed to stop and either fix it or get another one.....

One way or the other you were going to break something it looks like from the pictures. I have seen references to a power tool for pulling balancers but never saw one or used one.......and I would guess not many shops have anything better than that ATI remover.....

FED 387 · 10-15-2014, 06:41 PM

Sure looks like a Grade 5 bolt you need a Grade 8 bolt for sure----when you do get it off check the crank diameter and the inside of the balancer you need to hone the inside of the balancer to provide at least .0001 clearance as well as installing with a very light coat of anti-seize to prevent this. It went on it will come off you just have to work it---- get a good easy out and a LEFT handed drill bit to drill that bolt so you can get the easy out into it correctly ---any good machine shop will have what you need hopefully you can borrow both the bit and the easy out ---FED 387

PS you might get away with using a gear puller if you take your time and go slow

gsa612 · 10-16-2014, 11:12 AM

You may have a steel hub,the one I have is alum. on a BBC stocker.Here's a link to the install./remove instructions. www.atiracing.com/instructions/Super-Damper.pdf gsa612

gsa612 · 10-15-2014, 09:39 PM

I know ATI would tell you to remove the balancer from the alum.hub,then put the hub in boiling water to expand it,and slide it on the crank snout,it worked but you had to be fast lol..Of course after you went to remove it,it was welded on!.On your deal your going to have to separate the two by removing the countersunk tork bolts (they may be tight).You may be able to see a few threads on the broken bolt,if not you'll need an easy out.You can also try a quality gear puller,give the snout a shot with a penetrant ,then have a buddy hold a heat/stripper gun on the hub while you turn the puller. Good luck! gsa612

Rich Biebel · 10-16-2014, 07:10 AM

Not a feasible plan to try and get chain off unless you cut it to remove crank.....

That balancer will come off with a good remover, good bolts and make sure you set it up straight so it pulls all 3 bolts evenly.....and hits the crank squarely without damaging it.....

You do not have to remove the outer ring and it makes no difference if you do anyway. The hub is steel not aluminum....

10-15-2014, 03:11 PM	#1
Keith 944 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dela-where? Posts: 2,117 Likes: 1,005 Liked 1,651 Times in 523 Posts	ATI Balencer removal I am trying to remove the balancer and it is not budging, this one was put on not by me so I don't know if they used anything to prevent seizing but I was using the remover/installer I bought from ATI a while back (with many good results) but now it has started to split the adapter into the big screw and is trying to dig a hole into the crank snout, I know the parts are guaranteed for life but gezzzz. any tips on what to do? don't want to heat it, but plan on sending the balancer back for a refresh anyway. heeeeeellllllllpppppp!!!!! __________________ KEITH MAYERS 2 X somebody many X nobody

10-15-2014, 03:55 PM	#2
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,349 Likes: 329 Liked 280 Times in 150 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal Remove tha balancer body from the hub FIRST---attach puller to the hub then remove the hub from the crankshaft-- hub should come of easily---FED

10-15-2014, 04:58 PM	#3
Keith 944 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dela-where? Posts: 2,117 Likes: 1,005 Liked 1,651 Times in 523 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal thanks, I will give that a try! __________________ KEITH MAYERS 2 X somebody many X nobody

10-15-2014, 05:01 PM	#4
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal ATI balancer hubs are supposed to be honed to fit the crank snout. ATI gives a range of interference or press fit for various sizes. Sounds like the balancer was never honed and was installed with more press than it should have. I have broken many std balancer removal tools but have had good luck with that ATI remover/installer. Lube the threads with anti seize or a high pressure type grease and it may help to use a propane torch on the hub area. I have had balancers on so tight I had to use a pipe on an adjustable wrench and wedge it under a bench to get extra leverage so the balancer/remover/crank does not turn. The first move is the tough one....once it starts moving it should come off. Once it's off someone has to measure it for proper sizing and you need the crank snout size measured with a Mic..... If you have the ATI remover it should work as it is about the best remover out there and mine has never failed me.... The heat from the torch is really not hot enough to hurt anything but the front seal........heat might help... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Last edited by Rich Biebel; 10-15-2014 at 05:03 PM.

10-15-2014, 06:06 PM	#5
Keith 944 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dela-where? Posts: 2,117 Likes: 1,005 Liked 1,651 Times in 523 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal well that put an end to it for now, I went and placed the wrench under a bench and tried again, this time it broke the bolt off in the balancer, and finished off the puller. grrrrr. can a machine shop get this thing off now? __________________ KEITH MAYERS 2 X somebody many X nobody Last edited by Keith 944; 09-12-2018 at 05:41 PM.

10-15-2014, 06:19 PM	#6
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal Getting the broken bolt out should not be to bad if you don't bugger it up... The bolts you were using look like poor quality. Once things start to go wrong and mushroom or deform....it's time to stop and regroup. We just did a job in our shop that went like this..... Pull the front of a 6.0 GM engine in a van......Could not get the balancer off until we borrowed a puller made specifically for the new style balancers. I think your ATI tool was damaged and right there you needed to stop and either fix it or get another one..... One way or the other you were going to break something it looks like from the pictures. I have seen references to a power tool for pulling balancers but never saw one or used one.......and I would guess not many shops have anything better than that ATI remover..... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479

10-15-2014, 06:41 PM	#7
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,349 Likes: 329 Liked 280 Times in 150 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal Sure looks like a Grade 5 bolt you need a Grade 8 bolt for sure----when you do get it off check the crank diameter and the inside of the balancer you need to hone the inside of the balancer to provide at least .0001 clearance as well as installing with a very light coat of anti-seize to prevent this. It went on it will come off you just have to work it---- get a good easy out and a LEFT handed drill bit to drill that bolt so you can get the easy out into it correctly ---any good machine shop will have what you need hopefully you can borrow both the bit and the easy out ---FED 387 PS you might get away with using a gear puller if you take your time and go slow

10-16-2014, 11:12 AM	#8
gsa612 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 100th Meridian Posts: 570 Likes: 116 Liked 280 Times in 139 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal You may have a steel hub,the one I have is alum. on a BBC stocker.Here's a link to the install./remove instructions. www.atiracing.com/instructions/Super-Damper.pdf gsa612

10-15-2014, 09:39 PM	#9
gsa612 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: 100th Meridian Posts: 570 Likes: 116 Liked 280 Times in 139 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal I know ATI would tell you to remove the balancer from the alum.hub,then put the hub in boiling water to expand it,and slide it on the crank snout,it worked but you had to be fast lol..Of course after you went to remove it,it was welded on!.On your deal your going to have to separate the two by removing the countersunk tork bolts (they may be tight).You may be able to see a few threads on the broken bolt,if not you'll need an easy out.You can also try a quality gear puller,give the snout a shot with a penetrant ,then have a buddy hold a heat/stripper gun on the hub while you turn the puller. Good luck! gsa612 Last edited by gsa612; 10-15-2014 at 09:55 PM.

10-16-2014, 07:10 AM	#10
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: ATI Balencer removal Not a feasible plan to try and get chain off unless you cut it to remove crank..... That balancer will come off with a good remover, good bolts and make sure you set it up straight so it pulls all 3 bolts evenly.....and hits the crank squarely without damaging it..... You do not have to remove the outer ring and it makes no difference if you do anyway. The hub is steel not aluminum.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479