Just had the aluminum vibration damper plate come off while driving slowly. Fortunately I was only a mile from home. Two screws were completely unscrewed of their own accord and floating around in the pulley mouth. The other three were completely sheared. My only guess is that the damper had lost balance and ripped itself off? Astoundingly, no damage was done to any of the the surrounding components. There was no loud bang, no noise that I could discern. My first indication that something wasn't right was when the brake and pad wear light came on at the instrument cluster indicating the alternator was not charging. The temperature rapidly climbed a few seconds later.
How common is this? I am almost concerned that someone tried to steal the part and had unscrewed two of the bolts. All 5 bolts were still contained in the mouth of the pulley. Two had come completely un-threaded somehow, while the other three were sheared off.
Any thoughts?
Anyone recommend a place to purchase a new harmonic balancer and vibration damper?
Found a few other sites talking about this, but personally, never heard of this happening.
<\\http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/29387-haromonic-balancer-note-caution.html#post158104\>
"According to the official M-B manual, the US model of the 300D has an aluminum vibration damper plate sandwiched between the belt pulley and the harmonic balancer (or balance plate as M-B calls it). The damper plate and belt pulley are connected to the harmonic balancer by 6, 8mm x 65mm hex head bolts. The 240D does not have the vibration damper plate. Engtawork is correct that the harmonic balancer for the 240D and the 300D is secured to the crankshaft by a single 18mm X 45 mm bolt torqued to 270- 330 Nm or 200-244 ft. lbs. Engtawork also makes a good suggestion in properly torquing the 6 bolts (35 Nm or 26 ft. lbs.) holding the pulley and vibration damper to the harmonic balancer (I did not use thread locker because the bolts have the spring-type lock washer, but that is up to the installer and a bit of insurance so long as it is not the permanent thread lock formula)."
Cheers,
Werner J Stiegler
How common is this? I am almost concerned that someone tried to steal the part and had unscrewed two of the bolts. All 5 bolts were still contained in the mouth of the pulley. Two had come completely un-threaded somehow, while the other three were sheared off.
Any thoughts?
Anyone recommend a place to purchase a new harmonic balancer and vibration damper?
Found a few other sites talking about this, but personally, never heard of this happening.
<\\http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/29387-haromonic-balancer-note-caution.html#post158104\>
"According to the official M-B manual, the US model of the 300D has an aluminum vibration damper plate sandwiched between the belt pulley and the harmonic balancer (or balance plate as M-B calls it). The damper plate and belt pulley are connected to the harmonic balancer by 6, 8mm x 65mm hex head bolts. The 240D does not have the vibration damper plate. Engtawork is correct that the harmonic balancer for the 240D and the 300D is secured to the crankshaft by a single 18mm X 45 mm bolt torqued to 270- 330 Nm or 200-244 ft. lbs. Engtawork also makes a good suggestion in properly torquing the 6 bolts (35 Nm or 26 ft. lbs.) holding the pulley and vibration damper to the harmonic balancer (I did not use thread locker because the bolts have the spring-type lock washer, but that is up to the installer and a bit of insurance so long as it is not the permanent thread lock formula)."
Cheers,
Werner J Stiegler