well
 

it depends on what your idle is like.

it seems to me that the factory designed the hb to be installed one way and not the other so if it is wrong it should make some difference and should be corrected. i am still not clear in my mind exactly how to proceed. i do know that the hb is not something to do anything to if you dont know exactly the correct proceedure as the chances of damaging the nose of the crank on reinstall is very high. many cranks have been ruined this way...and that requires a tear down of the motor to fix, usually.

tom w

I just put the connection together that my belt squeak is probably related to this balancer pulley problem. He is a the theory whunter and I have discussed.

The pins have snapped allowing the pulley to be off kilter causing my belt noise and spinning on the crank bolt. My noise has been there since the beginning of winter so it would have sheared the pins a few months ago. Sounds plausible?

Would have sounded plausible until you explained that the pulley is exactly 180 degrees out of phase. The chances of the pullley slipping around and stopping exactly at 180 degrees so that you can measure it.........are not too good.:(

I can't say its exactly 180, pretty close by eye with a possible variation of 5-20 degrees.

Well, in post #24 you mentioned that very close to 180° by eye, so I took you at your word.;)

If it's off by 5-20 degrees, then that's hardly close to 180° and the aforementioned scenario makes sense.

I really should be clear, It looks very close to 180 by eye but I can not verify it. Where the block marker is about an inch to the right of the 12 oclock position, the TDC indicator is 1-2 inches to the left of 6 oclock and I had to get under the car to see it.

i doubt
 

that the hb could turn that much and not work loose.

tom w

With the engine running it doesn't appear to vibrate at all or be cocked one way.

To check this is a little bit of work, but not too bad. First, you need to remove the crank pulley. Loosening the drive belts and putting penetrant on the screws first will make it easier. With the pulley off, put a bolt or ratchet extension through the slot in the harmonic balancer and remove the bolt and spring washers holding the balancer to the crank. You will then be able to see the 2 cylindrical crank pins.

before doing that
 

i would get someone who is experienced with the 300 d motors to listen and feel it and determine that it is actually vibrating excessively.

if it is not i wouldnt do anything more.

if it aint broke....dont fix it.

tom w

The HARD way.
 

Pause for a moment.
Call Mike, arrange to stop by his house, and use the injection timing strobe light to check it again.
If the balancer is out of position, this will confirm the issue without damage.

Your engine runs very well, as is.
The idle issue may well be injectors.

I'm home tonight. Let's hook it up.

Well heres my latest update. mplafleur put his electronic timing light on the car and the balancer was in fact 180 off. I ordered new pins and a new bolt and last night whunter and I took it off and reversed it back to the correct position. The old pins were fine and one of the pulley bolts was completely stripped so it must have been taken off at one point and put back on wrong.

So, the generally accepted thought that the balancer only goes on one way.............is incorrect??:confused:

On my car the pins are 180 degrees apart and that sucker goes on either way.