Good morning all:
I have just returned from an extended road trip and have come to the conclusion that the balance disk is no longer pined to the front of the crankshaft.
Several times during the trip I noticed that there was a complete lack of any engine vibration. The engine felt the same at all rpm's and all loads. It was just like it was not there. Very nice! And at other times the vibration that starts at 2400 was there in spades. Not nice!
At any rate the mechanic at Metric Motors in Reno, NV says that he has seen where the balance disk has come loose from the crankshaft quite a few times and can repair it. He says that if the holes for the pins are not damaged that it is about a four hour job and no big problem. However if the holes are messed up and / or the mating surfaces between
the crank and disk are damaged then things get more complicated. This will require drilling and tapping new holes approximately 90 degrees from the original pin holes and inserting bolts that will be cut off flush with the front surface of the disk. Then using liberal amounts of "Loctite" and hoping that it never needs to be removed again!
I would be most appreciative of any and all opinions from the experts and even the not so expert. Also if anyone has a suggestion as to a better place to take the car for repair please speak up. I don't have any problem with "getting out and getting under" it's just that I will be more comfortable having someone with experience in successfully doing this job before.
Thanks in advance: Maynard Smith, Tahoe City, CA.

I think you are talking about the harmonic balancer pulley, correct? FWIW, this happened to my brother's 83 240D. One of the bolts sheared off and eventually the pulley came off the balancer while driving. He instantly lost the power steering and a/c. As the pulley was flapping around, it cracked the upper oil pan, fan, and water pump. Our mechanic fixed the car in two days. He did not repair the balancer, he replaced it. He said he sees this problem occur every once in a while with these cars.

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2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel - 4x4, auto, 3.54 gears, long bed
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'92 300D 2.5 Turbodiesel - sold
'83 300D Turbodiesel - 4 speed manual/2.88 diff - sold
'87 300D Turbodiesel - sold
'82 300D Turbodiesel - sold

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SW
[B]"I think you are talking about the harmonic balancer pulley, correct?"
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NO!! I am talking about the steel balancing disk that is an intergral part of the crankshaft and is required to make the five cylinder engine feel smooth. It is fastened to the crank with two axial 8 mm pins and held in place by a large bolt in the center. The harmonic balancer and accessory drive pulleys are then attached to this disk with six smaller bolts.

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82 300D
87 300SDL
90 300TE 4matic

New Noise/Vibration

I just had the same problem.. same automobil (82300Dt) and was taken for a ride with water pump and alternator. Just have a good shop guy replace the disk.. not repair your old one.

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Nello Tare

1982 300D (266,001 mi.) looking and running great

Previously owned:
1976 450 SLC
1983 300D
1976 300D
also
1982 Jaguar XJ6 (loved, but gone)