How do I get the harmonic balancer off? I have a 1980 280se Euro W126 with a M110 motor. The bolts sheared off and need to be drilled out. I cannot get the balancer off. I see 2 pins do they need to somehow come off? or should it be able to be pulled off with them in as I do not see how to get them out. Thanks for any help as I am very frustrated!

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Currently
1991 Mazda Miata 174000
1991 Subaru 189,000 Winter beater

got rid of:
1984 VW Vanagon 195,000
1976 350SE Euro 185,000 KM
1973 280SE 4.5 (boy do I regret that)
1980 280SE European W126 4 speed manual (miss it)
1989 BMW 735iL 119000 (good riddance)

You have to remove that big old center bolt first (the small allen head bolts just hold the pulley on). Purchase an appropriately sized pulley puller, rig it up to allow removal of the balancer, tighten down on the center (pulling) bolt of the puller and the balancer will come right off. Leave the two pins in place.

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Jim

Wait, if it is the pulley bolts that are sheared, you don't need to pull the balancer itself. If you do pull the balancre, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO PUT IT BACK ON WITHOUT DAMAGING THE CRANKSHAFT!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck,

Just this weekend I had to repace the waterpump which required th removal of the harmonic ballancer. As I recall ther were six allen bolts that hold the ballancer and pully assembly. If you have stripped out the allen bolts you may have to get a die grinder to grind off the heads. Then the pully and harmonic ballancer should nearly fall off. Be carefull not to drop it. It has a magnetic pickup for ignition timeing, don't damage it. After that the bolt studs should be plenty accessable to remove them. The big center bolt does not need to come off unless you intend to go further into the timing chain area.
Ps get a new set of quality allen sockets, it will make life much easier. I've been using my tools for over 25 years and the do become worn out. Every month I buy a new set of something.

I see that your mileage is 126,000, are you repalcing the waterpump? If so they are only good for 63,000 miles each!

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

I have done this but it does not seem to want to come off. The puller I have is not the best but it has always worked for me before. If it is stuck on any advice on coaxing it off? The bolts sheered flush and I will have to take it off to try to drill them out.

__________________
Currently
1991 Mazda Miata 174000
1991 Subaru 189,000 Winter beater

got rid of:
1984 VW Vanagon 195,000
1976 350SE Euro 185,000 KM
1973 280SE 4.5 (boy do I regret that)
1980 280SE European W126 4 speed manual (miss it)
1989 BMW 735iL 119000 (good riddance)

If you have removed or broken off all the allen heads the pully assembly should just fall off. The dampener fits onto a hub that is on the crank shaft and has one index pin or dowel. Once all the allen bolts are removed or the heads are gone the balancer and pullys should just fall off. If they're stuburn use a plastic dead blow hammer and work your way around it.

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

The harmonic balancer is held on by the big bolt in the crankshaft (27mm). Mine has 2 round keys that keep it from rotating relative to the crankshaft. The allen screws hold the pulley onto the balancer. Sounds like your pulley sheared off the bolts and is no longer attached. The balancer to the crank fit is tight, but it will come off with a puller. I used a harmonic balancer puller that I bought at Advance Auto ($14). However, using a tool like this requires that the pulley screw holes to be available (which yours aren't). So....if you can't get at least 3 of them out, you'll have use a pulley puller or large gear puller. Like someone cautioned above: Make sure you have marked the balancer relation to the crankshaft; it is balanced and marked; it has go on like you remove it. There are some other threads on reinstallation - search and read them - you don't want to mess up your crankshaft.

Good luck!

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1976 240D
1987 560SL
2007 E320 Bluetec
1998 C280 (now son’s car)
1982 240D Manual - Sold

The harmonic balancer on my 190 was on pretty tight. I got a 3 jaw adjustable puller from AutoZone on their loaner program. That did the trick. I had to file down the woodruff key so that the balancer would go back on.

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David
'00 Mazda MPV Family's car
'83 300D 235,000
'84 109E 175,000
'74 280C 125,000 in garage; needs rehab or sell for parts???

There are three bolt holes open but all on the same side, so I do not think a harmonic balancer puller will not work on mine. I have soaked it with penetrating lube and will try again with a better puller tomorrow.

__________________
Currently
1991 Mazda Miata 174000
1991 Subaru 189,000 Winter beater

got rid of:
1984 VW Vanagon 195,000
1976 350SE Euro 185,000 KM
1973 280SE 4.5 (boy do I regret that)
1980 280SE European W126 4 speed manual (miss it)
1989 BMW 735iL 119000 (good riddance)

Finally got it off. It took 3 days of soaking with pentrant and tapping with a hammer (very lightly just to work in the CB Blaster)
Had to drill out the old bolts, and put it back no problem. In other posts they said that it would rotate when re-installing, but mine did not? Oh well all is good on this front now at the other end of the motor, got to put in a new clutch.

__________________
Currently
1991 Mazda Miata 174000
1991 Subaru 189,000 Winter beater

got rid of:
1984 VW Vanagon 195,000
1976 350SE Euro 185,000 KM
1973 280SE 4.5 (boy do I regret that)
1980 280SE European W126 4 speed manual (miss it)
1989 BMW 735iL 119000 (good riddance)