Postby tbro » Sat Feb 28, 2015 8:05 pm
Have a GOOD look at the first picture and you will notice fretting on the mating surface.
Now combine that with sh*t in the keyway and then tell me how that is all suppose to seat properly when put back together,
and that IS how it was put back together by a Mazda Specialist. The car had done 250ks since the belt was replaced and was making a "funny noise",
so I strip it down after seeing the harmonic balancer wobbling.
The second lot was off Scooter (after 15000 kms and 3 motors) after being stripped down after a slight rise in temperature (237 degrees) apparently these motors are a bit suss to heat!!!!
As Ryan knows doing the job on a 323 isn't hard but I would rather drink lots of beers than do this again, so off to the computer and the owner has ordered new bolt,
key and gear,which will be here next week.
So tell me , what causes loose crank pulleys after strip down , poor preperation resulting in the gear being held away from the crank face which starts fretting and then stuff comes loose. You have to clean everything properly and that includes all mating surfaces otherwise you will get bit in the arse and it will probably cost you a crank job. Replace key and the bolt at a mininium and tension it to specs, not AS tight as ya can.
Loose harmonic balancers has been an industry concern since Adam was a boy and every manufacture found fretting was the cause so take heed and do it properly.
Ok, end of lesson.
"Racing shouldn't be for rich idiots, but for all idiots"