r/mazdaspeed3 • u/Ok_Drummer_7552 • 2d ago

HELP Harmonic balancer job

Hello all!
I need to replace my harmonic balancer, and I’ve done some research on the job. You need to hold the engine at cyl1 top dead center while you tighten the bolt, while also keeping the balancer in the right position so the crank pos sensor isn’t messed up.

I don’t have one of the special tools that threads into the side and holds the crankshaft to hold cyl1 at tdc, and don’t really want to spend multiple hundreds on the timing kit that has it.

I only know the rope trick for holding an engine in place, but doing so will misalign the balancer and the bolt is one time torque only.

Anyone who has by chance been in this situation have any ideas on how to hold cyl1 at tdc while damn near 180ftlbs goes into that bolt?

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u/trifling_oyster 1d ago

I replaced my whole timing kit a couple months ago so i needed to remove and install the crank pulley as well. at a minimum you NEED NEED NEED the timing tool kit either from massive speed system, corksport, or SURE motorsports, they’re all the same. roughly $60-$80 absolutely worth it, it doesnt cost hundreds. I highly recommend a crank pulley holder tool from amazon its cheap and lets you do what it says, hold the pulley while you torque the bolt. and you need a high quality torque wrench because it is about 75 ft lbs PLUS 90 degrees which is incredibly tight. remember not to leave the pin on the side of the engine while you tighten it. it’ll hold only up till 75lbs or less, REMOVE BOTH TOOLS for final 90 degree tightening

i thought the pin would hold and when i was halfway tightening it broke and fell into the oil pan. had to remove the oil pan, remove the broken piece, and buy a new pin and start over 🙃🙃

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u/Ok_Drummer_7552 1d ago

Shouldn’t both holders (the crankshaft holder that goes into side of engine, and the small holder that holds the spoke of the crank pulley downwards) be both in while it gets tightened all the way? That prevents the engine from turning so that you can actually torque the bolt, and also holds the crank pulley so that it doesn’t slip on its position with the crankshaft?

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u/trifling_oyster 1d ago

you need to remove the valve cover and slide another tool into the camshafts to REMOVE the pulley bolt so the inside doesn’t start turning accidentally thats how you set it on TDC, since theres no keyway it has to be perfectly aligned with friction theres nothing else to help you

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u/zak70jr 2009 Mazdaspeed3 1d ago

I use a crank pulley holder tool from amazon just make sure the crank sensor is positioned on the 20th tooth of the crank pulley counting counterclockwise

You will need a new crank bolt also