Vibration extinguisher is a technical “novelty” that appeared in the network of sales of automobile spare parts, which caused increased interest and a lot of questions from owners of vehicles. Is it really an engineering miracle that dampens the vibration? Vibration dampers are devices that reduce the amplitude and force of mechanical vibrations of components and units of equipment, as well as other objects or their structural elements that experience vibration or are its sources. In all cases vibration damping is carried out at the expense of increase of losses or absorption of vibrating energy at overcoming of elastic or inertial resistance of the vibrating damper.
What is a harmonic balancer puller?
The field of application of vibration dampers is very wide and there are just as many design solutions. They suppress vibration of electric motors and gearboxes, on pipelines, at drilling machines and equipment, in refrigerating plants and other devices and mechanisms. They represent: expanding links of the pipeline, shock absorbers, spring-loaded pistons, throttles, dampers, rigid and flexible reflectors in the form of partitions, chambers with compressed gas or air, various anti-vibration systems and so on.
Since some time, vibration dampers have been used by car manufacturers as well. According to some sources on modern foreign cars, they can cost up to 50 pcs. They help to improve the vibroacoustic comfort inside the car – suppress vibration and noise or noticeably reduce their level. The “side” effect of the vibration damper is some prolongation of the service life of car parts and units. After all, now they work in a more gentle mode – destructive influence of vibrations is minimized.
Technically, this is achieved due to the elastic coupling of a certain rigidity of the unit with the vibration damper and the inertia of the latter, which has any object. The more solid the object is, the more inertia it has. Inertia is the ability of an object, due to its own weight, to counteract the forces exerted on it.
The cars are equipped with dynamic vibration dampers. Their principle of operation is as follows. At occurrence of oscillations of the car unit on which the dynamic vibrating damper is installed, the latter starts to oscillate in the counter phase, that is in the opposite direction, and due to this reduces the amplitude of runout. This is due to such a phenomenon as anti-resonance.
If you want to replace your device, it is quite an easy task.
First, you’ll need to go out and purchase a device you might not have heard about. It is called a harmonic balancer puller. That’s a special tool that’s designed to remove many harmonic balancers, vibration dampers, pulleys, or gears. The harmonic balancer is press-fit onto the end of the crankshaft and held on by a single bolt. If you’re removing an old one or installing a new one, it’s very easy to get out of alignment and damage the threads, the crank, the balancer, or all three.
How much is a harmonic balancer puller?
A harmonic balancer, or vibration dampener, attaches to the front of the crankshaft of a car’s engine. It is designed to reduce the vibrations of the engine, both making it quieter and extending its useful life. The balancer has a metal exterior, usually aluminum, but is mounted to the crankshaft with rubber, which is part of its interior. The device is particularly difficult to remove without a special tool, called a harmonic balancer puller, which is available in auto parts stores for less than $50.
Do you need a puller to remove a harmonic balancer puller?
A harmonic balancer puller is extremely important for your vehicle. A vibration damper is a mechanical device that reduces the force of mechanical vibrations. The principle of operation of the device is simple: based on the effects of resonance and anti-resonance, it dampens amplitude oscillations due to the synchronizing device. Today, many types of vibration dampers are used; their field of application is wide and varied: from electric motors to refrigeration units. Of course, the automotive industry has not been left behind; up to fifty such devices can be used in modern cars.
The element is very difficult to take out without a special tool, called a harmonic balancer puller. Removing the harmonic balancer without a puller is not that easy.
How do you remove a harmonic balancer?
Removing the device is not particularly difficult. It can be done in less than an hour. Start by removing any belts connecting the device to motor accessories such as the fan, alternator, or power steering. These may be pulled out by loosening the tensioner for each belt often built onto the alternator or power steering pump.
If your car has a two piece pulley and harmonic balancer, take out the bolts retaining the pulley and separate the two. After that remove the large retaining bolt from the harmonic balancer using a large breaker bar or rattle gun. The main piece of the puller is also known as the “Ducks Foot”. The flat side of the “Ducks Foot” faces towards the motor.
Thread the large bolt through the centre of the “Ducks Foot”, and clip the cone shaped piece onto the end. Then choose the correctly sized bolts to fit the threads on your device, and insert these through the “Ducks Foot”.
The slotted holes in the “Ducks Foot” allow it to work with most harmonic balancers. Thread the bolts into the harmonic balancer. Ensure that the bolts are threaded to the same depth to prevent the balancer being pulled on an angle.
Now all that’s left to do is to crank the centre bolt up with a 17-millimetre socket – and watch to ensure that the device is pulled evenly. As it nears the end of the crankshaft, support the element with one hand. It should almost fall off with a little encouragement. Now you are ready to install a new device.
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