I am in the process of replacing the harmonic Damper on my 427 engine and it is not going well. I've never done this before so I don't know just what to expect, but it appears to be stuck! I've rented a puller and when I really crank on it it won't budge, in fact it stripped out one of the three threaded holes that held the puller in place. Should it be that hard to pull off? Is there some trick to this? I don't want to turn the motor into an anchor by breaking something.

Wilbur; Dum question maybe. Did you remove the center bolt? I will usually crank down on the puller and tap the center stud with a hammer on the stubborn ones. A little shock will help, usually.

Wilbur,
I don't know why, but big block dampers are really installed with a LOT of press fit. We are constantly breaking the Big Block end on our installation tool. We use a puller and a 1/2 inch drive Snap On impact wrench to remove them.
But, make sure that the bolt is out, as Tom said, and make sure that whatever you are using to push against the end of the crank is not so big as to be hitting the damper instead. I have had a customer do that and not be able to figure out why the thing would not come off ! But mostly, they are just very tight ! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif

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Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

never had that much of a problem (small block) but maybe the blue-tipped wrench could pursuade it?

mike

Thanks for the input. I had removed the center bolt prior to starting all this, but did check everything again to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything else. (It wouldn't be the first time I said "I thought I already removed that!") I just wasn't expecting that tight a fit. Anyway, I got out my biggest breaker bar, put some tension on it and smacked it a couple of times with a hammer to break it loose. It finally came off, but not before I broke the first rented puller and had to rent another. I'm just glad the new ATI damper went on easier, and now the engine has less vibration, especially above 3500 rpm.
Thanks,
Wilbur