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Crankshaft Damper

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R

roger_abbott

Jedi Hopeful
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I took my 66 BJ8 out to play on the Interstate today. Coming out of the on ramp, lots of rattley sounds started coming from the engine compartment. Pulled over, popped the hood, and discovered that my crankshaft damper is apparently made of two parts that decided to disassociate themselves. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to rejoin them permanently.
 
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I took my 66 BJ8 out to play on the Interstate today. Coming out of the on ramp, lots of rattley sounds started coming from the engine compartment. Pulled over, popped the hood, and discovered that my crankshaft damper is apparently made of two parts that decided to disassociate themselves. I would appreciate any suggestions on how to rejoin them permanently.

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Ahem! get an otter one.---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
There are places that can rebuild them. I know an engine rebuilder who has used this outfit but I have no personal experience with their work.

https://members.aol.com/damperdoc/

Cheers,
John
 
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I am trying to avoid paying Moss $430 for one. Oh, well.

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Same part (031-206) at Little British Car Company for US $375.33 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
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There ain`t no way to put Humpty Dumpty back togther again. Bite the bullet and get anudder one.

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You jess about right Skip.Prolly some good used ones from the usual resto type suspects. Ain't ah thing to be played with---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cowboy.gif
 
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I am trying to avoid paying Moss $430 for one. Oh, well.

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Yeah Roger, thats a pretty steep hill to climb.But I would suggest you check with local repair shops,Hemphil Healey Haven, Sports, classics and Healey Surgeons etc, for a good used one.----Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cowboy.gif
 
Roger,

I would not pay for a used dampner seeing that they are about 40 years old now and as you found out the bonded rubber has a limited life. Buy new or have it rebuilt. The outfit I mentioned charges $150, takes two days to turn it around and comes with a 3 year guarantee.
 
Thank you for your help. I think I will follow the rebuild route suggested by John Loftus. This car sat for 25 years. Bringing it back to life was my winter project. It had about 7,500 miles when I started and just rolled over to 8,000 this week. As far as I can tell, it has never been tinkered with, so I was surprised when the damper let go.
 
Damper Doc was just talked about on an MG forum I'm a member of. They charged $50 to rebuild a MG damper so I don't think a Healey damper would cost much more.
 
There is a Damper Doctor and Damper Dudes, apparently separate companies. I would like my damper rebuilt also, but want to make sure I'm sending it to a company someone actually has experience. Can someone tell which is the one we're talking about?
 
Given the potential for damage when a damper delaminates (ask LP, a member here about the broken crankshaft he has)
I think the cost of a newly manufactured damper is justified.

I went with the one Moss offers.

dampener.JPG


dampener_socket.JPG
 
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Can someone tell which is the one we're talking about?

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Hi Cutlass,

Damper Doctor was recommended by my engine rebuilder who has been in the business doing mainly performance engines for over 25 years. When I asked them how their silicone process compares to OEM and about failures they responded,

"been doing dampers since 1972 some of first ones still going. one customer does Minnapolis moline tractors that run 24 hours day said our rubber is passing oem. failures what are those? very few more mistakes in locating timing mark than failures and we deal in over 700 different models so yes we occasionaly make mistakes on timing. easy to fix.
ps i do ferria's all kinds of hi po's some do 19,000 rpm's"

I also did a search on Damper Dudes and it appears many people use and recommend them too and didn't turn up anything negative. Their warranty is only 1 year compared to 3 years for Damper Doctors. To make your decision more difficult /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I found another rebuilder who does Healey dampers and gives a lifetime transferable warranty. He also has some images/description on the website

https://www.dalemfg.com/harmonicbalancer_001.htm

Cheers,
John
 
Hi Randy,

Those ProRace dampers look great. Since I'm going concours, can't even consider it. I'm guessing LP's delaminated damper was an original, not a rebuilt unit?

Cheers,
John
 
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Hi Randy,

Those ProRace dampers look great. Since I'm going concours, can't even consider it. I'm guessing LP's delaminated damper was an original, not a rebuilt unit?

Cheers,
John

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Correct. He was on his way home from visiting me in the hospital when I had my gall bladder removed (1987). His damper let loose about a block from his house in Lafayette, Louisiana and he basically coasted home. Upon teardown, it was revealed that the crankshaft broke in two (2) pieces at the counterweight between the first main bearing and cylinder no. 1. We built up his spare engine...
 
I just sent five dampers to Damper Dudes. We'll see how that works out. I've used Damper Doc in the past but this time I couldn't pass up the special price offered by the Dudes.

Alan T
 
I sent mine to Damper Doctor. It should be back tomorrow or next week.

Getting the damper back on promises to be difficult. There is a reinforcing bar that runs right in front of the crankshaft. I had to unbolt the engine mounts to move the engine back eonugh to get the damper out from between the nose of the crankshaft and the reinforcing bar.

That being said, I got a case of the "might as wells" and now I plan to replace the front seal, clean the block, etc. etc. Maybe I will have it back together by September.

I keep telling myself that I am having fun.
 
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