While removing cylinder head on our 2006 H3 to have it reworked, we noticed timing chain had a lot more slack on exhaust side of chain than recommended.

To change replace chain we need to remove the harmonic balancer and it’s retaining bolt.

Manual I read said put a tool on flywheel to keep crankshaft from turning.

If you cannot access the tool what do the members suggest to remove the Harmonic Balancer (HB) bolt and re-torque the new bolt?

Would the hacks seen online showing guys using the starter to break the bolt loose hurt the HB? If not, still have problem of re-torquing the new bolt.

 

 

In order to remove, then properly reinstall the the front timing cover, you’ll need to remove the oil pan.

I would recommend draining the oil, pulling the pan, then take a block of wood and jam it in between the crankshaft/connecting rods and the engine block to hold the engine in place when removing the harmonic balancer bolt.

I’ve attached a photo of when I had my engine on the stand; this is the method I used to remove it.

For loosening the actual bolt, all I can say is good freaking luck; if your engine is anything like mine, this was one of the most stubborn bolts I’ve ever worked with. My Milwaukee Impact Wrench wouldn’t even make a dent in it. I had to use an impact rated socket, the largest breaker bar I had, AND a cheater bar on top of that. It was extremely tight.

Once I had the bolt removed, you can use a harmonic balancer remover tool to remove it, or you can get away with improvising with a Maddox slide hammer kit.

I don’t think GM makes the harmonic balancer bolt for this engine anymore; the engine rebuilding manual says to get a new bolt, but I was able to reuse mine with (knock on wood) no problems so far with 7k miles on my engine.







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Dewalt DCF899B with 4 or 5 AH Battery.

 

You can pull the oil pump to get the chain over its sprocket with the oil pan bolts all loose to provide the 1/2" + or so gap to get to the pick up bolt. You can't drop the oil pan with the motor in the truck as the front diff is in the way, unless you remove the diff too.

 

I was lucky to find a new old stock dampener bolt still in the package on eBay.

IF the old bolt doesn’t cooperate and want to come loose, will the starter hack damage the balancer??

I will try using the fan belt trick that was provided.

My engine is still in the H3 waiting for the cylinder head, so I don’t think I’ll be able to use the 2x4 as suggested.

This job is getting bigger and more difficult by the minute!