95 SC throwing codes - intermittent running problems

jeffyd123 wrote:

Well I must have installed the sleeve wrong on the balancer because it started hemorrhaging oil after the first 40 miles today....

Im getting a new balancer and seal tomorrow.

That sleeve is really hard to get on straight. Mine started a little bit cocked for the first 1/8" and that must have been enough to trash it.

Fun fun fun.

Do you have the sleeve installaton tool? might be eaiser. see:

http://www.vsm.skf.com/en-US/Resources/~/media/CAD265E1BE3349C6A801BCFFB9717CAE.ashx

starting on page 16. Also, depending on the shape things are in you may need "nonhardening epoxy filler" to seal the sleeve or the thing will leak anyway.

I apologize if you already knew/did this with the epoxy and what not - but I suspect that if you got the sleeve cocked this might become a useful reference... the sleeves work so well, I am surprised at the problem you are having with yours. But I would say an an installation tool the right size and the epoxy filler goo are requirements for this job.

Albertj

thanks albert... I tapped the seal in with a 2x4 and it seemed to go in straight. about 1/4 of the seal was torn away. Im thinking the sleeve cut the seal.

Im gonna replace the balancer and the seal this time. make sure its right. NAPA will have it at 8 AM.

I installed the seal with loctite gray silicone.. there was no leaking between the timing cover and the seal.

strangely, the sleeve seemed like it was fine, there was no deformation of the face of it. I think when I cocked it a bit, it turned the inboard lip out just enough to cut the seal.

Im getting pretty fast at pulling that balancer... something they can put on my tombstone maybe...

jeffyd123 wrote:

strangely, the sleeve seemed like it was fine, there was no deformation of the face of it. I think when I cocked it a bit, it turned the inboard lip out just enough to cut the seal.

I suppose at this point you may as well just replace the balancer... With "our luck", the damned thing would probably de-laminate a thousand miles down the road.

BUT, you do have it figured out now. When I put a speedi-sleeve on the front of my Grand Am 400, I simply used the wooden hammer, whatever goop I was told to use on the inside, and pounded the sleeve on before I tapped the new seal in...

well she's running good now and no major oil leak!

Such a pleasure to drive her again... took her to the car wash and the passenger front fender trim got ripped of... my fault, the 2 front clips were broken.. went to the car wash and they had it in the office and it was in perfect shape!

now I gotta work on the warm weather gremlins... checking the IAC, MAF, gonna put in colder plugs (AL 104), new wires, and a 180 TStat.

considering painting her and blacking out the lights and trim... will update and take pics if I do it.