I6 engine vibration
 

Hi,

I recently replaced the failed harmonic balancer (vibration damper) on
my '90 XJ 4.0L I6 5-speed. The vibration I was suffering lessened, but
it is still very noticeable at around 2000 RPM (any gear, any speed).
Anyone ever have any similar problems after replacing the HB on an I6?

I removed the serpentine and ran the engine to confirm that no other
component on the belt line was the culprit. Sure enough: no belt, same vibe.

The new balancer looks good. It rotates with no discernible shimmy or
wobble. One thing I did notice: the original balancer had a single
balancing hole bored in it. The aftermarket replacement had two holes
bored in it. Does this mean I got the wrong part?

My next step is to get a balancer from the dealer$hip and try that. Is
there anything else I can try first before throwing more dollars into
it? If it turns out that another balancer doesn't help, what next?

Thanks,

Steve

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Steve did pass the time by typing:
> Hi,
>
> I recently replaced the failed harmonic balancer (vibration damper) on
> my '90 XJ 4.0L I6 5-speed. The vibration I was suffering lessened, but
> it is still very noticeable at around 2000 RPM (any gear, any speed).
> Anyone ever have any similar problems after replacing the HB on an I6?
>
> I removed the serpentine and ran the engine to confirm that no other
> component on the belt line was the culprit. Sure enough: no belt, same vibe.
>
> The new balancer looks good. It rotates with no discernible shimmy or
> wobble. One thing I did notice: the original balancer had a single
> balancing hole bored in it. The aftermarket replacement had two holes
> bored in it. Does this mean I got the wrong part?
>
> My next step is to get a balancer from the dealer$hip and try that. Is
> there anything else I can try first before throwing more dollars into
> it? If it turns out that another balancer doesn't help, what next?

Have some of the same issues, mine looked like this for the 93 4.0 not that
things didn't change. http://members.cox.net/wilsond/hb/

Vibration at a specific RPM reguardless of driving speed (or in N)
could be the flywheel/clutch/or something internal.

Or maby even a busted motor mount?

--
DougW

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Steve did pass the time by typing:
> Hi,
>
> I recently replaced the failed harmonic balancer (vibration damper) on
> my '90 XJ 4.0L I6 5-speed. The vibration I was suffering lessened, but
> it is still very noticeable at around 2000 RPM (any gear, any speed).
> Anyone ever have any similar problems after replacing the HB on an I6?
>
> I removed the serpentine and ran the engine to confirm that no other
> component on the belt line was the culprit. Sure enough: no belt, same vibe.
>
> The new balancer looks good. It rotates with no discernible shimmy or
> wobble. One thing I did notice: the original balancer had a single
> balancing hole bored in it. The aftermarket replacement had two holes
> bored in it. Does this mean I got the wrong part?
>
> My next step is to get a balancer from the dealer$hip and try that. Is
> there anything else I can try first before throwing more dollars into
> it? If it turns out that another balancer doesn't help, what next?

Have some of the same issues, mine looked like this for the 93 4.0 not that
things didn't change. http://members.cox.net/wilsond/hb/

Vibration at a specific RPM reguardless of driving speed (or in N)
could be the flywheel/clutch/or something internal.

Or maby even a busted motor mount?

--
DougW

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Steve did pass the time by typing:
> Hi,
>
> I recently replaced the failed harmonic balancer (vibration damper) on
> my '90 XJ 4.0L I6 5-speed. The vibration I was suffering lessened, but
> it is still very noticeable at around 2000 RPM (any gear, any speed).
> Anyone ever have any similar problems after replacing the HB on an I6?
>
> I removed the serpentine and ran the engine to confirm that no other
> component on the belt line was the culprit. Sure enough: no belt, same vibe.
>
> The new balancer looks good. It rotates with no discernible shimmy or
> wobble. One thing I did notice: the original balancer had a single
> balancing hole bored in it. The aftermarket replacement had two holes
> bored in it. Does this mean I got the wrong part?
>
> My next step is to get a balancer from the dealer$hip and try that. Is
> there anything else I can try first before throwing more dollars into
> it? If it turns out that another balancer doesn't help, what next?

Have some of the same issues, mine looked like this for the 93 4.0 not that
things didn't change. http://members.cox.net/wilsond/hb/

Vibration at a specific RPM reguardless of driving speed (or in N)
could be the flywheel/clutch/or something internal.

Or maby even a busted motor mount?

--
DougW

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Steve did pass the time by typing:
> Hi,
>
> I recently replaced the failed harmonic balancer (vibration damper) on
> my '90 XJ 4.0L I6 5-speed. The vibration I was suffering lessened, but
> it is still very noticeable at around 2000 RPM (any gear, any speed).
> Anyone ever have any similar problems after replacing the HB on an I6?
>
> I removed the serpentine and ran the engine to confirm that no other
> component on the belt line was the culprit. Sure enough: no belt, same vibe.
>
> The new balancer looks good. It rotates with no discernible shimmy or
> wobble. One thing I did notice: the original balancer had a single
> balancing hole bored in it. The aftermarket replacement had two holes
> bored in it. Does this mean I got the wrong part?
>
> My next step is to get a balancer from the dealer$hip and try that. Is
> there anything else I can try first before throwing more dollars into
> it? If it turns out that another balancer doesn't help, what next?

Have some of the same issues, mine looked like this for the 93 4.0 not that
things didn't change. http://members.cox.net/wilsond/hb/

Vibration at a specific RPM reguardless of driving speed (or in N)
could be the flywheel/clutch/or something internal.

Or maby even a busted motor mount?

--
DougW

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Thanks Doug.

Did your vibes completely clear after you replaced the HB?

Mounts look okay. Guess I'll try another HB as a last ditch before going
in for the clutch.

Steve

DougW wrote:
> Have some of the same issues, mine looked like this for the 93 4.0 not that
> things didn't change. http://members.cox.net/wilsond/hb/
>
> Vibration at a specific RPM reguardless of driving speed (or in N)
> could be the flywheel/clutch/or something internal.
>
> Or maby even a busted motor mount?
>

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Thanks Doug.

Did your vibes completely clear after you replaced the HB?

Mounts look okay. Guess I'll try another HB as a last ditch before going
in for the clutch.

Steve

DougW wrote:
> Have some of the same issues, mine looked like this for the 93 4.0 not that
> things didn't change. http://members.cox.net/wilsond/hb/
>
> Vibration at a specific RPM reguardless of driving speed (or in N)
> could be the flywheel/clutch/or something internal.
>
> Or maby even a busted motor mount?
>

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Thanks Doug.

Did your vibes completely clear after you replaced the HB?

Mounts look okay. Guess I'll try another HB as a last ditch before going
in for the clutch.

Steve

DougW wrote:
> Have some of the same issues, mine looked like this for the 93 4.0 not that
> things didn't change. http://members.cox.net/wilsond/hb/
>
> Vibration at a specific RPM reguardless of driving speed (or in N)
> could be the flywheel/clutch/or something internal.
>
> Or maby even a busted motor mount?
>

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Thanks Doug.

Did your vibes completely clear after you replaced the HB?

Mounts look okay. Guess I'll try another HB as a last ditch before going
in for the clutch.

Steve

DougW wrote:
> Have some of the same issues, mine looked like this for the 93 4.0 not that
> things didn't change. http://members.cox.net/wilsond/hb/
>
> Vibration at a specific RPM reguardless of driving speed (or in N)
> could be the flywheel/clutch/or something internal.
>
> Or maby even a busted motor mount?
>

Re: I6 engine vibration
 

Steve did pass the time by typing:
> Thanks Doug.
>
> Did your vibes completely clear after you replaced the HB?

Not entirely but the persistant belt squeek in humid weather did.
The HB wasn't quite gone, just slightly wobbly and walked back a bit.

As it stands I'm slowly getting things cleared up. Right now
it's a pissing match with a vac leak following replacing the old
cracked exhaust manifold. Plus a few other noises under the hood
and some vibrations on acceleration that could be U joints
(even though they feel tight).

> Mounts look okay. Guess I'll try another HB as a last ditch before going
> in for the clutch.

I'm not certain how a HB would be that off, but it's "fairly easy" to
do if you have the right tools. :)