Cal-Van Tools 38800 Harmonic Balancer Installer

I purchased this tool thinking of the days when Cal-Van made worth while specialty tools. On the first time out of the box the jamb nut that holds the various thread bits in place stripped out stranding the threaded insert deep inside the balancer, requiring several attempts to free it. The next day I tried again on a different engine the main body snapped in the middle under a very small torque load. I MISS the days when Made in America was proudly displayed on stuff.

I wanted to write a review of this tool to reassure people it does the job just fine. you could say maybe i "got lucky" and got "one of the good ones" more so i just think I know what to expect out of a tool. when your balancer is clean and correct, for the crank you are installing. it should take minimal effort to press one. a pair of 10in adjustable wrenchs or equivelent will be just fine. always lube up the threads with grease. make sure you have the bearing facing the correct way. the inner race that spins should face the nut. allowing the nut to turn easily to force balancer on.I have used this on multiple balancers. So far so good. it works as it should. if you have to wrench on it or you get stuck you have other problems 99% of the time. when it bottoms out on the crank you feel it, you know its done. this is the most econmical kit out at the time, that gives you the most sizes.I even welded to bolts together as a i need a long metric thread for my dodge 4.7L that workd out great too.

I was nervous to buy do to negative reviews but I had no issues. Used it to install a Harmonic balancer on a 5.9 magnum (Chrysler 360). The directions were terrible but I knew how to use one. I greased the balancer and crank as well as the threads of the tool prior to pressing... I am more than satisfied with the tool.

I finished install the balancer on a 8.0 gm motor. It would be nice if it came with spacers. Could not turn the nut because it was recessed to deep to get a wrench on it.other than than it was great.

Junk! Quality not up to the usual cal-van tools. Broke the first time I used it. On the plus side, they refunded my money without a problem.

I've used on sbc and ford power steering pumps so far.

It worked great for a 2003 Ford 3.0l pushrod motor. I greased the area first before attempting to reinstall the harmonic balancer, went in nice and smooth. When I took the tool off I noticed the thrust bearing would not spin and wondered if I had installed the bearing the wrong way, there are two different sides to the bearing. I called the manufacturer and they are sending me a new one for free.

This is a very poor quality thin wall tool. If I didn't know better, I would swear it's made from pot metal. Seriously, in less than a minute into the job, the darn tool snap leaving the main stud screwed in the crank bolt hole. To add insult to injury, I don't think there was more than 10 lbs of pressure. In inspecting the main portion of the tool, it looks like the walls are only about 1/16 thick.