[scott12180]

I?m loosing my mind.

I took apart the vibration damper (harmonic balancer) on my 1932 Standard Eight Packard because there was a knocking at road speeds characteristic of a frozen dampener. I cleaned out all the rust and freed up all parts.

This dampener has twelve rubber buttons that sit into machined holes in the outer disk, along with twelve small springs.

Now when I try to reassemble it, I notice that there is a gap of 0.040? between the two outer halves. This is because the rim of the inner friction disk that nests into the machined ridge on the two outer halves is about 0.040? THICKER than where it sits in the gap formed by the outer halves. (If you can picture that.) The allowed space is too small (by a long shot!! )for the disk that?s supposed to sit there.

This means that when assembled the outer halves are clamping hard on the inner disk, prohibiting any independent movement. That can?t be, right? The inner disk must move freely inside the outer disk. Right?

So, was there supposed to be a spacer or shim between the outer halves? There was not one when I took it apart, but I also do not remember there being a 0.040? gap between the outer halves.

What am I doing wrong? Or was this thing improperly assembled to begin with?

Thanks for any comments.

--Scott

[Owen_Dyneto]

The outer halves SHOULD press hard, very HARD, on the inner disc. Don't get the idea you would be able to get any movement with your hands. These pieces fit very tight, and movement is very minimal even then.

[scott12180]

You are correct. I learned that the outer rim of the inner disk must be clamped hard to the outer halves of the damper. Any relative motion which absorbs vibrations occurs not between the inner and outer disks, but within the rubber of the inner disk.

See my reply in the Packard forum for a full explanation.

Thanks --- Scott