AHU Without Harmonic Balancer?

[smokeinmirrors]

It just accured to me that that my M-TDI does not have a harmonic balancer. I bought the engine without an alternator bracket or any pulleys so just swapped all the parts over from my 1.6 including the solid (v-belt) crank pulley -- It's been running great for the last 2K + miles. Is anyone else using this belt set-up on their TDI? Is there a fractured crankshaft in my future?


P7010467 by EasleyRdr, on Flickr

[tyb525]

1.6 NA's didn't come with one. TD's did. TDI's might be smooth enough to be ok without it? I don't know. Actually I just made up TDI's being smoother.

[bbob203]

if it works it works!!

[8v-of-fury]

My AAZ and AHU both have dampeners built in to their crank pulley's, this may be dangerous to the engines life span to run this way..

Here it is showing my NOT-SO-LOWZ with a red solo cup. haha My control arms are level though, perfect suspension geometry.

[libbydiesel]

The 1.6TD engines had the dampener pulleys for the v-belts that should work with the rest of your belt setup.  I think it's a good idea.  Maybe not absolutely necessary, tho. 

[srgtlord]

I would'nt worry about it, the v-belt setup allows for slight slippage of the belt between pulleys. If you did have issues it probably wouldn't be until your engine had 300,000+ miles on it.

[libbydiesel]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1496263

[smokeinmirrors]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad no one has chimed in with any solid-pulley related tales of destruction, but it looks like it would be a good idea to get a damper pulley fitted just to be safe. I hadn't known that there were any 1.6 engines that came with that pulley - if I can't find one for just a single belt, I'll try to get the one listed on thesamba.

[nwcali6]

  I've seen other engines without them..factory.  I'm building a mtdi to put in where I have a 1.6 and was wondering this myself...

 

[smokeinmirrors]

 I just got done limping home with my second (read: SECOND!)  fractured turbo oil line in a month. The original line cracked right at the flare joint and required me to get towed home out of the mountains. I thought it was a fluke so I just replaced the line and kept driving it. About 100 miles from home this afternoon the new oil line decided to split at the bend just above the turbo. Fortunately it  happened  near civilization this go 'round so I was able to buy some Loctite repair putty and a gallon of oil to get me back.
    Having two seemingly vibration related failures in such a short time of a part that I don't think gives other TDI drivers quite that much trouble just seems overly suspicious to me. I will definately be installing a harmonic balancer on my engine now. And a flexible braided oil line . . .

[745 turbogreasel]

Sure you are not missing a clip?

[libbydiesel]

A harmonic balancer will even out the pulses going to the accessories and put less stress on the crank sprocket interface, but I don't think it would have an effect on the oil supply line.  As 745 said, do you have the anti-vibration clips on there?

[theman53]

If the engine is balanced it shouldn't need much of a balancer. Neutral balance that is, and our VW are balanced to neutral, or should be. The harmonic damper will help sort pulses from detonation but to have fractures in your oil line it would have to be so bad that the block would come apart after 2 oil lines. I bet there was something going on with your hard line. If you had a rubber line it would never happen.

[smokeinmirrors]

Sure you are not missing a clip?

Long pause . . .

Ok, I was over thinking it. Turns out my engine has been missing the clips all along. I did just get a call from the local hydraulics shop saying my new SS flex line is ready so there should be no more of that tomfoolery.