SBC Harmonic balancer install

Just installed a new harmonic balancer on my 350 SBC crate motor. Lubed it good. Made a installation tool with some threaded rod, nuts, and thick washers. It slipped on nice for a bit, then seems to stop dead. Now my question is: How do I tell when it's on all the way?
I've included some photos, although I don't know if they'll help much. It seems to me it still got a little bit to go. I guess if I had a pulley set on hand, I could get an idea on how close I was. But I haven't bought them yet.
I'm not too keen on banging it with a hammer, although I know it will be suggested. If I knew I definitely wasn't there yet, I'd be willing to try that.
Judging by the photos, anyone have any opinions?
Thanks. By the way, I've confirmed it is the right balancer for my engine.


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It appears to be on all the way. Check if bolt and washer are long enough to reach into threads about 1/2", If so it is on all the way.Tighten bolt and give it one reasonable wack with a hammer and brass punch or 2X4 just to make sure it is seated all the way.

Looking through the opening in the balancer in the second picture, you can see the balancer snout (rough cast looking) up against the seal on the cover. Looks good to me!

Mark

I'm not there to see it with my eyes , but from your pics , it looks like it's home. I recently put a balancer on a crate 350 and thought the same thing. It looked like it could still go in another 1/4 or 3/8 of an inch.
It was home. All the pulleys lined up and I haven't had any problems with it .
Best of luck to you!

Thanks, guys! That's what I needed to hear. You came through for me again! I guess I'll know for sure when I get my pulleys next week.

hey just curious if you could give me a qucik measurment from the front of your balancer back to the crank snout

I am trying to verify if my balancer is on all of the way also

thanks in advance

I just went through this as well, it is like 1.5 inches but the only way to know for sure is to get a 6 inch dial caliper (for the depth guage, a ruler would probably work fine too) and measure the distance from the front end of your crank to the timing gear where it sits against. so that distance is 2.5 than measure the depth of your balancer should be like 4.000.

Then assemble it and it the depth from the end of the crank to the front of the pulley should be the difference in this case 1.5" Unless your crank key slipped out or your timing gear key is offset there really shouldn't be a problem.

Prostood, I just took a couple of measurements. The measurement from the front of the balancer to the front of the snout is 1 & 1/16". I also measured from the front of the balancer to the flat part of the timing cover flange (between the bolts) and that measured exactly 2 & 3/4 inches.
My new pulley set has arrived, and if this is any indicator, after installing them the lower one seems to line up perfectly with the water pump pulley.
Hope this helps.