F150 Noises after replacing balancer assy

[Timbuktu]

Good Afternoon

Last season I replaced the harmonic balancer assembly on my 05' F150. There was nothing wrong with it, but wanted to makes sure
I didn't have any problems in the future - I have heard they can really cause problems if they go bad.

The job seemed to go fine and I had no issues. I used the boat probably a couple of times with no problems (short trips), but
I just took it out for the first time this season and noticed an unusual sound.

One of the things I noticed when I changed the the balancer was that there was a whine that was gone. I didn't notice it previously,
but now I am hearing something that sounds similar to a rattling (rattling that isn't continual frequent stopping and starting)
The sound really seems to be coming from the balancer area, and I only hear at idle when in neutral.

Is it possible this is just the sound of having more backlash in the balancer gears?

Should I take it all apart and inspect it? It is kind of difficult for me to ignore it

Any help is appreciated,
Thanks, Tim

[Timbuktu]

I pulled it apart to inspect, it looked perfect. I ran it pretty hard to test it; no problems. I am really not comfortable with this noise though as a balancer failure could be the end of the power head. When I put a stethoscope on it I am pretty darn sure it is coming from the balancer. Any thoughts here? Can you typically hear them? I know the old one whined pretty loudly. Is there anyway to upload a low res video for you guys to hear?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[TownsendsFJR1300]

You should be able to take and post an audio/video with either You Tube or I use Flicker

Here's my '06 F150 after putting in a type 4 balancer (cowl still on), perhaps it can help:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147134...in/dateposted/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147134...in/dateposted/


Note, Yamaha, way back replaced my original balancer with a type 3.

Yamaha shortly thereafter came out with a type 4. As you noted, a balancer failure is catastrophic.
I bit the bullet and bought/installed a type 4 myself. I still have low hours on the engine but it's pretty quiet
in the balancer area.

[Timbuktu]

Thanks for posting!

It's hard to tell with the cowling on.


I uploaded a short video to YouTube - Link below

Balancer noise 1 F150 - YouTube

[TownsendsFJR1300]

I don't think I have that noise, thou I rarely run it with the cowl off so am not positive..

In any event, if you have the latest (type 4) balancer on there, I think your fine.


I think Yamaha ran out of type 3's a long time ago as the type 4 was coming out about the same time.
And there are no markings, discernable differences between them.

[Timbuktu]

It is the -04

I was thinking the way I could truly confirm that it is the balancer would be to take the guts out of the old one and mount the housing back in place. Then run it - low speed only. Is there any problem with doing this?

If it is I might just spring for a new balancer - I cannot afford a balancer failure

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Someone posted about removing the guts and running it with no balancer.

There was no reported issue but the engine did run rougher/unbalanced.

I would just check and make sure there's no oil passages in the balancer, that W/O the guts, is bleeding oil pressure. I don't believe there is.

Looking at a pic of my 04 style balancer (just before re-assembly), I don't see any oiling passages:

[TownsendsFJR1300]

The weathers real crappy down here today.

I can, in a couple of days, record with the cowl off for ya the area of the balancer..

[Timbuktu]

That would be great! Thanks

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Here ya go.

It sounds WAY NOISER on the video than live. I mean way noisier... And obviously, I'm right on top of it.
More the entire engine itself W/O the cowl.
First at idle, 700RPMs, then up to about 1,100 RPMs.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147134...ream/lightbox/

Listening to both video/audio's, I can't really discern a difference. Your idle is a little but rough, but I think they both sound similar.

How mine sounds live, I don't have any concern about the balancer/engine... From what I hear, I think yours is fine..

[Timbuktu]

Thanks a bunch,

I watched your video yesterday, and I think yours in much more quiet. I ran it with the guts out and the sound went away. They are going to warranty the balancer so long as I don't hear it after the new one is installed.

You may very well be right that it is OK. But I think I would be willing to pay for the piece of mind even if they didn't warranty it.

Thanks again for everything

[TownsendsFJR1300]

Interesting.. I'd suspect some noise as it is a pretty heavy set of shafts/weight spinning around..

Please post back after the new one is in, if it sounds any better..



BTW, I have an occasional, first try, no crank that occurs after sitting for awhile(days). With the cowl off yesterday and then starting it, I COULD HEAR the starter relay clicking WITH no crank, several times- Soo, found that issue and ordered another relay.. Thanks!

What's really interesting, I checked my service log and I replaced the starter relay when it was 7 years old. It's NOW, 7 years later and it failed (to the month) AGAIN...
I already knew how to by pass it, but would rather have it working correctly..

.