95 Tacoma 2.7l can't get the harmonic balancer back on.

Hey guys I have been working on a 95 Tacoma for the last week and have been able to find most of my questions on these forms .but I have a problem I can't seem to find the answer too. I pulled the harmonic balancer and replace the crank seal but I can't seem to get the harmonic balancer to go back on . I had to use a puller to get it off. But I spent a few hours this morning trying to get it to go back on and line up with the key. With no luck if anybody has any information that might help it would be extremely appreciated thanks.

 

Is the key in the correct position? Usually there’s a little pin to locate the positioning.
Post a picture?
Ok I reread the post. It’s hard to determine contributing factors.
Is the drift key just not lining up with the balancer? Is the seal flush? Is there debris in the location slot on the balancer?

 

I guess I don't get the pin thing you are saying? I took a video with my phone to see the crank key location
It's almost dead top.

 

I cleaned the groove on the HB it seems like the key isn't lining up.

 

Also the seal seems to be set in a mm not flush with the oil pump housing is that what you mean? Sorry I am new to these.

 

I’m not 100% familiar with the Tacoma balancers. Typically there’s a drift key or a pin that sits in the crank shaft stub that’s exposed.

Yes, you don’t want the seal sticking out it’s should be flush with the engine block if it’s inset a bit, it should be fine.

 

It seems to be hitting on the sides where it's supposed to touch the oil pump gear

 

Is there a damaged dust shield inside the pilot? You can kind of see it in this photo.
Here’s a silly question but it happens. Aw you trying to put it on inside out?
I did that once on my jeep. Spent a week trying to get the water pump housing back on but it wouldn’t fit.

 

This one is solid

 

It seems to be hitting this. You can see the key on the top right

 

That looks like one of the flat spots. Did you loose tdc?

 

Wait I'm sorry my first time doing this.. what cylinder am I supposed to have set at top dead center?

 

there should be a notch on the HB that points to the meter that shows timing advancement. It’s good practice place timing makes at tdc it helps allign the HB when reinstalling.

 

A better picture of the crank shaft would help. You may need to turn the HB 180 degrees.

 

So I need to put the harmonic balancer in and rotate it until it falls in and then rotate it until it hits the key?

 

So the two places I’ve marked should match. The part I circled has a little wedge type piece of metal that sits in there (on the crank) if that’s on the bottom (as it appears to be from the photos) it could have fallen out a little preventing the pulley from seating completely. I’m not 100% sure how Toyota’s are set up but it’s pretty standard in my experience. Typically the drift pin (wedge piece of metal to hold the pulley in place ) is set at the top. That, in theory, I’d assume is tdc. Not really that important since the timing set hasn’t been taken apart. Tdc should. It have changed. It’s just a marked point to aid with reassembly.

 

Yes the drift key is actually in the picture buy your T on the word flat. And that is how I have been trying to put it together the right way it just won't go on. It really doesn't make sense why it won't just slide on it's like it is hitting something and getting wedged. If I tap it with a rubber mallet when it's lined up correctly it won't go on but it gets stuck to the point I need the puller to pull it back off .

 

That actually might be torqued on. I’m not sure. I haven’t done the 2.7l. I’ve done the 3.4l Toyota, a 3.3l Nissan, 78 Jeep hahah. Do you have a chilton or a Haynes manual? Those are good to have in hand. Sometime even the public library has them.

 

No I don't unfortunately my neighbor is selling me the Toyota because it has problems and I am normally pretty mechanically inclined. I was going to use it for driving to work this year sense I put 46k miles on my new Z71 last year.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-not-to-replace-your-harmonic-balancer.324261/