asujosh1

I purchased a pulley for install on my TL-S and was ready to go until a mechanic started giving me horror stories of what can happen by taking off the balancer within the factory pulley. So, what I want to know is this, how many people have pulleys and how many have had issues?

fsttyms1

We DONT have harmonic balancers. There wont be any problems.

People are getting their crank pulleys confused with the harmonic dampers found on some domestic V6 & V8 engines. "Harmonic Balancer" is a term used loosely in the automotive industry. Technically, this type of device does not exist. The "balancer" part comes from engines that are externally balanced and have a counterweight cast into the damper.

The pulleys on most of the new import and smaller domestic engines have an elastomer (rubber ring) incorporated into the pulley making them look similar to a harmonic damper. The elastomer in the OEM pulley serves as an isolator, which is there to suppress noise from the engine accessories; the A/C compressor, P/S pump, and alternator. This is what the manufacturers call NVH (Noise Vibration & Harshness) when referring to noticeable noise and vibration in the passenger compartment. It is important to realize in these applications, the elastomer is inadequate in size and durability to act as an effective torsional damper. If you look at the pulleys on some imports there is no rubber to be found at all. We have samples of these, mostly from Acura/Honda B & D Series engines, Nissan Altima, 1.8L Eclipse, 2.3L Fords, Chrysler 2.2L's, and 1.8L VW's just to mention a few. Most owners who have installed our pulleys notice the engine actually feels smoother. This is result of replacing the heavy crank pulley with our crank pulley. NVH is variable and unique to every car. NVH will increase with the installation of an aftermarket intake and/or exhaust, for example. Think of OEM intake systems in newer cars, they use baffles and resonators in the intake to quiet all the intake noise. Aftermarket intakes eliminate these resonators and create dramatic increases in engine noise from the throttle opening and closing. So to most tuners, certain types of NVH can make the driving experience more enjoyable.

The purpose of a traditional harmonic damper is to protect against crank failure from torsional movement and frequencies of high amplitude. This is not necessary in most modern engines because of the many advances in engine design and materials. Factors such as shorter stroke length, smaller displacement, piston dwell time, piston pin off-set, power output, etc., do determine when and how these harmonics and torsional movements occur. More importantly the actual tune of the engine, espcially with modified vheciles, is the biggest factor in potential engine damage. Poor tuning leads to detonation which is an engine killer that no damper can stop.

EL19

iTrader: (4)

ull be okay...i ahd no problems when i had those pulleys on my car...

bonknhead

I've had the UR underdrive crank pulley on my TL-S for about a year and half with no problems. Great mod.

CrackerTeg

Besides, the poll doesn't make any sense. Technically, every single one of us has pulleys.

asujosh1

Way too be a smartass. The poll is regarding aftermarket pulleys.

02type-s

Your mechanic doesn't seem to know much about the TL.

MikePA

It's too bad we can't post this urban legend where everyone has to read it before they post a question. Heck, a search for harmonic would have uncovered 47 threads about the topic.

asujosh1

Wow Mike. You are straight up rude. After searching for pulleys and issues/problems and going through pages without finding anything useful I asked a question. Searching 'harmonic' didn't occur to me so I guess I'm just a dumbass.

Next time, if your Cheerios smell like pee, don't eat them.

FirePR2002

HAHAHAHAHA!

A mechanic I was talking to about replacing my t-belt said the same thing as above - "it will screw up your engine. Don't buy or install them." I promptly left and crossed him off the list of possible mechanics. This is a popular myth.

I do not have the pulleys installed however, not because this guy said so, but because I've been doing other things. Pulleys are on the list of future mods, and from what I've read, they're a great mod unless you have a BIG system in the trunk pulling BIG power.

Having said this, I am not responsible for anything Murphy's Law does to you or your TL.

MikePA

Guess you didn't think to search on balancer, the word your mechanic used, either. Sixth thread down, 89 replies. Seventh one down, only 12 replies. And looky, here's the text of the very first message.

He also said the 2nd gen TL-S crank pulley was a harmonic balancer type of pulley. I thought the TL-S stock crank pulley didn't have a harmonic balancer?

BOSSIN$TL

if the thread bothers you that much...why keep returning to be bothered? when you can just do better stuff with your life than make yourself upset everytime you click the link?

serious question.

bibledriver

You should've just pasted all the helpful links being that you spent the time. Then at least you could've been helpful, rather than demeaning

MikePA

Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish (search) and he eats for a lifetime, bibledriver.

Thanks for being concerned about me, BOSSIN$TL.

fsttyms1

Hes got a point.

BOSSIN$TL

a very good point indeed...and now we all understand too!
SO GET THE PULLEYS NIGA! ahha

bibledriver

Agreed.
Call me "kind." I am all about the search, I suppose I am just a bit less forward about it. If all used the search, there would be MANY less threads posted, resulting in far less of the "community" aspect. I think when somebody posts asking about basics that are covered more than 47 times, it is understandable to flame, but come on, 47 is nothing compared to some that are in the thousands yet the question is posted in a new thread.

Again, I agree. Search, Search, Double Search.
Do unto others. . .

CrackerTeg

NP. Now be a little more specific next time you start a poll, and you won't get responses like that. Sorry for peeing in your Cheerios.

Rajca

iTrader: (8)

i wouldnt go back to that mechanic to get the pulley installed

mcflyguy24

X2, they'd prob just torque it down with an air wrench anyhow. Take it to a performance shop somewhere.

oulaw29

I have complete pulley set WITH a huge system in the trunk. Only dims lights at full bass stopped at light on rare occassions. My only big beef is that with the a/c on at a stop, you can hear a loud squeeking. I took these in to get tightened and it solved the problem, but came back. Any solution to this, it is the only thing I dont like about the pulleys, but still not at all enough to make me take them off, too much hp gain throughout the power band

fsttyms1

Try a little belt dressing or a new belt?

LacViet

had UR pulley the whole set for little over 2 years and no problem what so ever. Find another mechanic and install the pulley. One of the best mod for the money.

stRodda

iTrader: (1)

a tad off topic... but ive been considering the pulleys. does anyone have a before/after pulley dyno? not a manufacture site result, but a reallife one.

Gfaze

I want to change the spark plugs on my TL. What kind of plugs should I get?

bibledriver

autolites for a toyota corolla

bibledriver

I will be putting a set on in a few weeks. I will try to dyno it before and after (depends on the $)

heyitsvu

iTrader: (1)

okay, so another quick question. I just bought pullies for my car and i had them installed at the shop im doing my 6 speed swap. I plan to hook up my full system when i get my car back from the shop. gonna be running about 1500 watts rms. 1000 watts to the type R and 125x4 to the speakers. would a cap fix my problem, or would it be better to install a secondary battery with a battery isolator. Or would it be better just to get a bigger battery in general like an optima yellowtop (which i dont know if it would even make a difference)?

ACURA`TL`TYPE-$

so if i get pullies will it screw up with my electrics, cause i got a system hooked up.
will the pullies mess it up?
is getting a lighter pully another allternative???

TLS101

Any news? Dyno or No dyno and how are the pulleys?