I noticed that my main pulley has a wobble, which may explain the car's ability to spit out alternator belts. Is this likely to be the harmonic balancer? What's the fix?

UPDATE: Spoke to a CSR who said to check tightness of the big nut first, then consider other issues. Chances are it's loose. That's what I'm hoping!

Probably the bolt. Use loctite. Plenty of them available at junk yard for $2

Rex wrote:Probably the bolt. Use loctite. Plenty of them available at junk yard for $2

Fixed. Bolt was loose.

OK. Wobble came back and I am stumped. I'm gonna have my CSR look at it, but have a related question. When removing/installing the crank pulley, how does the key go in? Specifically, it is crescent shaped (flat one side, curved the other). Is the curve supposed to face the crank (in) and the flat part against the pulley? And is there any wisdom in whether you put the key in after the pulley or before?

Thanks.

Bolts can stretch; may want to put in a new one. Keyway on the crank should be tapered to hold the oval end of the key, so it should only fit one way. Check the woodruff key to make sure it's not damaged (or the slots in the crank or pulley widened out) as it will screw up the timing (not in the desirable way) if there's any slop in the keyway. What torque did you use on the bolt? Also, check the keyway in the harmonic balancer as if that gets widened out that will screw up timing as well.

http://mechdb.com/index.php/File:Escort19rebuild23.jpg