Lower Balance Shaft

[jackiitt2002]

Hi all, I have just completed putting in a new water pump,timing and balance shaft belts, went well apart from a bit of a whine from one of the belts.
Anyway, when i replaced the belts the balance shaft belt was missing, when installing the new belt i notice the the lower shaft seemed a bit sloppy.
Now i have had the car running and driven it for a short distance 10k/m there seems to be a knocking sound coming from lower in the engine, i am wondering weather the bearings in the lower balance shaft are shot ( this could be why it didn't have the balance shaft belt on when i brought the car).
If anyone has ever had this happen to them i would be interested to hear about it.
Also if it is the balance shaft bearings, how hard are they to get to and replace.
Also i put in a new thermostat and the car is running well over 3/4, there wasn't a thermostat in the car when i replaced the water pump so i am thinking of removing the thermostat and running the car without one. I live in Malaysia so the weather is hot as hell all the time.
Any help would be grateful.

[gricec]

Hows you r oil pressure.

[mattdavis11]

If it was sloppy, and the belt was not on, I'd say you found your answer. Thermostat missing could be a clogged radiator, bad thermo fan switch.... Do the fans work? What year is the car?

[jackiitt2002]

Yeah the oil pressure is pretty sad, the red light is going on at idle.
And after having a look at the bearings in the parts forum it does look as if they could cause a great pressure drop if they are not in good condition.
I took the radiator out and flushed out while doing the belts, its in good condition.
The car is a 1984 944.

[North Coast Cab]

Slop could be confused with mistiming the shaft. Double check the belt installation and timing first. I would be asking myself why the belt was off though? Next I'd pop the balance shaft cover and take a closer look. If there really is slop the saddles could be out of sort in which case it will be tough to fix. Perhaps a balance shaft delete kit is the only option at that point.
All this makes me want to take a peek inside the pan too...

[gricec]

I would be a little concerned if you have a lower end knock and low oil pressure.

Could be rod bearings.

Dont drive it too much in that condition.

[Rasta Monsta]

Originally Posted by gricec

could be rod bearings.

+1.

[jackiitt2002]

Well after giving it a bit of thought, I removed the balance shaft belt this morning.
That has stopped the knock, but the lower balance shaft is moveable up and down by hand.
Oil pressure still about half a bar at idle, 800rpm, so i may increase the idle to 1000rpm where i seem to get able 1 bar when the engine is hot.
But it looks like i will need to remove the lower balance shaft at some stage, has anyone removed one while the engine is in the car, not sure but may have to remove engine mount and even the exhaust manifold my have to come off.
More money and more time under the car.
The overheating seemed to be ok today, only running about half.
But without the balance shaft belt its running like a champ.

[mattdavis11]

Surely it vibrates like crazy.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by jackiitt2002

Well after giving it a bit of thought, I removed the balance shaft belt this morning.
That has stopped the knock, but the lower balance shaft is moveable up and down by hand.
Oil pressure still about half a bar at idle, 800rpm, so i may increase the idle to 1000rpm where i seem to get able 1 bar when the engine is hot.
But it looks like i will need to remove the lower balance shaft at some stage, has anyone removed one while the engine is in the car, not sure but may have to remove engine mount and even the exhaust manifold my have to come off.
More money and more time under the car.
The overheating seemed to be ok today, only running about half.
But without the balance shaft belt its running like a champ.

Pretty hard to follow what your saying,at one point your said that you remove the BS belt & running without it, which is not the best idea to do on any 944 because eventualy you will damage the motor.Then your asking if the lower balance shaft belt ca be remove with the motor in the car which the answer is (YES & without removing the exhaust manifold or the motor mounts).Unless I'm missing something there is only two belts on a 944 (the BS belt & the timing belt).Before you ruin your motor may a suggest you use Clark's Garage Home Page & learn a little more about your car & how to work on it & do the maintenance needed .Once on the site just click on (Garage Shop Manual).
Early 944 belts set up
BS belt orientation.

[jackiitt2002]

To my surprise there is very little, if any vibration coming from the engine.
In fact i think there was more vibration with the belt on.
The belt was timed correctly, checked rechecked and checked again.

I wasnt questioning removing the balance shaft belt with the engine in place.
I was questioning removing the 'whole balance shaft' to replace the bearings.
The shaft housing is just below the exhuast and right hand engine mount.
Has anyone removed the housing with the engine in place.

[ernie9944]

Originally Posted by jackiitt2002

To my surprise there is very little, if any vibration coming from the engine. In fact i think there was more vibration with the belt on. The belt was timed correctly, checked rechecked and checked again. I wasnt questioning removing the balance shaft belt with the engine in place. I was questioning removing the 'whole balance shaft' to replace the bearings. The shaft housing is just below the exhuast and right hand engine mount. Has anyone removed the housing with the engine in place.

Sorry my bad ,I misread your reply,usually running without balance shaft belts will spell trouble later on on a 944,for the rest of your question like mention use Clarks Garage they will give you the procedure on how to remove the lower balance shaft just enter Garage Shop Manual & scroll down to balance shaft oil seal replacement.GL

[jackiitt2002]

Thanks for the help, the Clark's garage home page will be very useful.
It sounds like it is possible to remove the lower balance shaft housing without to many problems, lets hope so.

[Rasta Monsta]

I have r&r'd that part with the engine in place. The rub, of course, would be if your front balance shaft bearing surface needs machine work (seems possible).