The damper is mounted to the crankshaft on the front of the engine. Damage to the damper or failure of the damper will increase torsional vibrations. The increase in torsional vibrations will result in damage to the crankshaft and to other engine components. A deteriorating damper will cause more gear train noise at variable points in the speed range.
A damper that is hot may be the result of excessive friction. This could be due to excessive torsional vibration or misalignment. Use an infrared thermometer to monitor the temperature of the damper during operation. If the temperature reaches
Inspect the damper for evidence of dents, cracks, and leaks of the fluid.
If a fluid leak is found, determine the type of fluid. The fluid in the damper is silicone. Silicone is transparent, smooth, and viscous. It is difficult to remove silicone from most surfaces.
If the fluid leak is engine oil, inspect the crankshaft seals for leaks. If a leak is observed, replace the crankshaft seals.
Inspect the damper. Repair the damper or replace the damper for any of the following reasons:
- The damper is dented, cracked, or leaking.
- The paint on the damper is discolored from heat.
- The engine has had a failure because of a broken crankshaft.
- Analysis of the engine oil has revealed that the front main bearing is badly worn.
- There is a large amount of gear train wear that is not caused by a lack of engine oil.