Cherokee crank pulley removal/repair

you should be able to turn it by hand or with a socket and ratchet broken crank means broken car if you broke crank which is rare you would not have a running engine sounds more like stretched timing chain if it feels sloppy

The harmonic balancer is basically a vibration dampened for the engine to eliminate engine vibration. The problem is that sometimes the actual ribbed pulley part on the balancer will separate from the rubber insert and slop around causing the belt the slop around with it. In turn the belt can fray or break. I would say its totally legit what they are saying. Just make sure you always ask to see the part after any work is done. Good luck

You will have to buy a new pulley to crankshaft bolt and washer. Or did you find that as well when you picked up the damper? Probably fell off a long time earlier. Buy a used one from salvage, or get one from a Jeep dealer.
The damper should only go on one way. Or there may be a missing woodruff key. It would fit into a slot on the crankshaft, holding the pulley in a set position. If the woodruff key is missing, you will have to find one of them as well.
Working from underneath, remove the "belly pan" mounted below the front of the engine. Book says you MAY need to remove cooling fans and radiator for access-but that is for removing the old pulley with a pulling tool. You may be able to get it all back together without pulling the fans or radiator off. Put a little clean oil on the crankshaft, align the key slot of damper with crank key and tap the pulley on with a soft faced mallet or appropriate tool. Get the pulley on, tighten down the bolt tight as you can get it, then belts back on. Then go to a shop and have someone put an impact tool onto the bolt to torque it down to specs-80 FT-lbs.

The crank pulley. is the drive pulley and it is in two pieces separated by rubber to dampen out vibrations. Below bottom rotor.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renault CAN Clip

If it's the main pulley that connects to the crankshaft and drives the serpentine belt, it's called the dampener pulley.
If the dampener pulley has worked loose or separated, you'll need to replace any damaged components, possibly including the pulley, mounting bolt and even the crankshaft and front engine housing could have been damaged if the pulley continued to turn while it was loose.
It could be as simple as tightening the bolt or as severe as a major engine rebuild. A mechanic can't know until he takes a look at it.

No, there are no bearings in the crankshaft pulley. No, it's not a common problem. The pulley is simply loose!

First determine if the pulley bolts to the harmonic dampener or if it's all one piece.

If one piece, then there is probably 1 bolt in the center of the dished portion that has loosened. If not repaired, the harmonic dampener can fall off, possibly damaging the end of the crankshaft.

If it's not 1 piece, then there will probably 3 or maybe 4 bolts in a circular pattern around the edge of the pulley bolting it to the harmonic dampener. Check to make sure all bolts are there and tighten down. A flexible mechanics mirror comes in handy for seeing exactly whats in the dish of the pulley.

If I were you, I wouldn't start the engine until this is properly resolved.

Good luck!

Engine Fan REMOVAL & INSTALLATION Except 5.2L Engines VISCOUS DRIVE FAN

1. Remove the upper fan shroud bolts and lift the shroud from its lower securing tabs. Fig. 1: Remove the fan shroud
   
   
2. Remove the accessory drive belts.
3. Remove the fan flange-to-pulley mounting nuts. Fig. 2: Remove the fan flange-to-pulley mounting nuts . . .
   Fig. 3: . . . then remove the fan assembly
   
   
4. Remove the fan and viscous drive as an assembly.
5. Remove the fan blade-to-viscous drive bolts and separate the assembly. To install:
   
6. Position the fan on the viscous drive. Install the bolts and tighten them to 187 inch lbs. (24 Nm).
7. Position the mounting flange of the viscous drive assembly onto the pulley. Install the nuts and tighten them to 18 ft. lbs. (24 Nm).
8. Install the accessory drive belts.
9. Insert the shroud into its retaining tabs and install the upper bolts.

You can do it. If it takes longer than 10 minutes something is wrong. If its a V8 make sure the tensioner is good, Fan belts rarely just "break" so check all the pulleys.

Around the outside of power steering pulley,under idler,over a/c comp,around alternator,over fan pulley, around crank pulley, over water pump. The backside of the belt contacts the idler, fan and water pump.

the pulley is also a dampener often times they seperate from each other. replace pulley/dampener.