I have a brand new HX 35 turbo w/o exhaust housing. I just took it out of the box and was showing to a buddy. He had it on a desk resting on the compressor housing and then let it go. It fell the few inches to the desk surface landing on the turbine. I inspected the vanes and found the corner of one was slightly bent down. Can this be repaired? Replace? Rebalance? Thanks.

'93 3/4 ton Power Ram

 

I wouldn't install it like it is.
I'd call who ever you bought it from, hopefully a merchant, and ask for recommendations.

 

Sounds like your buddy just bought a turbo.

 

Dont worry about it. My hx40 has a couple small nicks on the compressor wheel, and it runs perfect, and has for at least 6 months. I know a boy who has a 64mm charger and it ate some aluminum. Tore up all the compressor blades pretty bad, but it still runs fine he says. As long as its just barely bent, then i say run it.

 

I dunno, I would not trust that. Those fins are finely balanced because of the revs they turn. Any change in balance could result in wear until the blades strike the housing.
If you try to bend the fin back it might be just enough to fatigue the metal and predispose it to breaking off later.
Only plus is that with the intercooler upstream, youd be less likely to inhale metal fragments.
Look at it this way.. you now have reason to get a larger aftermarket turbo ;p

 

Take a picture and let's see. But i would say no don't run it. There balanced and when it is bent thats where you take a gamble.

 

does it still spin freely?

 

Do what Bill says - don't install it.

Also, if its out of balance its gonna wear itself out or grenade on you at some point.

 

Some things do not respond well to playing around. A turbo shop would probablly just bend it back and send out the door without a worry. JMHO

 

If it were me, I'd have my good buddy buy me a new compressor wheel.

No way I'd put an aerodynamically out of balance turbo on my truck.

It spins pretty fast from what I remember

 

He bent the turbine wheel. The Compressor wheel is aluminum and easy to bend, easy to break, but easy to replace. Either way it would need to be rebalanced. Turbos spin in excess of 160,000 rpm.

Exducer blades are brittle. Bending it back might break it, but it depends on how bad it is. I've straightened a few when working at the turbo shop. If it's new, it has a good chance of being easily repaired.

It's now out of balance, and I suggest sending it to a turbo shop for them to inspect, repair, and rebalance with a dynamic balancer. Don't take the chance of really screwing it up by bolting it to your engine. Have your buddy cough up some dough for the repair and make him do the install. And remember... Turbos are for engines, not for desks.

 

check out Htt web site they have a special going on stock wheels about $50.00