Balancer Question
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,995
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From: Virginia
Balancer Question
Watching an engine run, it looks like it turns very smoothly but it doesn't. It does not have a constant smooth source of power. It actually is turned by eight sharp bursts of energy (8 cylinder). The pulsing from the cylinders firing, cause torsional or a twisting type of vibration in the crankshaft. The harmonic balancer helps smooth out these vibrations. The center of the balancer is not connected to the outside of the balancer except by rubber. The reaction between the inner part of the balancer and the outer part help to cancel out the vibrations. What you have to be careful of, is when the rubber gets old and cracked. The outer part can actually come off and do damage. I would never run an engine with a busted damper. I would not be worried so much about the engine, but the radiator, hoses and hood when it finally flies apart. It would be a bad situation and cause alot of unnecessary damage under the hood, not to mention the outer ring can slip a little, and throw your timing marks off.
