Machining the Harmonic Balancer? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

juarez · 02-29-2004, 23:43

Anyone thought about this? The oen on the EA must weigh about 5-10kg, and I'm _sure_ that I've read that each kg of weight on the crank requires 7kW to rotate.. seems a little much, but who knows?

Anyway, given what the harmonic balancer has to drive, I can't see that you could weaken it too much by lightening it (eg. shaving 1-2kg off the front, or perhaps just getting an aluminium billet one?)

Do these exist for EA-ED's (pre-serpentine that is)? Anyone tried it? Does it work well?

Also, if you did just machine it, would that inhibit its ability to harmonically balance whatever it balances?

EvilChief · 03-01-2004, 00:45

why not get just an aftermarket one ... thay are not that xspensive ....

ebxr8240 · 03-01-2004, 01:09

Be carefull they spin bloody fast and ballance is very important..They don't actually balllance they absorb vibration [harmonics] from crank etc,much like a shock absorber on suspension..

juarez · 03-10-2004, 17:21

Ok, I'll look into professional ones, but last I heard they were ~200+...

And ebxr8240, why do I have to be careful? You make it sound like I'll get the grinder onto the balancer and do it myself :p I was thinking of getting a professional shop to grind some of the metal off the front, or perhaps around the outside as well..

Soxx · 03-10-2004, 18:25

It's not normally accepted to take material off the balancer.
If you want to lighten your reciprocating mass, lighten the flywheel.

I6's don't really need aftermarket explosion proof balancers either as they simply don't rev high enough.

Rick.

TICK4D · 03-10-2004, 18:33

Unless you have a friend that can perform this,
A fitter and turner charge $50-$80 hour, and have a minimum charge.(my brother is one), then get it balanced with crank,rods,pistons(external)
Be much the same price as new one anyway, and the new ones are stronger
much more than lighter.
They absorb harmonics of the engine, but are balanced.
You would not be able to machine off enough to make a differnce anyway.
Just buy a lightened one, if you are thinking doing something like this.

TICK4D · 03-10-2004, 18:36

Its not that they don't rev enough, it is more to do with torque.
They don't explode, they tend to spin themselves on the rubber
that is bonded in the middle.
Which may indeed come off, but they can not explode

fordmuscle_83 · 03-10-2004, 18:42

Aftermarket ones from Romac are $340 for alloy race series.

Pete

TICK4D · 03-10-2004, 18:51

Thats right ford muscle, I had one on my 351 clevo.
The absolute ducks guts.

TIKFD6 · 03-11-2004, 02:15

Machining the standard one is way to much hassle, and if not done correctly can be very dangerous.

It would be worth looking around at prices for new lighter ones.