Harmonic Balancer

[Jimmie]

What does it do and how does it do it?

Jimmie
Orleans, Indiana

[DEEPNHOCK]

What it does is modify the harmonics developed in the crankshaft to prevent the crankshaft from vibrating/oscillating to a point where the soft bearings get damaged, or the driveline bolts break, or even the crankshaft itself breaking.
Think of the crankshaft as a wine glass.
All those power stroke pulses pushing on it to spin it around.
If those pulses all sync up, it can cause the crankshaft to sing like a wineglass will if you rub the rim, or apply sound waves against it.
The hamonic balancer absorbs those vibrations to 'deaden' that oscillation.
Stude cranks were pretty stout, so their 'balancer' was little more than a steel disk mounted in a rubber pad (except for later R series).
More info on harmonic balancers and vibration dampers is here:
http://tinyurl.com/mvo73u
They ARE needed. The bigger (and longer) the crankshaft, the larger the damper needs to be. look at a semi truck engine sometimes.
Theirs are huge in comparison to a Stude.
Also be aware the Stude damper is indexed with one of the mount bolts offset (and so is the rubber disc). It will only fir properly one way, so don't force it.
Hope the info helps.
Jeff

quote:Originally posted by Jimmie

What does it do and how does it do it?
Jimmie
Orleans, Indiana

[Jimmie]

Thank you again for responding to one of my questions.
Jimmie
Orleans, Indiana

quote:Originally posted by Jimmie

What does it do and how does it do it?

Jimmie
Orleans, Indiana