Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

Considering getting my flatty, FW, PP all balanced together over the winter. Any suggestions on a good place to have it done in the Stroudsburg Pa. to Hackettstown NJ area?

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

Edited for clarification, thought the title wasn't clear enough.

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

Still not clear to me! I have never heard of balancing a flywheel and pressure plate assembly on the engine. I am interested in how it is done. I have balanced all of the engines I built just as routine practice (I know it is over kill) but they were all balanced on balance machines using the crank, damper, bob-weights, flywheel and pressure plate..

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

[QUOTE]Was the flywheel/pp assembly balanced together with all the other engine componets?

If the flywheel is balanced seperate from the crankshaft it has to be mounted to the crankshaft with the same center as it was balanced with
[/QUOTE / by Kurt in NJ

Had FW and PP balanced as a set. Thought I had solved the vibration prob after I changed the alternator mount getting the mount more rigid and closer to the motor. It did help but I still have a vibration while revving between approx 1000 and 1500 rpm. Previous posts from previous thread (Engine vibration sanity check ) post #6 by Kurt in NJ, I think suggested i shoud've had the FW and PP balanced on the engine? Assuming someone could do it that way. Kurt if you see this thread please comment.

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

The flywheel and PP are balanced with the crank assembly. Not with a completely assembled engine.

First the crank is balanced after bob weights are attached to represent piston, rings, rod, pin, locks, bearings, etc. rotating weight. Next, the flywheel is assembled to the crankshaft and brought into neutral balance and index identified. Finally, the PP is assembled to that flywheel and made neutral with the appropriate indexing identification.

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

I have a 36 5 window and am experiencing the same type of
vibration. Other than those vibrations, it runs like a Singer
sewing machine.

Any ideas??

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

I use a HTA in Weissport Pa. (Near Lehighton) 610 379 0302.the owner is Dave Cressley.Been using him for years with no problems.Phil

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

Not likely a balance problem per se. More likely a pilot bearing / bushing problem. When the pilot bearing / bushing is worn the clutch disc sits in a different location every time the clutch is depressed and reseated. Just sayin...

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

Was thinking that was strange, I have balanced a lot of engines and never heard of any other way of doing it other than a standard balance machine.

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

There's not much of anything between Stroudsburg and Hackettstown, never mind a place to have a flathead setup balanced. I would have recommended a guy in Wind Gap, but regretfully he has retired.

Better to look into Scranton-Wilkes Barre or the Lehigh Valley for an old-school shop, or head east into the cities of eastern NJ. In Scranton there's a place called Fleet Pride that's doing a driveshaft for me. Maybe they can help/refer you. (570) 344-1975

Flatheads are internally balanced, which means they are not dependent on flywheel or front pulley weights. If your flywheel/clutch is neutrally balanced it does not need to be balanced on the engine.

If your engine is out of balance, I think it would be better to not try to balance it via flywheel imbalance.

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

What you're talking about when balancing a flywheel and pressure plate is considered "single-plane" balancing.

On a typical independently balanced ass'y the flywheel and pressure plate is done separately from the crank. This is how most Flatheads are done.

Since it is "single-plane" the both pieces can be done simultaneously, as a single unit, however, if it is done using this method it MUST be "indexed" during balancing and installed in the same position. (See photo below)

On a dependently balanced unit (e.g. 454" Chevy) you normally don't have this option.

(Add) If ever needing to change the plate you simply balance the replacement the same way, correct it on the flywheel. There's one other item in play here, the further out you remove weight (e.g., on a 14" flywheel/7.000" radius) it needs much less material removed to make a difference! For example, removing 10 grams at a 7.000" radius has a more overall effect than removing 10 grams at 3.000" radius.

Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. On a side note, the flywheel can be done by itself and the pressure plate can be done alone as well. The issue we have with this method it's difficult to balance many plates separately, either welding or drilling on the plate only is something we try to avoid.

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

" either welding or drilling on the plate only is something we try to avoid."

Aside from the fact you should NEVER weld on a clutch cover, how would you balance it without drilling??

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

Mfagan, mine also runs like a Singer except for this.
El Rat, all new pilot, thrust, FW & PP.
GOFAST, FW PP balanced and indexed.

Thx for the inputs, I thought the same as JSeery, normal method for balancing is Engine separate from and FW / PP together. As I indicated previously from an earlier thread on this problem that a couple of guys suggested balancing FW/PP while on the engine. Never heard of it but sounded plausible as if you use the motor as the dynamic radial source and balance the FW/PP on the center the crank is running on it should work. Mines an 8BA so the bell housing config allows relative easy access to the FW/PP. Guess I'm grasping cause I don't want to break down the engine as it runs so good especially below and 1000 and above 1500 rpm.

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

OK....someone invent a 'Centramatic' PP & FW.

Bob

Re: Balance FW, PP while mounted on Flatty?
 

Just pour some balance beads in there, should do the trick.