Walneck's Classic Cycle Trader - July 2008 - (Page 28) SPECIAL FEATURE STORIES BIKER OF THE MONTH ? Balancing Act By Mike Brown Another problem with an imperfectly bals the image in your rear view mirror so anced assembly both experts blurred it looks like the noted was excessive wear. One view through a frosted can expect much longer service windowpane? Does your life with a balanced engine posterior go numb long because the moving assembly before the first gas stop? is easier on parts like bearings Are you tired of welding that no longer have to take the cracked motor mounts? Do same pounding forces they you wonder where along the would if the crank assembly highway your taillight and hadn’t been balanced better. license plate bracket decidAnd there’s a solid emotional ed to part company? Well benefit as well. “When your friend, we have a solution, engine runs vibration free and it can be found at the riding is much more enjoyable,” House of Balance where Dick said. Walneck’s Bikers of the Month Dick Balling, company owner, and Doug The Process Simms Sr., Dick’s right hand man, have what it Dick and Doug explained two takes to balance your kinds of balancing: dynamic engine to deliver a and static. “Triumph never Biker of the Month Dick Balling is dynamically balanced anything,” smoother more powerful shown on his 1971 Triumph. Dick Dick said, and he should know as classic motorcycle. “When something runs owns the House of Balance and is he helped Triumph USA’s vibration free it makes more Baltimore headquarters sort out ready to solve your motorcycle power,” Dick said, the balancing of the original vibration problems. explaining that the typical Trident. House of Balance does engine isn’t dynamically balanced and looses dynamic balancing, and this is far more precise significant power as a consequence. He said this than static balancing, what Triumph and most is easily seen during the balancing process itself manufacturers of vintage bikes did at the factory. when it becomes necessary to turn the power To help understand why dynamic balancing is far down on the balancing equipment as the crank is superior, Dick and Doug first explained the brought into balance. What happens, both Dick process of static balancing. and Doug explained, is that the crank becomes With static balancing the crank is placed on easier to rotate because it no longer fights imbal- two knife-edged surfaces and then observed for ance. Doug said this improvement is also where the crank naturally comes to rest, evidenced where it counts on the road or track by indicating the heaviest side. The test is done with providing much quicker throttle response and bobweights on both the crank journals to corresponding acceleration through improved represent the weight of the piston and rod power output. assembly. The job of the static balancer is to drill I 28 JULY 2008 I WALNECK’S CLASSIC CYCLE TRADER® I WALNECKS.COM http://WALNECKS.COM
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