<VV> FC Engines - Harmonic Balancer or not?

[Ken Wildman]

At 02:48 PM 7/18/2006, Chris & Bill Strickland wrote:
>Although some will say this is heresy, maybe they are all off to convention --
>
>I prefer the solid cast pulleys on a Corvair engine -- the design of the 
>balancers is faulty and the stamped steel pulleys are not much better. On 
>the balancer the pulley groove is in the rubber mounted part, and even 
>when it is frequently inspected, the Lord only knows when it is going to 
>fail, and with the a/c you are going to be increasing the load from the 
>alternator.
>
>Now the harmonic balancer IS a good idea, and they work -- it is just that 
>on a Corvair, which has a much higher likelihood of balancer failure than 
>say a 350 V-8 due to the poor design, when that balancer fails, it takes 
>out the oil filter, and then also very likely, you are looking a broken 
>crank.  When this happens away from home with a family driver, it becomes 
>rather inconvenient. Them racer boys have a trailer and other 
>transportation, so when it breaks, they aren't stranded, so don't listen 
>to them.  Many of the show car guys don't drive in places where cell 
>phones don't work. But if this happens say out near Wagontire, Oregon, on 
>your way from Klamath Falls to Boise, whatcha gonna do?
>
>Godspeed,
>
>Bill Strickland

Its too bad GM didn't have you leading the thousands of engineers they employ.

<snicker>

Seriously, they wouldn't have spent the money to add the balancers if they 
weren't necessary.

Ken