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Discussion and questions related to the course Brake System Design and Optimization
= Resolved threads
Is this engine balancer similar to the harmonic balancer?
Sorry for the late response, just noticed this.
The "engine balancer" and "harmonic damper" are two separate things, but sometimes thay're made as a single part, especially as OEM equipement. With the aftermarket, it's more common to have them as two, separate, bolt together components.
Some engines use an external unbalanced front hub and flywheel/flexplate, basically counterweights, to correctly balance the entire assembly, an example is the 454 BBC which uses external balancing vs the 427 which is internally balanced.
The harmonic damper, or dampener, is used to limit the flexing of the crankshaft which acts like a torsional spring. At certain rpm(s) the spring rate of the crankshaft and the firing impulses can 'line up' and gain in amplitude - usual example is pushing someone on a swing where a small push at the right time will increase the swing.
