crankshaft balancing

[davel]

Is there anyone who's had a 16V GS1100/1150 crankshaft balanced? Were the engine vibes significantly less after balancing?

[Danjal]

Is there anyone who's had a 16V GS1100/1150 crankshaft balanced? Were the engine vibes significantly less after balancing?

They should be balanced from the factory. If yours is vibrating check your carb balance first.

[bellucci]

Is your motor stock? I have a modified motor that vibrates pretty good... I was just talking on another thread about carb balance. The last time I had vibration problems, the rocker arms had been eaten by the cams... If you want to see what was done to this motor, type in historical documents into the search button up top. I think the balance of the carbs is an issue.
Curt

[davel]

Thanks guys. The carbs are synched. Valves are adjusted. Engine is stock and runs/idles perfectly. Just dynoed a couple months ago 91hp @ 8200rpm and 62lbft @ 6400rpm (41lbft @ 1800rpm!)

Has anyone sent one of these cranks out to be balanced? Any noticable difference after reassembling?

[Danjal]

Do you have longer aftermarket bars by chance?

[davel]

stock bars with bar snake

[rapidray]

The rods don't come off. There is no way to balance. Ray.

[davel]

The rods don't come off. There is no way to balance. Ray.

Hi Ray. Thanks for chiming in. What does Falicon do with these cranks when they balance them?

[blowerbike]

The rods don't come off. There is no way to balance. Ray.

as ray said.
crank shops sometimes say"true and weld"
that is correct.
these cranks can not/do not get balanced even though being in true would be balanced the way i see it, but not like a plain bearing crank that gets spun and material added/removed.

[GregT]

Well, yes, it can be done but it ain't easy. It requires a complete disassembly, clamp on weights put on the crankpins and reassembly.
Then time in the balancer...Then reassembly with rods.
Benefits ? Well if you've got a roadrace motor and the $$$$ - it may be worth it.
What is probably worth the time is matching the piston weights.
Currently doing 2 CB450 roadrace cranks - will have to rebalance in this fashion as there are Carrillo's and oversize pistons going on. Not too hard with a twin - but still time & $$$$.

[blowerbike]

pistons are a given.
but this is a mute point and the simplest answer is...no,
press pin cranks are not balanced nor is this something thats done.
even by falicon.
if i'm wrong someone post the company that does this.

[GregT]

Built up cranks - like the GS - are routinely balanced all over the world.
Rebalancing singles and twins is far more common - and easier, but a four is just a collection of singles from a balancing viewpoint.
As for who does it in the US - pass. But the vintage race guys are lightening and rebalancing Honda CB350/CB450 cranks in the US so someone is doing it commercially.
I agree it is a moot point as it would be an expensive exercise on a GS crank - but I'm sure if you've got the dough it is possible.

Personally I've rebalanced singles and twins - changed balance factors to move vibration periods to a speed that is not used much.

IMO the quality control on these Suzuki cranks is good enough that rebalancing should not be needed so long as the crank is true - and you don't deviate too far from stock piston weights

[davel]

Falicon claims to dynamic balance inline 4 press together cranks for $182
check out:

http://www.faliconcranks.com/pt_price.html#FOUR

item number 004-300

I've seen on this forum and a KZ forum where guys have sent their press together cranks to Falicon for balancing and the engine had the same or MORE!! vibration when they put it back together. This is a quote from a recent post on a KZ forum:

"I sent my 77 KZ1000 Crankshaft to Falicon and had it inspected blueprinted,balanced and welded,they also replaced #5 main thrust assembly.I got the bike back together and road it 250 miles and it doesn't feel any smoother at all ! It buzzes badly in the footpegs and handlebars. When I got the crank back and Before I installed it, I inspected it and I can see all the nice welds but no indication anywhere that its been balanced"

[Flo]

Well, cant say about the US, but Gölz in Germany balances the GS cranks (and others).

http://www.goelz-hp.de/

According to him he sticks it in the balancer and spins them fast enough for the rods to hang pretty much straight via centrifugal force .
Dont care how he does it, worked for me.
Greets
Flo

[Big Jay]

At one time I thought I would try to balance a Suzuki 1100 crank. Ray Belluci used to do it, so I called him and asked him what he did about the rods. If I remember correctly, he folded them in instead of letting then sling out.

I tried it using duct tape to hold then in place. Tried to use the same amount of tape on each one.

Spun it up and it showed one end being out quite a bit, but I didn't try to make any corrections as I was unsure of the setup.

By the way. On these inline four cranks, piston weight has no effect on balance as long as they all weigh the same.

http://aperaceparts.com/mailers/crankmail.html