By Doug Kaufman
Editor
ENGINE BUILDER

Everyone is looking for balance in their lives – balance between work and family, between responsibility and recreation, between give and take. Too much of one at the expense of the other can lead to dire consequences.

The same thing can be said about the engines you rebuild. Balance between the crankshaft and its related components is critical to providing a smooth, trouble-free powerplant.

Balancing, once considered an art, has turned into a science. New equipment and technology have made balancing accessible to most engine builders. Though it can seem to be a confusing topic, new equipment takes the guesswork out of the process and can help nearly anyone quickly and easily balance an engine.

“A smoothly running engine isn’t on anybody’s ‘wish list’ anymore,” explained one veteran of the balancing wars. “It’s demanded. And it has to do with more than just comfort. If the crank, rods and pistons are working together and not trying to shake the engine t...