Why would I get rid of the balance shaft..

[Mike7447]

Simple enough it seems, I’m gonna have the timing chain cover off when I remove the balancer to modify it for a trigger wheel. Also gonna remove the head, and convert it to studs and the add back the Ajusa mls head gasket.

What benefit do I gain by omitting the balance shaft?

Edited May 15, 2024 by Mike7447

[TexasQuest]

Better oil pressure & less moving parts to fail.

[Mike7447]

1 hour ago, TexasQuest said:

Better oil pressure & less moving parts to fail.

I have purchased the stuff to do that. Thanks

[techboy]

Many years ago I had an opportunity to remove balance shafts on a 4G63 and didn't. A few years later on a VERY hot summer day I had the balance shaft seize on the turbo side. The seize snapped the balance shaft belt (chain on a G54) got tangled in the timing belt, crashing the valves on the head.  Had to pull and rebuild the entire motor. That was last I had anything to do with balance shafts.

On my Eclipse I notice a slight vibration when sitting at traffic light that wasn't there before. On the Starion I noticed nothing after delete.

[Dad]

Minimal vibration- UNLESS  you are rebuilding and replaced a connecting rod,  when I was offering rebuilt rod sets I would purchase 200 rod cores at a time, I found variances of up to 40 grams in weight.   If you are running original rods you should be fine  but if replacing one I suggest getting the set balanced.

 

Dad

[kev]

Just a word of caution.   On my current driver CQ, I had excessive vibration after removing the balance shafts...enough that it destroyed the brand new crank bearings within 5000 miles!   I ended up having to pull the engine and do another rebuild (well..this turned into an entire new block, for I found a crack in the original block during disassembly).  I have pulled balance shafts on former CQs and did not have this issue...but this engine obviously wasn't balanced as well.   I had to remove several grams from two of the rods.  Pistons were similar but they were aftermarket replacements....never weighed the originals.   Because I didn't balance the crank, I decided to stay conservative and retain the shafts (installed new balance shaft bearings).

 

Thread containing some of the info about this experience:

 

 

 

[psu_Crash]

4 engines. Balance shafts removed from all. I never noticed a difference, but I did have all parts balanced. I have also had a few stock rods that were out several grams. Most everyone will tell you take them out if you have it apart. Just less rotating stuff to go south. 

[Turbo Cary]

Balance shafts are to reduce the vibrations that 4 cylinders naturally have. Not all engines have them though. My old Honda didn't, my Miata doesn't. It really depends on displacement. I'd say that anything over 2.0L usually has them as the Ecotec engines have them. 

I removed them on my old Conquest. It revved up easier, had better oil pressure, and made the timing chain system simpler. 

There is also the weight loss you can do on the block itself by using a freeze plug and cutting off the balance shaft chamber under the intake manifold. It isn't required but it does free up room to work.