Friday, October 25, 2013
Harley Flywheel Balance Symptoms
Every motorcycle that comes off the Harley-Davidson assembly line is different. Each half of a flywheel, each crankshaft, piston, rod, ring, lock, button and cage making up the entire flywheel assembly is equally different from the others. Because of the sensitive nature of the function provided, a featherweight imbalance in the flywheel grows exponentially to affect the smooth ride of your bike -- especially the Harley Sportster and the 45 degree V-Twin, affectionately known as the "Shaker".
Engine Shakes
The flywheel assembly buffers and moderates power put out by an engine. The 45-degree angle of the Harley V-Twin engine makes it difficult to cancel out the reciprocating spins of the engine; if you feel as if your teeth will out of your head when you ride, you are experiencing the not difficult-to-detect Harley balance symptoms inherent in your hog. Because the parts are assembly made, the two halves of the flywheel will not be exact. Any slight difference in weight between the two halves creates an imbalance that, once it shakes through the entire assembly, intensifies the engines vibration.
Factory-Bought Harleys
Balancing the flywheel is an expensive and time-consuming operation. Each bike undergoes a balancing procedure to a manufacturing standard applied to each model and then released to the dealer. Factory-bought machines have advantages. When it comes to Harley troubleshooting, however, a customized bike is less likely to shake than a factory-issued bike. When you turn the ignition on and the engine starts to shake in an elliptical fashion or you find yourself wearing out ball bearings at a great rate, the flywheel assembly was likely only factory balanced.
Engine Shakes Above 3000 RPM
The higher the revolutions per minute (rpm), the greater the horsepower used and the greater the stress placed on the engine. Harley balance symptoms increase to the point of becoming unmistakable and discomfiting vibrations. If you drag race with your bike then, you are taking it above standard operational rpm. Even if you had your flywheels balanced for regular street riding, the greater demand you put on your Harley will cause a change in the rotation of the flywheels and accentuate any slight imbalance. You may also have customized the pistons or even the flywheels themselves for enhanced racing performance, which will also cause a misalignment of the flywheel assembly, resulting in the shakes.
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