Engine Balancing Explained

Why is it important to balance all elements of an engine?

It is essential to balance all the elements of an engine, including the rotating sections, in order to prevent untimely damage, heat, and friction in the vehicle. This is even more necessary for high-speed performance engines. This is due to the rotating parts exerting force from the engine which is proportional to the rotating speed of the engine. In short, this means that if the vehicle speed increases up to 3 times, the force is likely to increase 9 times. Therefore, if we do not balance all of the different elements correctly, the vibration they cause will be very high. This will consequently result in extreme discomfort for the driver, as well as damage to the engine.

So, what are some things that can happen to your vehicle when its elements are unbalanced?

1. Unbalance of voltage

Unbalanced three-phase supply in plant equipment can cause an excessive rise in the vehicle’s temperature. Therefore, the excessive heat can eventually lead to motor failure. If there is an unbalance in your voltage up to 3.5%, it can lead to an approximate rise of 25% in the vehicle’s temperature. Therefore, you should check the voltage on a frequent basis, in order to avoid unbalance. If you cannot find the cause of this unbalance, you should either reduce or over-size the size of the motor.

2. Increased vibration

Unbalance in elements of the engine can also lead to severe vibration. Tension in the belt as well as an increase in vibration are one of the main causes of motor failure. You should check the elements and mechanics of the engine from time to time in order to avoid this issue. One should also ensure they undergo the necessary training, in accordance with the latest and best procedures for apt maintenance of the vehicle. This in turn will reduce the scope of vibrations in all the operating systems.

3. Overloading of the motor

When a load of a motor is unbalanced, it leads to motor overloading. The broken gears or the completely frozen bearings are also equal culprits of this overload. If your running vehicle trip on a regular basis, it is essential for you to chronically disconnect the engine’s motor from its operating line. Right after that, you can rotate and address the problem accordingly. If your motor has a service factor of 1.15, do not run it at its cushion factor, i.e 15% on a regular basis. This cushion is only present for temporary levels of overload.

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