The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

A number of parts suppliers are advertising replacement crankshafts for the Dexta engines. cheaper than the cost of a regrind. However as the replacements are not supplied with counterweights presumably the intention is that the weights from the original crankshaft are meant to be fitted.

This raises a question as to whether or not the crankshafts then require to be re-balanced? My gut instinct is that they should be balanced however, possibly other members can put me right.

Gerald

I would imagine that modern crankshafts for low revving diesel engines would come balanced and there should be no need to add weights from your old crank. My question would be, how would you know where to add or remove weight to ensure it is balanced? Balancing machinery is not difficult if you have the equipment to measure vibration and know how to plot onto a polar diagram, and I'm guessing not many of us have the facilities and the analysis gear to carry this out. Thinking a little deeper, if there is a need to balance the crank, what about the flywheel and clutch? No point in balancing one without balancing the lot.

I'd go with your gut Gerald and I'm sure it is safe to assume that they come balanced and ready for fitting.

I cant see it being necessary to balance such a low revving engine to the degree of accuracy you refer to.

That said, I do know of an outfit that would do it for circa 150 and would balance the full assembly including rods, pistons, crank pulley, flywheel and clutch plates.

That said, I have not found crank re-grinds that be that pricey! (do mains and big ends need doing, any pics?)