Cheap Balance shaft removal Q's

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:57 am

Good morning, This 2.0 max engine that i tore down was rebuilt a time ago and noticed that the balancer was just cut off behind the cover and being used as a oil plug basically.

Then getting the crank out, all the rod bearings were down to the copper and mains were close with lots of silvery, mucky oil in the sump area..

Something was surely out of balance, but there WAS other issues, head gasket blown between 3-4, ring lands melted with chunk out on #3, sucked down a couple of nuts or something in 3-4 and most every piston had cracked rings or broken lands.
But to the eye, the bores looked pretty darn good considering..

I've gone back and read other threads about these engines running fine without the balancer and wondered if this particular 'mod' was the dimise of this engine? And have never seen this kit that replaces the shaft.

I'm going with this block in the project racecar and don't want to have this happen again.

Any good info accepted. Thanks.

Post by **DJpowerHaus** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:52 am

Sounds like the previous owner liked to detonate the engine, ran it too hot, and didn't change the oil. I doubt the balance shaft mod had anything to do with the bearings, rings or head gasket. Remember, the balance shafts don't balance the engine. They simply cancel out a vibration inherent in 4 cylinder engines.

What condition was the other balance shaft in?

jeffball610 · Post by **jeffball610** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:45 am

Was the rear balance shaft "plugged" with something? (rear shaft=intake side) The rear shaft has a hole running the length of it to provide oil to the bearing in the block. If this shaft was cut, but not plugged, then you will run very low on oil pressure and could cause oil starvation to the other bearings. There are cheap BS eliminator projects that just cut the rear shaft, plug the oil hole there and disconnect the front shaft. Basically it's done for free minus the gaskets you'll need. You can keep the front shaft in to block the oil holes and do not need to seal the front case.

Post by **DJpowerHaus** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:12 pm

Good point. I hope they didnt cut it and leave that oil hole open. That sounds scary, but possible in this case.

Its not a bad way to do it if you DO block that hole though. I've done all my B.S. Elims with a cut shaft with that hole welded up.

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:20 pm

Thanks DJ, I know about the balance of the 4cyl's And I thought that I could just leave the belts off instead of spending $ on a 'kit'. And besides, there isn't that much wieght to just leave them in.
I took the block to get hot tanked and decked already so I can't go out and look at it. I remember taking two out of the 2.4 though.

Jeff, there was only one bs. The one that was cut. The other bearing surface was discolored slightly from oil but NO oil hole.
I'll have to wait til I get it back.
I would suppose that if I ordered a rebuild kit that those bearings are included?? No?

Thanks. Errol

Post by **DJpowerHaus** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:13 am

The engineers at Mitsubishi didn't seem to mind when they designed the 4G61 to use the stubby shaft.

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:12 am

So, to bring this up again..
How much shaking is encountered after one does this?
would the 2.4 'shake' more?

E

Post by **DJpowerHaus** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:51 pm

I doubt you will even notice the difference.

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:46 pm

Cool thanks DJ, It had a definite shake to begin with. but only noticed it at idle like a burned valve or somehting.

So on this 2.6 54b I'll just get the kit on the bay and start pulling it apart next week or so.
And since there won't be any balance shafts to worry about, I can just place the chain links where ever I want right? I mean since the oil pump still has to turn it won't matter..

Errol