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Engine Balancing Scale

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68Rogue View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 68Rogue Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Engine Balancing Scale
    Posted: Jan/23/2021 at 8:23pm
Can anyone recommend a good digital scale for balancing pistons and rods that won’t break the bank? Bought one from HF but it does not seem very accurate/repeatable. Thanks in Advance. 

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tomj View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote tomj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/23/2021 at 11:34pm
I have a crappy $30 "postal scale", craptacular plastic. I bought it for shipping a bunch of small packages, but turns out it has a "grams" setting, and I'll be damned if it's at least very repeatable. Meaning I don't know if the rod I weighed was really 600 grams, or 590 or 610, but it was repeatable, meaning every time I weighed the same part it came out the same, plus/minus 1. I bet though, if I dropped a rod on it hard it might break! 

Last engine I balanced I used a real lab type balance beam. Those are moderately delicate, in the obvious way. BUt the electronic stuff costs one tenth of those. And I am surprised how usable this cheap P.O.S. is.

Then you can use it for postage later.

1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5
http://www.ramblerLore.com

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Steve_P View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Steve_P Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/25/2021 at 8:16am
like tomj, I have a generic digital postal scale, and like he said, it appears very accurate. It has something like a 4 lb capacity. If I wanted to buy one today, I would search on Amazon. You'll still need a stand or fixture for the rod because it's not just the total weight, you want to balance the ends
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68Rogue View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 68Rogue Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/25/2021 at 11:14am
I am making a fixture for rod big and small ends. Any degree of accuracy? Is going to the nearest gram, tenth or hundredth of a gram? Do most shops prefer weights in ounces or grams?
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Class Guy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Class Guy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/26/2021 at 7:46am
Tenths of grams is best.  Grams will do.  Never ounces.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote tyrodtom Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Jan/27/2021 at 9:10pm
I've been lucky working at bodyshops with their own paint mixing systems.
Paint mixing scales are accurate down to 1/10 of a gram.
I borrowed fixtures from a racer to weigh rod ends.
I done that with 5 engines so far,  it seems to be worth the extra work.

The local NAPA decided to quit mixing paint,  I tried to buy their scale,  but they would only sell the whole system,  that I couldn't afford.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Japa109 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/18/2021 at 10:18pm
I found an excellent scale on Amazon for around $15 that weighs to the gram with accuracy.  I use it for piston/ rod/ pin combos.  It is simple, two buttons, rugged, easy to clean and puts sup with a shop and a kitchen environment.  


For stuff requiring tighter measure I use an Ohaus triple beam balance scale I got at auction on line from govdeals.com for $30.  It measures to .01 grams with +/- .5% accuracy.  
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1962 American 400 4 door OHV-2V Auto AC PS PDB
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tomj View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tomj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr/18/2021 at 11:21pm
For tasks I do once a year or less, I improvise. I used small cheap V blocks, metal stock, etc to make jigs for weighing rods, etc. Take it all apart and restock the parts when done. When I find myself doing jobs over and overl, I think it out and get the/a tool.

I'm over trying to own all the tools. Everything consumes space money time and maintenance. Took me four or five years to get around to buying a saw. In the mean time I got really really good with a hacksaw. I only got the saw when I got the point I needed to make multiples.
1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5
http://www.ramblerLore.com

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