Crank Balancer snapped off (Whipple 2.9)

[Strokerswild]

How did you "check" the installed torque figure with fully cured red loctite on an installed fastener?

It's obviously the new stuff that allows a re-torque but doesn't loosen.

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[ramirj2]

The same happened to me a couple of years ago on a Whipple Gen2 @ 15 psi with an ATI balancer as well on top of 3rd down the strip. I didn't check for interference during install, so probably didn't fully seated before reaching torque value (Judging from a picture of my belt.)
Now I have a Gen 2 Aluminator long block with a stock balancer and MFP support.
Next point of failure should be the headstuds . On national backorder

 

[LSchicago]

The same happened to me a couple of years ago on a Whipple Gen2 @ 15 psi with an ATI balancer as well on top of 3rd down the strip. I didn't check for interference during install, so probably didn't fully seated before reaching torque value (Judging from a picture of my belt.)
Now I have a Gen 2 Aluminator long block with a stock balancer and MFP support.
Next point of failure should be the headstuds . On national backorder

Sounds to me like with all these failures/incorrect installs that ATI should adjust their tolerances to be more install friendly.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

Sounds to me like with all these failures/incorrect installs that ATI should adjust their tolerances to be more install friendly.

The literature included with the balancer goes into detail about why the fitment is what it is, and why it is important. If people are scared of the balancer, simply run something else. But I've seen crank snouts break with a stock balancer so then there's that.

 

[LSchicago]

The literature included with the balancer goes into detail about why the fitment is what it is, and why it is important. If people are scared of the balancer, simply run something else. But I've seen crank snouts break with a stock balancer so then there's that.

I'll stick with the factory one. Far less breaking with the factory balancer, and far more cars running the factory piece.

 

[Red5.0]

I'll stick with the factory one. Far less breaking with the factory balancer, and far more cars running the factory piece.

I’m in the same boat. Sticking to using the factory one.

 

[96gt4.6]

*knows I shouldn't say this because mine will break tomorrow now*

3 years on the factory balancer here as well. 1700 miles of Race Week this year, 15k miles of nothing but small trips and dragstrip passes. Probably 2-300 passes at this point.

Factory balancer/6rib setup here. I used the OEM torque procedure and install tool when I did the OPG's/CS during the Whipple install.

 

[engineermike]

Knowing what I know about rotordynamics, it scares the hell out of me that an aftermarket is making one for an engine with known minimal rotordynamic safety margin.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

I'll stick with the factory one. Far less breaking with the factory balancer, and far more cars running the factory piece.

You are making an assumption that there is less snout failures with the OEM balancer vs aftermarket. We do know if that is a fact or not. Whatever an individual decides to run is the right choice!

 

[80FoxCoupe]

Knowing what I know about rotordynamics, it scares the hell out of me that an aftermarket is making one for an engine with known minimal rotordynamic safety margin.

Can you elaborate on this?

 

[LSchicago]

Knowing what I know about rotordynamics, it scares the hell out of me that an aftermarket is making one for an engine with known minimal rotordynamic safety margin.

That's a deep dive into the abyss to explain, but I grasp the concept, and understand what you are saying.

 

[LSchicago]

You are making an assumption that there is less snout failures with the OEM balancer vs aftermarket. We do know if that is a fact or not. Whatever an individual decides to run is the right choice!

I only can speak on failures I see reported here. The bulk (like 90%) all mention ATI. Stock is the right choice for me, at least until it isn't.

 

[80FoxCoupe]

I only can speak on failures I see reported here. The bulk (like 90%) all mention ATI. Stock is the right choice for me, at least until it isn't.

I see what you mean, but all failures are not reported here.

 

[LSchicago]

I see what you mean, but all failures are not reported here.

True. We only have the data that we have.

 

[andrewtac]

I see what you mean, but all failures are not reported here.

Also, need to do apples to apples. Many people pushing their cars the hardest are probably using an aftermarket balancer. If you replaced all factory dampers with ATI, and removed those who modified their engines from the data would rhe results be the same? On of these threads it was brought up that the CJ had an ATI and not really many (or any) known cases of snout breakage. This is also a forum that is a very small subset of the mustang population. OEM has far more R&D than any aftermarket will ever do; however their performance metrics are different than many of us on this forum. I was scared of the ATI, now I have one and will on the build as well. Now both will break.

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