Hey, anyone out there have any experience or info on Balance Master? I cheched out their website and they make them for BT & Sportsters. Just wondering if anyone has installed them and does it work?

No one has tried one?? I have one on order for my '96 1200C. I'll post what I find...

What is it? What does it do? Do I want one? :D

From what i've read they are pretty much a waste of money.
MKL is rather knowledgable about alot of sporty mods on
his site.


MKL's '98 1200C

Winter Project 1999 Part I- Brakes & Vibes

http://www.mklsportster.com/gmaback.jpg

GMA Polished 4-Piston Front Brake Caliper 12/99

--As originally posted to the XL List (http://www.sportster.org/)--

This winter's project involved reducing some vibration, to make the scoot more comfortable on long trips. I also added a new front brake caliper, as the OEM unit felt weak when the bike was loaded up with the SO and luggage. Now that I've had a chance to test the mods out, here are my impressions-

Suntech (http://www.balancemasters.com/) Fluid Balancemasters- I read about these devices in the the "101 Performance Harley-Davidson Projects for Evolution Big Twins and Sportsters" book by Kenna Love & Kip Woodring. My Sportster now has the full set of Balance Masters - that is, both the unit for the Engine Sprocket and the unit for the Clutch. (Of course, there is also a set for the flywheels, but installation requires a complete engine teardown, so I didn't get this). Riding impressions indicate that bar vibration during normal riding is reduced by about 5%, seat of the pants. Vibration from the engine itself (felt through the footpegs) seems to have actually increased, but it very well could be that the bars used to vibrate so much, that I never paid attention to my feet. Overall, these Balancemasters have led to a marginally reduced level of vibration - a mediocre performance.

**UPDATE 7/9/02 30,680 MILES: Balancemasters removed**

Hayden M6 Primary Chain Tensioner - I added this device to supplement the Balance Masters, as per the recommendation of the aforementioned "101" book. Aside from the slightly quieter shifting, I detected virtually no difference from before. For all the hype about smoother shifting, reduced vibes, better feel during decceleration, etc., I was disappointed. This product is absolutely not worth any money or effort to install, based on my impressions thus far. YMMV - some listers rave about their M6s!

Performance Without Vibrations! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


BALANCE MASTERS has introduced the first product available that utilizes active engine balancing technology and is designed exclusively for Harley Davidson engines. The product mounts in sprocket and belt drive positions while additional balancers are available for clutch assemblies. The unique system was designed to improve the inherent balance of an already assembled and functional engine or to be incorporated into one that is being rebuilt. When an engine is being re-built the balancer can be machined into the flywheel to provide what is to be the ultimate in motorcycle engine balancing. This state-of-the-art system eliminates dynamic balancing completely, replacing it with a system that is permanently mounted on the engine and one that adjust as it runs to maintain the engine in as near perfect balance as possible.

The balancer adjusts for piston ring wear, engine oil and other factors such as state of tune. A well balanced engine will experience less internal wear, run more smoothly and of course see a gain in horsepower.

BALANCE MASTERS are manufactured by Sun-Tech Innovations for a huge variety of applications. There are components available for both Big Twins (http://www.balancemasters.com/motorcycleillus.html#anchor1591814) and Sportsters (http://www.balancemasters.com/motorcycleillus.html#anchor1593208), for clutches (http://www.balancemasters.com/motorcycleillus.html#anchor1591814), sprockets (http://www.balancemasters.com/motorcycleillus.html#anchor1596836), compensators (http://www.balancemasters.com/motorcycleillus.html#anchor1595995), and belt drives (http://www.balancemasters.com/motorcycleillus.html#anchor1600029).

http://www.balancemasters.com/badvibesmirrors.jpeg

What vibrations??

[QUOTE=xllent01]From what i've read they are pretty much a waste of money.

I inquired about these years back and my engine guru said he was not impressed with them and that he had even seen cases where they made things worse.


Hayden M6 Primary Chain Tensioner -

This device I have personal knowledge of having had one on my FXRS.
I installed this unit myself and found out a couple of things.
First off it was easy to install so that was not a down.
Second, it comes with shims to increase spring tension on the adjusting shoe and the recomended # of shims was not enough on that bike.
What it did was make things real smooth under normal cruising keeping the chain slack under control but under hard exceleration the spring would give enough to create a slack condition.This in turn would cause shifting problems when I backed off the gas for an upshift and the chain retightened itself.
It was a rather odd sensation .
I asked my engine guru about this and he said (once again) "I'm not a big fan of this device" but told me to add as many shims as I could fit in to increase spring tension.This helped a great deal but it had so little give left it was neary like the stock shoe adjusted up as it should be.

Handlebar weights are more effective and cheaper than most all else.
It's a Harley...it vibrates....learn to love it... ;) :smoke

[QUOTE=xllent01]From what i've read they are pretty much a waste of money.

I inquired about these years back and my engine guru said he was not impressed with them and that he had even seen cases where they made things worse.


Hayden M6 Primary Chain Tensioner -

This device I have personal knowledge of having had one on my FXRS.
I installed this unit myself and found out a couple of things.
First off it was easy to install so that was not a down.
Second, it comes with shims to increase spring tension on the adjusting shoe and the recomended # of shims was not enough on that bike.
What it did was make things real smooth under normal cruising keeping the chain slack under control but under hard exceleration the spring would give enough to create a slack condition.This in turn would cause shifting problems when I backed off the gas for an upshift and the chain retightened itself.
It was a rather odd sensation .
I asked my engine guru about this and he said (once again) "I'm not a big fan of this device" but told me to add as many shims as I could fit in to increase spring tension.This helped a great deal but it had so little give left it was neary like the stock shoe adjusted up as it should be.

Handlebar weights are more effective and cheaper than most all else.
It's a Harley...it vibrates....learn to love it... ;) :smoke


From talking to several different people about both mods they have
said the same thing. " Don't Waste Your Money"

I've seen them implode and cause more damage then they are worth.
They gut the whole inside of the primary when they come apart.
Not a pretty site at all.:yikes




It's a Harley...it vibrates....learn to love it... ;) :smoke

If the vibs bother you that much the metrics might be a better choice LOL!!!!

i've read good things about the balance masters on the flywheels, but that on the clutch and engine sprockets they didn't make much difference.

http://www.balancemasters.com/badvibesmirrors.jpeg

I accomplished this by putting lead weights in the ends of my handlebars...