Harmonic Balancer

Synchro909

Synchro909

Well-known member
I tried finding the contact details for Murray Horne in New Zealand (the maker of these devices) by doing a search here but it seems the email address I found is no longer active. Can anybody please provide a current contact for him please? I'd like to buy another one from him.
Thanks in advance.
 
Hay Synchro99. I will call Murray on Monday for details as I believe that his son is involved now.
Post reply on Monday
Cheers Tanglfoot
 
Synchro, the contact info for Murrray Horne that I have is:

558533


Hope that helps.
 

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Y-Blockhead said:
Synchro, the contact info for Murrray Horne that I have is:

558533


Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies, guys. Y-Blockhead, that is the email address that doesn't work but I'll try the phone number. The Model A rally we will be attending in NZ in a few weeks is about 130Km (80 miles) from Levin, the location in that info. It's pretty obvious what I am thinking.
Also, nobody has confirmed nor denied that a balancer from a small block Chev will fit. Is it yea or nay?
 
I can’t see how a SBC balancer would work. Those are just a disc, but the A needs a balancer that’s also a pulley. There isn’t room to mount both a pulley and a separate balancer on the crank nose.
 
alexiskai said:
I can’t see how a SBC balancer would work. Those are just a disc, but the A needs a balancer that’s also a pulley. There isn’t room to mount both a pulley and a separate balancer on the crank nose.
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I wondered the same about room in the cross member. The Horne balancer is designed for the Model A and come in two versions, one for a rope seal and one for a modern front seal but fitting/changing the fan belt is a little tricky..
 
The pulley on the dynamic dampener from Murray is a little bit larger than the original. It makes removing and installing the belt difficult but not impossible. It helps to raise the motor with a floor jack and a piece of wood under the pan. Some people use the fan belt that is a series of links and comes apart.

The dampener from Murray was designed for the stock Model A crankshaft. I think it does some good for that crankshaft. I question whether it is the right design for the Burtz crankshaft. That crankshaft is much stiffer and has different torsional dynamics.
 
Neil, I agree that a harmonic balancer would be of (very) limited value on a Burtz engine but I'm sure Terry B would have something to say on that. I already have one of these balancers on another engine and I believe it helps a lot - not only smoothness but I expect it increases bearing life as well, especially the middle main bearing.
I'd like another for an A engine that is currently without one. I think it would make the engine "happy".
 
I have investigated those in the past but as yet my finances have not been up to the task. I am preparing to install a B motor in my ‘28, would one of those balancer’s be a plus for a B motor? I would not have thought so but I readily admit that there is a lot I don’t know and I’m always happy to learn something more. I’m curious Synchro, what does it cost to get your Model A (and caravan maybe?) to NZ? How far is it port to port?
 
jeepguy1948 said:
I have investigated those in the past but as yet my finances have not been up to the task. I am preparing to install a B motor in my ‘28, would one of those balancer’s be a plus for a B motor? I would not have thought so but I readily admit that there is a lot I don’t know and I’m always happy to learn something more. I’m curious Synchro, what does it cost to get your Model A (and caravan maybe?) to NZ? How far is it port to port?
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I won't be taking my car. We will borrow one over there. The Kiwis are very good like that and maybe it helps that we both sit on the right (correct) side of the car.:) From previous enquires, the cost is not much different from the US to here. It's an expensive stretch of water.
As for the value of a harmonic balancer on a B engine, I have no experience but I don't think they would be as much of an improvement as they are on a Model A. The B crankshaft is much stiffer than the Model A.
 
Synchro909 said:
Neil, I agree that a harmonic balancer would be of (very) limited value on a Burtz engine but I'm sure Terry B would have something to say on that. I already have one of these balancers on another engine and I believe it helps a lot - not only smoothness but I expect it increases bearing life as well, especially the middle main bearing.
I'd like another for an A engine that is currently without one. I think it would make the engine "happy".
Click to expand...



Arnold, Thanks for putting me on the spot and inviting me to say something.

I want your other Model A engine to be happy and encourage you to buy a harmonic balancer.

Harmonic balancers reduce the torsional deflection and stress on the crankshaft. Crankshafts are a spring, they deflect when the pistons are on the power stroke and then return to the unsprung configuration on the other 3 strokes of a 4 cycle engine.

A harmonic balancer on the front of a crankshaft has inertia like a flywheel and it reduces torsional deflections.

Harmonic balancers increase the fatigue life of the crankshaft by reducing deflections and stress. Compared to modern engine design, Model A crankshafts have lots of deflections, and a harmonic balancer will help extend the crankshaft life.

A harmonic balancer will reduce stress in the new engine crankshaft, but stresses are already low due to the 5 main bearings and all journals are 2-inch diameter.

I have worked on many things and know about rebuilt 16-cylinder locomotive engines that were shortened to 12-cylinder engines to reduce stress and increase their fatigue life.

Terry Burtz
 
Thanks for the input, Terry. It was the crank shaft deflections in the Model A engine I had in mind when I spoke of a balancer increasing engine life.
I am at a dead end now trying to make contact with Murray Horne. His email address is no longer valid and the phone number Y Blockhead gave is now owned by someone else. I hope these things are still made.
 
Synchro909 said:
I am at a dead end now trying to make contact with Murray Horne. His email address is no longer valid and the phone number Y Blockhead gave is now owned by someone else. I hope these things are still made.
Click to expand...

I double checked the contact info I had for Murray (Horn, not Horne) when I bought two balancers in '23, and it's the info already posted here. His Ford Barn handle is "erl", so you could PM him as a last resort.

Candidly, this is why I bought two balancers when he last advertised them, even though I had no immediate need for either. I thought "this guy's gonna go dark again," and apparently I was correct.
 
alexiskai said:
I double checked the contact info I had for Murray (Horn, not Horne) when I bought two balancers in '23, and it's the info already posted here. His Ford Barn handle is "erl", so you could PM him as a last resort.

Candidly, this is why I bought two balancers when he last advertised them, even though I had no immediate need for either. I thought "this guy's gonna go dark again," and apparently I was correct.
Click to expand...

I bought my Murray Horn(e) balancer ~5 years ago. I was planning on buying a "spare" but it appears I am too late.

Among other advantages, the balancer has a reverse scroll on the snout that helps control oil leakage from the front seal.

46943603005_52ebd521bd.jpg


33982546068_5c5deb1f2a.jpg
 
Y-Blockhead said:
I bought my Murray Horn(e) balancer ~5 years ago. I was planning on buying a "spare" but it appears I am too late.

Among other advantages, the balancer has a reverse scroll on the snout that helps control oil leakage from the front seal.

46943603005_52ebd521bd.jpg


33982546068_5c5deb1f2a.jpg
Click to expand...


nice looking item! i do like it....
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alexiskai said:
I double checked the contact info I had for Murray (Horn, not Horne) when I bought two balancers in '23, and it's the info already posted here. His Ford Barn handle is "erl", so you could PM him as a last resort.

Candidly, this is why I bought two balancers when he last advertised them, even though I had no immediate need for either. I thought "this guy's gonna go dark again," and apparently I was correct.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Alexiskai, I have PMd him so here's hoping. The email address you gave is no longer valid, nor is the phone number. Someone else (a more senior lady) answered.
Here's hoping!
 
The harmonic balancer dampens the impulse loading in the crankshaft caused by successive power strokes. The impulses exist no matter how stiff or balanced the crankshaft is, so a damper (AKA Dynamic Balancer) has value, but it may not always be noticeable to the driver. However, dampening the impulses will enhance the fatigue life of the crankshaft.
 
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Neil, Thanks for posting that info. IMO, it demonstrates how complex it is to make the right harmonic balancer for a particular engine.
In my efforts to contact Murray, I have but one string left in my bow which I will try today. I have not received a reply from him to the PM I sent him and the read receipt says that it hasn't been opened. I'm starting to wonder about his health or who knows what.
If he is not going to be able to make them again, what would be the interest here on the forum to ask say, BHJ Dynamics to make one for the Model A. It is VERY clear from Terry's post and the link posted by NKaminar that they extend engine life and, from my experience, smoothness. The more who want one, I think the more likely we can convince someone to to make them. It would not be possible for someone on the other side of the world like me to arrange this.
How many would buy one and who would take on this project? From memory, Murray's balancers cost about $US240. I'd put my hand up for one without hesitation.
 
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