1980, 6700 Ford - Balancer Gear Timing Marks

Indiana Ken · May 29, 2017

My brother is rebuilding his 6700 Ford, with the 268 cu in engine. Today, he was attempting to install the Lanchester balancer gear set. The balancer gears have timing marks to phase the two gears, these marks appear to be fine. The problem is the timing mark to phase the balancer gear set to the crankshaft appears to be on the wrong balancer gear. Looking at the engine from the front, with the crankshaft up and the balancer assembly in position over the crankshaft; the timing mark is on the right side gear. This gear does not engage with the crankshaft, but rather the left side gear engages.

This tractor was purchased used as a low hour trade in. At that time the dealer indicated they repaired the balancer. The dealer is still in business however, the mechanic is no longer available.

What are we missing? Has anyone removed the balancer assembly and run without it. A local dealer pulled a 5000 Ford years ago with the balancer removed. However, this tractor will be used for work not just pulling a few minutes at a time.

Bern · May 29, 2017

What is a "Lanchester" balancer? Is that another name for the OE style balancer? If it is, I suspect that someone got the two gears swapped.

With regards to running without a balancer, I've never tried it on a 4-cylinder Ford, however I hear it's done fairly often on a 4045 Deere engine after they spin the balancer bushings in the block. We did one in our shop recently, and I did not notice any excessive vibration.

Indiana Ken · May 29, 2017

Bern,

Thank you for the info on the 4045 John Deere. It is another data point for us...if we can't find used gears we may just try it without. Yes, it is the OE balancer. It is called a Lanchester in the manual that is why I mentioned it in my post. Lanchester is the name of the gentleman that invented the balancer in the 1930's, as I recall. The gears are helical cut therefore the position of the balancers can not be be swapped as the swapped gear will not mesh with the crank gear.

Bern · May 29, 2017

I've rebuilt many 4-cylinder Fords, and always installed it just like the picture shows without any issues. I don't see how your problem could exist without the gears somehow being swapped, or else you're trying to put the balancer on the block backwards (I'm not even sure that's possible). Is the oil lube port in the block lining up with the hole and seal on the balancer casting?

sunbeam · May 29, 2017

With the weight side hanging down the timing marks should align If not the gears are swapped.

Indiana Ken · May 30, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:18:02 05/29/17) With the weight side hanging down the timing marks should align If not the gears are swapped.

I have attached two pictures of the balancer assembly. The first picture is the same as fig-49 as posted by Bern. The picture shows the timing mark on the crankshaft gear at the 11:00 position. It also shows the timing mark on the right side (instead of the left side) balancer gear at the 5:00 position. The second picture shows the entire balancer assembly moved to the left to show the right side balancer gear will not mesh with the crankshaft gear. The three gears are helical cut and do not interchange like straight cut spur gears would.

I have concluded the gears are in the correct position and the timing mark was placed on the wrong gear. If I place the counter weights up and mark the left gear at the 5:00 position, It will assemble as you (Sumbeam) have stated above.

1980, 6700 Ford - Balancer Gear Timing Marks

Indiana Ken

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Bern

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Indiana Ken

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Bern

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sunbeam

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Indiana Ken

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