Theory of a Primary/Secondary Balancer in a 4 cylinder in-line engine

All 4 cylinder in-line engines have an inherent out-of-balance problem, this manifests itself as vibration. This phenomenon is called Primary/Secondary out of balance force. Whether the engine is long or short stroke the problem is still apparent to a greater or lesser extent. Rubber mounted engines in road vehicles exhibit little noticeable vibration, but a rigidly mounted tractor engine can exhibit a very severe vibration which can be detrimental to the structure of the tractor and can cause annoyance to the driver with resultant fatigue. The vibration is caused by shifts in the CofG of the piston mass. The engine balancer consists of two counter weights geared together and driven by the crankshaft at twice engine speed. When any two pistons are at Top Dead Centre the Weight of the balancer counter weights face the bottom, as the crankshaft rotates it reaches a point at 90 where all the pistons are in-line across the engine. At this point the centre of gravity of the pistons has dropped in relation to where it was when two pistons were at TDC and two at BDC. (See diagram) Since the counter weights have rotated 180 their weight has been thrown upwards, thus the downward shift in CofG has been neutralised. Due to a geometrical fact, when the pistons have travelled down the cylinder exactly half way the crankshaft has not rotated 90. Thus when the crankshaft has rotated 90 the shift in CofG takes place. When the pistons return up the cylinder the counter weights rotate to throw their weight down again cancelling out the returning upward shift in CofG. The end result of having a balancer fitted is that a plastic cup of water, filled to the brim, can be placed on the top of the engine, and with the engine running at full revs there is barely a ripple on the surface of the water!
1 & 4 TDC Mid-Stroke position 1, 2, 3 & 4 inline

2 & 3 BDC CofG Shift

Crankshaftlessthan90 rotation

Two counter weights rotating at twice engine speed - at the bottom at TDC & BDC
John V. Paterson 2010

Two counter weights rotating at twice engine speedatthetopat90 crank rotation & pistons in line