Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: drakos on 01 February 2016, 23:00:23

Title: propshaft balance/vibration damper question
Post by: drakos on 01 February 2016, 23:00:23

on my trackcar there is a vibration damper/balance weight just behind the gearbox on the driveshaft.

what is the reason for this?
do all omega's got this?
is this thing necessary?  ::)
and if so, what is the correct way to mount it? (haven't marked the position it came off and doubt if it will do anything when it is in a different position)

reason why i ask is offcourse the weight, but more important, on the calibra rwd we are building we are missing that part and that wil be a daily driver  8)

Title: Re: propshaft balance/vibration damper question
Post by: 05omegav6 on 02 February 2016, 02:28:20

Any help?...
(http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y486/05omegav6/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140522_182242_zpsnwnrwfuj.jpg)
 ;)

Title: Re: propshaft balance/vibration damper question
Post by: 05omegav6 on 02 February 2016, 02:30:18

I would lose it from the track car and fit it to the Calibra...

Title: Re: propshaft balance/vibration damper question
Post by: drakos on 02 February 2016, 19:51:00

thanks for the reply, that was my idea to, just fit it to the calli..

but because i have no idea what it does i'm not sure if that is the wisest decision  :-\

Title: Re: propshaft balance/vibration damper question
Post by: Andy H on 02 February 2016, 20:01:04

Quote from: drakos on 02 February 2016, 19:51:00

thanks for the reply, that was my idea to, just fit it to the calli..

but because i have no idea what it does i'm not sure if that is the wisest decision  :-\

Without it there is probably a resonance that gets really irritating when cruising up the motorway.

Not an issue for a track car I imagine :-\

Title: Re: propshaft balance/vibration damper question
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 03 February 2016, 14:46:16

I'd put it in the same league as wheel balancing. Up and down the gears at constantly varying speeds and you're not going to notice any issue. Constant cruising and you'll find a speed (which might be 50mph, might be 150mph) where a vibration occurs.

Title: Re: propshaft balance/vibration damper question
Post by: Entwood on 03 February 2016, 14:59:12

Whilst a "small" imbalance may not be felt by the driver, consider the mechanical effect of any imbalance on the components involved. It is often quoted that a 5 gram imbalance on a static wheel is the equivalent of a kilo at 60 mph .. what is THAT doing to the bearings/bushes/etc ??  Same will apply to the propshaft ... you may not feel the imbalance/vibration .. but the seals/gearbox/differential will feel every single resonanace .. and they will add up to premature failure IMHO.

"Mechanical sympathy" seems to be an outmoded point of view .. but it is one I was bought up on ... and still try to abide by.... I also think that on a track car, which is taken nearer to the mechanical limits of many components far more often than a "sunday driver", mechanical sympathy has a greater role to play .... after all, you wouldn't thrash it without warming it up first .... would you .....  ?  :)

Title: Re: propshaft balance/vibration damper question
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 03 February 2016, 15:20:48

That's a very good point, one which is the sort of idiom I try and live by, proper old style motoring...  :)

As you say I don't thrash her until warmed up (and I've saved up for the fuel/sold a kidney) and only put 'super fuel', don't mount kerbs when parking etc.. in... but why not apply the same logic to such as wear on bearings with wheel imbalances..  I feel educated! :y