Has anybody here removed the balancer from your B motor?

The reason I ask is because a mechanic over here told me that it would be okay to do so. Said that it would run fine, just with more vibration - "the way a Harley should be."

Not that I am really considering it. I like the silky smooth feel of my bike, but there is the hp trade-off...

This same mechanic said that it's NOT a good idea to remove the seat post. Yet, I see people doing it here all the time. He's a good friend of mine, but I don't know if I really trust his mechanical ability.

Thoughts? Bad idea?

 

Don't ever talk to the person ever again.

If you take out the counterbalance and do not change the engine mounts and other parts, you most likely will break the frame.

Next time you at a stop light next to an A motor look at how it wiggles at low rpms.

 

Make sure you hard tail it and loosen up some bolts so it leaks.

In all seriousness how much HP are you losing with the counter balance on there? I know a guy who didnt consider anything EFI a real Harley. Thats one thing that bugs me is even if you ride a Harley you arent riding what someone else considers a Harley. I would enjoy it since I enjoy a lopey idle and shaking car/bike but the work involved and what you get out of it may not be worth it.

EDIT:


I agree when me and my dad rode he pulled up next to me and it was crazy how bad the A motor shakes. He said it smoothes out at high RPM but at idle it really rocks. I probably wouldnt of noticed it but the damn sunlight was dancing all over from his chrome and it looked like a damn disco ball.

I didnt even think about how bad it would be with solid mounts.

 

You can do it. You'll need to balance the pistons and crank, or install an "A" motor crank and put a spacer on the side that would normally have the gear on it to drive the counterbalancers. If you're going to do that much work, you might as well install a stroker crank.

 

So he is all for screwing the engine up and possibly the frame and engine mounts, but he is totally against removing a piece of stamped metal? Never let that dude touch your bike. Consider your self warned.

 

Stay away from the guy.

 

There is not even a noticeable gain in hp. Maybe a tenth or two.

The motor bolted direct to the frame would be a mess without the balancer.

 

WTF???? WHY the HELL would you even THINK of doing that????

 

The "A motor" shakes in the frame because of the rubber mounts.
Even a B motor would shake a little at idle if it were rubber mounted.
Now THERE'S any idea. Talk about smooth!!!
Don't believe that horsesh__ about losing power. If you do it's minimal.

A motors are basically refined versions of the 1st v-twins.
They didn't shake in the bike . . .The whole bike shook.
The B motors are the same, just with the chain driven counter balancers (old technology)

I don't know about removing that piece of metal where the seat post would go in an older model. Doesn't the coil bolt to it? Does it reinf anything?
I hardly notice mine.

I love how that B-motor idles. Dead nuts smooth!!!
Slight vibes at certain rpms, mirrs are a blur @ 65-70, but back to dead nuts smooth @ 75 mph.

I will agree 110 % that a touring model is smoother at all hwy speeds.

 

Find a way to add a counterbalancer to an A motor in a bagger and that will be a mod worth doing.