The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-02-20
Milford, Chevrolet and Other
Famous Pilots Have Parts
of Cars Tested There.

"As a class, the racing drivers who
have made name for themselves
in American road and track con-
tests, are probably quicker to APP
preciate advances in motor car manu-
faucture, than any group OF men
connected with the industry" remln-
isced c. C. Hinkley, chief engineer
of the Chalmers Motor Company,
Tests Crankshnfts.
For some lime past the Chalmers
Company has claimed the distinction
OF being the only concern manufac-
turing on a quantity basis, that tests
out crankshafts to balance at 1000
revolutions per minute. While we
have made no special capital out OF
the fact, news Of the innovation
seemed to reach the various racing
camps with the speed of wireless.
Immediately the news became
known, we received letters from Null
ford, Chevrolet and other famous
drivers, requesting permission to
have the crankshafts of their racing
cars tested at our factory. Per-
mission was granted as matter Of
courtesy and we have tested the
crankshafts Of good many prize
winners in the past SIX months.
The careful balancing of crank
shafts and tiywheels is Of the utmost
importance in the manufacture OF
high speed motors. As the two most
important rotating parts of the mo-
tor, the flywheel and crankshaft must
be in perfect balance to insure
understanding, vibrationless car.
Vibration In Motor.
81 In the first place, small over
weight on opposite ends OF shaft
may not show up at all under ordi-
nary tests. yet when the car is run
ming at high speed, the vibration will
cause serious disturbance. Then, too
In the fy-wheel, the tensity of metal
may vary and cause a vibration in
the motor.
"0ne ounce Of overweight on the
periphery of a 16-lnch hywheel will
result in disturbing force of 14,2
pounds at 1000 revolutions and will
obtain the weight Of 56.S pounds
at 1000 revolutions per minute.
The Chalmers balancing machines
specially designed for the purpose.
will register irregularities so small
as to be inhnitesimal. The prelim-
mary operation of balancing is idon-
tlcal for both the flywheel and the
crankshaft. The part to be tested
is supported on stationary steel par
alleIs OF irregular shape. As per-
fectly as possible, skilled operators
balance each tlywheel and crankshaft.
Small pieces of steel, the weight Of
which Is known, are pasted to the re-
volvlng part, until It will stand still
at any position on the parallels. A
weight corresponding TO the weight
OF the pieces OF steel is then drilled
out Of the fywhecl or crankshaft
pins, as the case may be. The diff
ferent weights indicate the depth OF
the hole to be drilled.
Final Tests Made.
apparently in perfect balance, the
hywheel and crankshaft go to the
separate balancing machines which
are supported in the air by an over
head framework. The machines are
then set in motion and the parts re-
volve exactly as they perform their
functions in the completed motor.
The revolutions per minute are re-
corded on techometer. II the fly
wheel vibrates before it attains a
speed of 2,400 revolutions per min
ute the operator knows 1t Is not In
perfect balance and slaps on pieces
OF putty on opposite sides until 1t
runs vibrationless at 2,4OO revolu-
tons Holes are then drilled, repre-
senting the weight OF the putty. the
fywheel goes back TO the stationary
parallels once more, and again to
the balancing machine to see that 1t
| is absolutely noiseless at the re-
quired speed. In place Of the putty
used on flywheels. the crankshafts
are balanced with small bands Of
steel Of measured weight, which
snap over the opposite pins OF the
crankshaft.
Must Not vibrate.
1.-THE crankshaft must reyolve with
out vibration at the rate of 1000