Balancing system (Freelander 2)

Pos.	Spare part number	Name
1	-	Counter-rotating balance shaft
2	-	Balance shaft
3	-	Adjusting plate
4	-	Balance shaft housing

The balancing system consists of two balancing shafts and is located under the crankshaft. The assembly unit of the system is attached by 8 bolts to the bottom of the cylinder block. Each of the two shafts is combined with a helical drive gear, they undergo precision machining and balancing as a matched unit. The elements of the balancing system must not be disconnected.

The balance housing is the mounting location for the oil pump. A port at the front of the housing connects to the oil feed port from the oil pan. A further port at the top of the housing connects to a port in the cylinder block. Pressurized oil from the oil pump passes through the port in the balance housing and the cylinder block to the oil filter and oil cooler assembly.

Balance shaft drive

Pos.	Spare part number	Name
A	-	Front of the engine
B	-	Direction of rotation of the crankshaft
C	-	Direction of rotation of the balance shaft
D	-	Direction of rotation of counter-rotating balance shaft
1	-	Piston No.1
2	-	Balance shaft drive gear

A stamped helical drive gear on the crankshaft drives the balancing system. The drive gear of the crankshaft has twice as many teeth as each of the balance shaft gears, so the two balance shafts rotate at twice the speed of the crankshaft. The gear of the crankshaft drives the counterbalancing shaft of the opposite rotation, which rotates towards the crankshaft. The other counterbalance shaft is driven by a counterbalance shaft of opposite rotation, in the same direction as the crankshaft.

An adjusting plate is located between each side of the balancer housing and the cylinder block skirt. Adjusting plates of varying thickness are available and are used to provide the required clearance between the crankshaft drive gear and the counter-rotating shaft gear. The clearance between each balance shaft gear can be checked, but the clearances are not adjustable.

The rotating balance shafts create an opposing force that compensates for the unbalancing forces created by the reciprocating engine elements. The imbalance occurs in a 4-cylinder engine when the piston pairs move in opposite directions during engine operation. To counteract the opposing forces of the paired pistons, it is necessary for the mass of the balance shafts to be at the bottom dead center (BDC) when the piston pair is at TDC.

Information obtained from the website www.lrman.ru

The balancing system has oil splash lubrication.