Making a connecting rod balancing jig

[@asquaregarden]

I have added the PDF schematics, parts list and pictures of components. asquaregarden.com/making-a-connecting-rod-balancing-jig/

[@ls1rx7cincy]

Do you have a link or recommendation for the scale you are using?

[@asquaregarden]

This is the one I got. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FB16QI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@alexiskai]

What's the name of the ruler you're using at 1:19 and/or where did you get it?

[@asquaregarden]

It’s an Incra marking rule. Here is the Amazon link to the set , you can also buy them individually maybe from lee valey and woodcraft. amzn.to/3Ol2Sqt

[@alexiskai]

@@asquaregarden Thanks, I ordered one.

[@mitchf01]

Love how detailed your video is and thankyou so much for the detailed build sheet also. One question please: where did you get your scales? I'm struggling to find a happy medium point between the $10 Chinese ebay scales and the $400 scientific laboratory scales

[@asquaregarden]

It was around $100 on Amazon. ZIEIS High Precision Digital Kitchen Scale, Z3000-Surge, Black. They don’t carry it anymore but you can find it in other places online.

[@bquattrog]

Thanks for the video, looks like a nice tool and I plan to make one that is similar.

[@alfredomejia410]

What size drill did you use for the support arm ? The hole that attaches to the rod

[@maldo72]

Besides the bearings does this have to be made out of metal ?

[@asquaregarden]

It doesn’t but you need it to be very rigid to prevent it from introducing errors. But I can see how it would be doable out of plexiglass or maybe even 3d printed.

[@markd4838]

Nice job

[@jasonr1907]

Do you have a parts list for the different sizes and thickness of metal used?

[@asquaregarden]

I’ve been planning on putting something together for a while. I will try to get it done this weekend and drop you a link.

[@asquaregarden]

I have added the parts list and PDF schematics to my website. Link is pinned to the first comment.

[@limitlessbuilds]

How repeatable are your measurements when actually balancing rods? I’ve heard even the purchased ones don’t seem to get the same number twice

[@asquaregarden]

I was expecting some variation on measurement but to be honest with you it was almost perfect. I built this for one engine so I measured 8 rods 3 times and if I remember correctly I had 0.1g variation on 2 rods on one of the measurements before balancing. After balancing I measure again with 0 deviation. That is a very small sample I admit and I could have been lucky.

[@ON4RW]

nice done ! do you have the dimensions of this thool

[@alfredomejia410]

I’m getting inconsistent readings on mine . Any advice?

[@asquaregarden]

You likely have a spot that is binding and is creating extra friction. How inconsistent are we talking?

[@alfredomejia410]

@@asquaregarden about 1- 1.5 grams

[@asquaregarden]

That is a lot so you definitely have something binding. Could be the bearings. Make sure they freely spin. Also make sure the distance between the two contact points matches the distance between the rod hole centers.

[@imachacker]

This is awesome! Just a quick question. Are your bearings perfectly level to each other or does it even need to be? I see you have a shop towel below and I can't really tell from the angle. I am new to all of this and my already bored out block isn't worth sending to the machine shop so I figured I'd just learn some skills at home while I look for a new block.

[@asquaregarden]

The bearings are offset to account for the diameter for the two sides for the rod. They are positions so if you were to draw a line between the center of the small side and the center for the big side of the rod that line would be parallel to the ground.

[@imachacker]

@@asquaregarden Thank you very much! That's what I figured, it just looked a bit off from the video angle. Gonna attempt to make this :)

[@ChuckD734]

When that bit made contact the first few times I'll be honest, it startled me. Ha

[@KINZERS13GTR]

I Just made this out of legos last night..... Talk about desperation... it was within 0.02g of the measurements taken at Manley, lol

[@asquaregarden]

Now I want to see that. Lego probably does too.