The Harmonic Dampener Myth: Why You Still Need a Perfectly Balanced Crank

You’ve just finished degreeing the cam, you’ve checked your piston-to-valve clearance, and you’re staring at a beautiful, brand-new harmonic dampener bolted to the snout of your crank. If you’re like a lot of entry-level builders, you might be thinking, “That dampener is going to eat up all the vibrations. This rotating assembly is good to go.” Stop right there. Harmonic …