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balance shaft

American  

noun

  1. a special shaft with eccentrically mounted weights used in an internal-combustion engine to reduce vibrations.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For your mechanic’s future reference, the fuel pump is now inside the crankcase, being driven by the engine balance shaft.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

The new motor features a balance shaft so effective that engineers admitted to putting a little vibration back in so it would feel “like a Harley.”

From New York Times • May 31, 2021

They added a balance shaft and widened the crankcase to stiffen the engine’s structure, for example.

From Forbes • Dec. 30, 2014

Metaldyne makes metal-formed components and assemblies for powertrain applications, including engine connecting rods, transmission valve bodies and balance shaft modules.

From Reuters • Dec. 19, 2012

A short journey brought him to a balance shaft.

From The Gold-Stealers A Story of Waddy by Dyson, Edward