I have spoken at length with Steve Smith at Vibration Free and he has said that he does not want to be dragged into the debate directly.
Following Steve’s clarification to me by mail, the following text has been approved by Steve to be posted
Simon Erland is simply a customer of Vibration Free Balancing. Steve Smith is not his �Pal and partner in all this�, he and Simon simply have a professional relationship in as much as he balances engine sets for Simon as he does for many others. From time to time he has advised Simon on balancing matters and has lent him reading material on balancing theory to help him follow the principles and tolerancing issues.
Emphatically he does not pass Simon Erland confidential information about his professional relationships with his other clients or their engine sets. All information about clients and their engines is completely confidential and always will be. He has not given Simon information about the frequency of visits from Dave Andrews and will never do so.
“Whereas careful balancing is a vital step in the building or rebuilding of any engine, so is the fitting tolerance of interconnecting parts that maintain or loose the balancing level achieved in a balancing machine. Simon often over-emphasises the importance of balancing and does get confused. He certainly has miss interpreted the principles behind heavy metalling crankshafts, (Simon Erland / Steve Butts). Lets be clear, everyone recognises the need for low rotating moment of inertia. A heavy metalled 1.8 K crank is about 2kg heavier than standard, however; the complete rotating crankset assembly can have a lower rotating moment, also the flywheel effect is shared equally amongst the main bearings. This all moves towards a crankset that accelerates quicker has less flex and subsequent bearing loads. I commend Steve Butts in firstly understanding the principle and secondly by commissioning the first heavy metalled “K” crank. I understand he is totally pleased with the result. There have been several heavy metalled “K” cranks made to date for other customers. Simon Erland is not one of them. Steve Butts introduced himself to me, before the famous Autosport show introductions and was not introduced to me by Simon Erland.”
The heavy metalling of cranks is not a new science, with regard to squeezing extra weight into an underweight crankshaft counterweight. However, treating automotive crankshafts as a flexible rotor and balancing each cylinder unit individually is not common and something Vibration Free does get involved in regularly. Simon Erland did not design or create the heavy metalled “K” crankshaft we are talking about here, Vibration Free did.
“I would like to also make it clear that Vibration Free are working with customers throughout all levels of motorsport and industry in general. It has a considerable number of “confidentiality agreements” in place. Vibration Free do not, will not and have not passed on customers information to others without their express permission.”
"Simon has an ability to put 2 and 2 together and get 6, I wish he would be more clear with all his “facts”.
“I would also like to state for the record that I have not been threatened with lawsuits by Dave Andrews or anyone else despite Simon Erlands claims.”
“I would ask that if anyone would like to discuss any aspect of vibration analysis or dynamic balancing with regard to their own projects or needs, they can contact me through the Vibration Free website. (www.vibrationfree.co.uk) Advice is always available, I have been involved specifically in vibration and balancing for 23 years and I am totally independent of any suppliers.”
Steve Smith
Vibration Free
Tel Workshop: 01869 345535
Tel Office: 01869 345565
Fax: 01869 345535
Steve Mobile: 07774 468726
Steve does not wish to be dragged into the arguments here but is happy as ever to discuss issues connected with balancing and give advice to interested parties.
I will be posting a copy of this statement permanently on the internet in order to clarify the situation or settle any disputes without his involvement in future.
Nuff said