A/fuel crank snout/hub/damper options

What's the consensus on crank snouts/hubs/dampers for A/fuel (injected nitro)?

It seems that 3 combinations are possible.

1. Keyway snout crank with damper mounted directly using single or double keys
2. RCD crank hub on keyway snout, then mounting an ATI Superdamper using the Automan crank hub kit ( http://www.automantechnologies.com/engine-components/ ) to allow for an RCD crank starter
3. Splined snout crank, RCD splined crank hub, ATI Superdamper using the Automan crank hub kit.

It seems that the ATI Superdamper is the most widely used balancer as well?

Just wondering which option has been proven to work the best.


Thanks
Chris

 

Hey Chris
I know that a couple people will want to crucify me for this but..... I have never run a damper just a hub I have seen dampers cause more issues, and I dont feel they do a bit of good in an A/Fuel application......
Gary

 

Thanks for weighing in Gary. I neglected to mention that option: No damper at all! I'm guessing you didn't experience any accelerated crankshaft wear or breakage from not running one?

Chris

 

No Chris I have not seen that it make life any harder on the crank shaft in fact I am of the opinion that if you really wanted to dampen the harmonics in a crankshaft in an injected nitro combo it would have to be huge,heavy and mounted in the middle of the crank , I just dont buy the story that a little 7 inch balancer is going to do much of anything stuck on the nose of a crank with the huge bob weights that are common with injected fuel.........
But If you decide to do it Robert is right use the spline drive hub if not .... you will have galling issues
Merry Christmas
Gary

 

As Robert said, the splined option is the best. If you can afford a front cover with a bearing support it is even better.
-L