balance crank gear removal

[govproperty]

I just searched through 16 pages of threads on balance shasts and no luck. When I bought my eclipse the balance shafts were already removed. But now I have to rebuild the head and I noticed that the gear that used to turn the balance shaft is still located behind the crank gear. It is even installed in photos in the VFAQ. Can I remove it or will there be problems? Is it balanced with the engine? Will it help the engine rev any quicker? Would the belt stay on the crank gear with nothing behind it? Any ideas will be apperciated.

 

[SnowBird]

Leave it there, its not hurting anything. I believe the left the gear in there instead of putting in the stubby shaft.

 

[stockfornow]

I know what you're talking about. And I say leave it there, it's there because it acts like a spacer. So, if you do remove it, your screwed. I have heard that there's a spacer of some sort, but I didn't find any. So I'm just going to leave mine on there. Good luck!

 

[govproperty]

I have found the perfect solution to that gear. FFWCconection sells in their balance shaft eliminator kit a spacer that goes in place of the balance gear to reduce a little rocipricating weight. I may e-mail them and see if they will just sell the spacer.