Crank Shaft

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The crankshaft, also known as the crank, converts the back-and-forth motion of pistons into rotational movement in an engine. This is facilitated by one or multiple offset shafts connected to the pistons. As the pistons move up and down, they push these offset shafts which subsequently rotate the crankshaft, causing a pulsating rotation effect. To smooth out this rotation, a crankshaft typically connects to a flywheel. In larger engines with several cylinders, counterweights are often added to reduce pulsations from individual firing strokes and improve balance, enabling higher RPMs and increased power output despite the additional weight. Additionally, a torsion or vibration damper may be included on the opposite end of the crankshaft to further minimize vibrations.