An Odd question about the camshafts of a 5S-FE, Camshafts, balance Options

[RavenAegis45]

Ok so in my quest to learn as much as I can about engines, I read an article on the Honda F20C engine found in the S2000 and read how it has Counter Rotating Camshaft's. So I started to look into this and most DOHC engines that drive both the camshafts by the belt have camshafts that spin in the same direction. I also realized that the shafts spinning have momentum and since 2 shafts spinning in the same direction creates double the momentum and vibration which is probably a reason why DOHC engines don't exceed 2.0L without suffering from vibrations unless using balance shafts (Aside from internal Balance issues as well). But then I started thinking about my car and realized that since the intake cam is being driven by the timing belt and the slave cam gear is driving the exhaust camshaft that means that our camshafts are also counter rotating. And assuming logic here two shafts spinning in the opposite direction at the same speed would cancel out any vibrations they might have? Assuming there both the same weight but just from looking at them I can tell the intake camshaft probably weighs a tad bit more than the exhaust since its longer to reach the cam gear. But I do notice our engines are just as smooth running as many smaller engines and I'm curious to know if the fact that our camshafts rotate against each other is another form of balance and vibrational control to keep the engine from running harshly at higher RPM's

[Smaay]

you have an interesting theory about vibration, too bad im an electrical engineer not mechanical, i could answer you better. but i do know that the 1ZZ and 2ZZ are chain driven and both rotate in the same direction. both those engines run fairly smooth. the 2ZZ has a loud valve train mainly due to the VVTL-i system.

[RavenAegis45]

you have an interesting theory about vibration, too bad im an electrical engineer not mechanical, i could answer you better. but i do know that the 1ZZ and 2ZZ are chain driven and both rotate in the same direction. both those engines run fairly smooth. the 2ZZ has a loud valve train mainly due to the VVTL-i system.

Yeah i've read alot about that on the 2zz-fe, but i hear the Honda B series and K series are the same way ounce the high RPM Cam profile switches over. I've driven in an S2000 and seen it operate pretty much at its redline and it feels like a B series, (I can't say how a K series or 2ZZ feels never been in one) im just curious cuz i figured most engines used same directional cams as opposed to counter rotational and obviously theres alot of other parts that deal with balancing issues but i'm just curious if the cams play a part in them as well. they do carry a good deal of weight

This post has been edited by RavenAegis45: Dec 10, 2009 - 12:37 AM