Does Crank Stroke Affect External Balance

I don't know how or if this applies, but when a local machine shop balanced my small block 273 back in the '70's, the guy welded a small weight onto the clutch pressure plate. I have no idea what that was all about. (When I sent the pressure plate to McLeod for a "rebuild", they said if I did that again they would void my warranty).


McLeod clutch covers are heat treated. Welding on them causes them to fracture at the weld.

Doing that is a piss poor way to balance a crank assembly.