The document discusses balancing of reciprocating masses in engines. It explains that reciprocating parts produce both a shaking force and shaking couple due to varying inertia forces during the engine cycle. The purpose of balancing is to eliminate these effects and reduce vibrations. It describes how balancing masses are used to partially balance primary forces in engines with multiple cylinders arranged in a line. The maximum unbalanced primary and secondary forces and couples are calculated for a example 5 cylinder engine, and it is determined that these peak when the third crank is at 45 degrees position.