I got a few minutes to experiment further with my spindle balancer. I started by using a torpedo level to adjust the face of my spindle to be perfectly plumb. I grabbed a different blade and put it on the nail and it went down on one side about three inches. I put it on the spindle and it went down about the same distance.
I then started grinding off the heavy end and got it level on the nail, even holding up a torpedo level to get it as level as possible. I then put it on the spindle balancer and it was dead level there as well.
I will be hustling tomorrow to catch up so I can take my wife to the doctor on Wednesday, so if I don't get a chance for more testing, I should be able to get back to it on Thursday.
If I were unable to do any further testing, my conclusion or at least what my testing tends to point toward, is that the nail method is worthwhile, and I see why it was actually published in some old John Deere manuals. It is CLEARLY better than no balance at all.
Larry
Thanks Larry, Keep us posted. When I get a chance to test my motorcycle rig I will post results.
Phil