<p>A rotary valve plate (27) of an internal gear machine (11), which rotary valve plate (27) is provided between a commutator (25) and a gear set comprising an inner gear (17) and an outer gear (29), has an imbalance thereacross due to high pressure fluid on the commutator side of the valve plate (27) being opposite low pressure fluid in variable displacement chambers (21) on the gear side of the valve plate. This imbalance is corrected by a recess (39) which extends around the periphery of the valve plate (27) and receives fluid from the gear side of the valve plate to urge the valve plate (27) toward the commutator (25). Preferably, the internal gear machine is of a kind having an orbiting outer rotor (19) orbiting in an annulus (20) with intermediate pressure fluid in the annulus (20). The recess (39) on the gear side of the valve plate (27) is disposed to receive intermediate pressure fluid from the annulus.</p>
