I\'m looking for a lighter flywheel and it has been suggested that a cost effective way of getting one is to find a second hand stock one and \'skim\' it down. Any suggestions of any companies who might beable to do this? any idea of the cost?
Not to sound too dramatic!.
PLEASE DO NOT LIGHTEN A STOCK FLYWHEEL, you will not safely get enough metal off to make any appreciable difference to your engine, please save up and buy a proper lightened manufactured flywheel that is made for the job .
I have personally seen these EXPLODE, you will have the potential to remove toes or a foot if your really lucky:3Confused
BTW The whole idea of a rear engined Dragster that went on to become the Top Fulers we know today came about whilst Don Garlets was laying in hospital after blowing part of his foot off due to a flywheel exploding
There\'s a video on the internet actually of a flywheel exploding in a modded car. Can\'t remember where though.
However, skimming a flywheel is not the best way to get it lightened anyway. It\'s to have lots of weight removed from the outside - as near to the outside as possible - therefore lots of lightened flywheels will have holes near the outside rim where it will really help reduce the moment of inertia. However, Clives advice still probably applies to getting your standard flywheel drilled in this way!
Here, try this link. The prices seem good: http://www.tweakit.net/shop/index.php?cPath=326_27_177
Clive, I know it was a birthday present, but that avatar has got to go, I can\'t help looking at it...my eyes...my eyes
Quote from: andysmeeClive, I know it was a birthday present, but that avatar has got to go, I can\'t help looking at it...my eyes...my eyes
You may be right Andy I think I just may have to go back to the static cat.
Ann (AMH) made him live as a pressy yeterday. :Giggle
By the way...
Dont you have to lighten the counterweight if you change the weight of the Flywheel?
I wouldn\'t have thought so. But i\'m not an expert on that! (I\'m not an expert at all).
In theory, the centre of gravity of the flywheel, should be in the centre, so won\'t effect the vibration and offset centre of gravity that the counterweights are their to balance.
yes you need to change to a lighter counterweight, usually one from an auto will do the trick.
Message received loud and clear.
Suggestions of vendors greatfully received.
Quote from: mullinsyes you need to change to a lighter counterweight, usually one from an auto will do the trick.
ah well, i was wrong! Told you i wasn\'t an expert! :p
Quote from: nicksterrx7Message received loud and clear.
Suggestions of vendors greatfully received.
How about the link i gave earlier in the thread? They seem very competative prices.
Quote from: nicksterrx7Message received loud and clear.
Suggestions of vendors greatfully received.
How about the link i gave earlier in the thread? They seem very competetive prices.
They look good. Just looking for a broad range. Nik do you have a lighteneed flywheel?
Yeah, i do. But i\'ve no idea the make or anything. Turns out, it\'s always been on the car since i\'ve had it. Didn\'t know until the rebuild was done though.
A little birdie told me Tweatit actually source some of their parts from SimplyMaz and then just throw on a mark-up.
Try Shan at SimplyMaz before you buy anything from Tweakit!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150055899384&rd=1,1
That seems like a good deal ^.
Sorry to be dumb, but why does the flywheel need a counterweight at all?
How do you work out where to fit it? If it fits to a pre-marked posistion, why don\'t they supply it with the weight attached? Anyone....? :)
Ok. Well, our shaft is not straight for a start, it has 2 eccentric lobes on it. So these lobes are going to create centrifugal force as it spins at 8 k rpm. So we have some weight added to the flywheel on one end of the shaft, and then we have a weight on the other end of the shaft. This weight is inside the front engine cover. The whole assembly is designed to smooth out everything so we have minimal vibration.
Now, I have a question.
Why would anyone want to lighten the flywheel?
Quote from: Trevrxhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150055899384&rd=1,1
That seems like a good deal ^.
Sorry to be dumb, but why does the flywheel need a counterweight at all?
How do you work out where to fit it? If it fits to a pre-marked posistion, why don\'t they supply it with the weight attached? Anyone....? :)
There is another reason, apart from vibration. If the whole shaft, rotors, flywheel and counter weight are not balanced within spec, then the bearings will wear much faster.
Thanks Martiny.
So back to your question, why lighten the flywheel at all? I guess there must be a benefit?
Howcome the standard counterweight part fits all lightened flywheels even though the choice of flywheels available are different weights?
To clear this up you DON\'T need a light counterweight for a light flywheel. You use the auto counterweight because it has the mounting points already drilled/tapped into it that the flex plate normally bolts onto. These are used to locate the flywheel.
The counterweights counter balance the weight of the rotors. If you fit light rotors then you lighten the counterweight. The flywheel is balanced in its own right and the reason people fit light weight flywheels is because there is less weight and therefore less inertia to overcome the engine will rev easier/quicker. The down side of this is the car is also easier to stall tick over may be slightly lumpier because the inertia in the engine is decreased. Another missconception is that a light flywheel gives you more power, while it only lets you get the revs up quicker which does make you faster but not with any more power.
Hope this helps.
Regards Kevin
^ :Thumbs-up
Thanks for that Kev, it makes sense.
But, my only question now is, the total weight of the lightened flywheel and counter weight is less than the stock flywheel, so how does that balance the rotors to the same degree as stock?
Trev, just read Kevin\'s post carefully, he does say that you need to lighten the counterweight, if you lighten the Rotors.
Therefore the Auto and the Manual counter weight weigh the same.
I know exactly why lightening the flywheel helps an out and out racing or drag car. The question was actually aimed at nicsterrx7.
On a car that will see road use as well, its not a good mod to have.
Quote from: TrevrxThanks for that Kev, it makes sense.
But, my only question now is, the total weight of the lightened flywheel and counter weight is less than the stock flywheel, so how does that balance the rotors to the same degree as stock?
Total weight is immaterial the counter weights
only are used to balance the engine the flywheel is added later purely as a means of getting drive through the clutch and adding weight to give the engine inertia. In a auto motor there is no flywheel what so ever just a thin flex plate that bolts onto the counter weight that weighs less than a kilo. http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31765&highlight=balancing (http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31765&highlight=balancing)
If you scroll down to grizzly\'s pic in this one you\'ll see a rotating mass being balanced. Note only the counterweights in place no flywheel.
Kevin:WaveBye
Guys, thanks for the comments and Martiny, a good question why have a lightened flywheel. I want the quicker response and greater acceleration, however I want a car that is driveable and practical more.
I have been mulling over the prospect of a lightened flywheel but have read a number of threads that suggest that lumpy running and erratic tick over could be the result. I don\'t want this and as such am likely to steer away from this mod.