Ok, I've heard many different opinions concerning lightened flywheels..besides quicker revs, what is the advantage or disadvantage...

People seem to prefer them for Auto X, probobly because you can get to your higher revs alot quicker..."therefore staying in Vtec" and this would prevent you from boggin your motor.

On the other hand I have heard drag racers say they make your 1/4mile slower..How could this be...if your motor revs faster, shouldn't you stay higher in your power band, which is where honda's (or almost any motor for that matter.) make the most power..I think general consensus is that the lightened flywheel, not only revs faster but also drops revs quicker. Therefore you have to make sure to shift quickly... I think the main concern comes w/the launch.. I would assume it would be easier to bog your motor on the launch. Can someone elaborate please??

I remeber reading in Gran Turismo on playstation (which I know isn't a good source, but better than most.) when you buy the lightened flywheel it says something to the effect of: can reduce acceleration if proper shifting technique is not mastered..and close ratio trany is not used.

Any info would help..thanx guys.


[Modified by dsludefosho, 12:40 PM 12/7/2002]

 

An ultra-light flywheel would be great for auto-X or track racing with many turns.
Other than that, unecessary mod.

 

with a heavier flywheel, you have more rotational mass, thus more momentum as the wheel turns. this helps in launching the car in a 1/4 mile race. you can hit a ball farther with a heavier wooden bat than with a lighter aluminum bat but can swing an aluminum bat faster if you can imagine the bat as the flywheel and the ball as the clutchplate. dont' know if that makes any sense to you. you don't have to rev so high like you do if you have a lightened flywheel. you have that momentum to help you along. plus for daily driving and going up hills, it makes driving more of a hassle than anything if you have a lighttened flywheel. andn going downhill, you have less engine braking to help you slow down also. besides you'll wear the clutch faster.




[Modified by el_Presidente, 11:23 PM 12/7/2002]

 

..a fidanza Al 8lbs flywheel, and think it to be the best, mechanical, upgrade available for the h22, in it's price range. The motor completely wakes up, its no where near as lazy, and it's not at all difficult or cumbersome to drive around town. Sure, you may stall a few times, or gently roast the clutch, but nothing you can't get used to.

I don't drag race so I can't comment on it's advantages/disadvantages; the one thing that occurs to me, not much does though, is the drop in rpm's b/w shifts is a bit greater ~ 1500 rpm b/w gears; since you've got a smaller rotating mass, it slows more quickly; however, for track use its great, can't praise it enough; however, staying in VTEC all the time is a matter not simply of a lighter flywheel, but also gear choice, etc.

A mechanical advantage, proposed by the manufacture of Al flywheels, is the reduced strain on the motor by lightenening the rotating assembly, don't know if totally agree as the flyhwheel isn't balanced w/ the crank and the rest of the assembly, but it is lighter. Anyone else have conclusive evidence?

 

Not me! I think wooden bats suck!

Yes, your revvs will drop faster, so get a shorter shifter and learn to clutch really fast. you can also train yourself to not let the throttle all of the way out when you shift, this will help keep the RPM's up some.

As for the rotational mass helping... that would only be with the inital momentum forward. After the extra energy held in the flywheel is used to start to shift the weight of the car (because you wouldn't be moving yet at this point) the extra weigh would hurt because now the clutch is enguaged and instead of moving a 9 pound flywheel + 2900 pounds, it's trying to move a heaver flywheel + the 2900 pounds.. acceleration would be slower. As long as you can launch well with the lighter flywheel, and shift quick and correctly between gears, the lighter flywheel should be nothing but advantages (as long as you don't go TOO light!)

 

I have a question regarding the faster clutch wear. Would the clutch wear faster because you must rev the engine higher at starting, or because you must slip the clutch for longer , or is it a combo of both? TIA.

 

maybe slightly, but get an unsprung clutch and an extreme pressure plate, that will fix it! lol

 

if u get one make sure it has a timing mark. mine doesnt dmanit!!!!!

 

I heard the newer Fidanzas DO have timing marks, is this true?

 

FYI: the JUN flywheel has timing marks on it

 

a lightened flywheel is good for racing where your not doing alot of shifting.. like auto-x.. its not good for drag racing especially for honda's cause.. we get all our power in vtec with a heavier flywheel rotaional mass is there allowing the car to stay at a certain rpm for a longer period of time... where as if its lightened it will slow down quicker causing rpm to drop while shifting taking you out of the range of vtec... you have to balance the 2... never go to light but you don't necessarily want a stock 19lb flywheel either... wouldn't go lighter than 10.5lb for a honda.. especially if your making alot of power.. you could warp it with alot of power also..

 

I agree.

 

QUOTE: I heard the newer Fidanzas DO have timing marks, is this true?

nope, just bought one, haven't installed it yet, for accord AND prelude, no timing marks, damn. unless i got an older model but i just bought it last month. how else to check timing? damn.

 

My Fidanza didn't come with timing marks either unfortunalety. What i did was place the factory flywheel on top of the fidanzza and used gauge pins to align the flywheel bolt holes. Be sure to use the tightest fitting pins to assure proper alignment. I then as accurately as possible scribed marks in the Fidanza outer rim.


[Modified by H22Si, 3:18 PM 12/9/2002]

 

sorry to bring the post back from dead..

but, What is the weight of the stock H22 flywheel??

last? is an 8lb flywheel to light??


[Modified by dsludefosho, 3:14 AM 12/17/2002]

 

For stock, I've seen weights from 18.5-19.5 lbs

 

??? I don't know about you, but Auto-X'ing for me I shift quite a bit.. heel-toe and all... but dragging I shift all of 2 times after first letting the clutch out

 

what?? are you sure that seems pretty damn heavy, Im talking about H22a4 motor...

 

no, he's not joking, and i believe an H22A4 flywheel is closer to like 22lbs.... i got a CM flywheel, and it's like a damn frisbee compared to the stock one

 

Would a lightened flywheel help an H23.

 

OEM flywheel (H22a4):


Fidanza flywheel (H22):

 

ok smart ***

 

those are my pics! you like my write up?

 

where is your write up, an Ill let you know..

 

Oh yeah, sorry! I probably should have referenced where those came from --> http://honda.hybrids.jp/au02/clutch/

Excellent writeup . . . .