Some guys around here in my hometown are saying that if you do a lighter flywheel you will gain accelaration and loose torque and topspeed. Any truth in that? whats your experience guys?

 

The loss of torque is minimal at best. As for top speed? I dunno, my GSR has seen speeds in excess of 10,000 rpm, and 160MPH. That fast enough?

Oh, I'm using a Fidanza flywheel. 8.5lbs.

 

JUN ultralight (9.5 lbs) been to 10k and roughly about 157 mph.... I've had it over 2 years and it still looks beautiful!

 

It makes it rev up and down quicker. You don't lose torque, but the ability to transfer torque to the wheels is lessened cause of less inertia. Top speed is dependant on gearing and RPM.

 

sp hit it right on the mark... Off the line you may not be as quick because you do not have the flywheel rotation mass that you would with a stock flywheel, but once you get going it'll just let you rev up quicker...

 

I highly doubt there is any truth to this. Ask these guys why that would happen and they won't give you a decent answer.

 

I'd have to say the big "negatory" on this one. Some people just try to find any way they can to justify not spending the cash on something!

All things being equal, the size & weight of the flywheel has no effect on the top speed of the vehicle. The only time these have an effect is when the RPMs are changing (both up and down). While your car is cruisin' along at 150MPH, it is primarily fighting against wind drag since your RPMs are not changing very fast (maybe). For that matter, the weight of the car isn't even an issue unless you are decelerating or accelerating.

In short: a lighter flywheel has pretty much the same effect as chopping a few hundred pounds off your car during acceleration...otherwise it makes no difference.

 

After I had my clutchmasters stage 3 clutch and lclutchmasters alum. flywheel installed, I noticed a huge difference in topend power. I ran down my friends 1992 cx shoc vtec swap with I/H/E clutch, and stripped completly, in my 1991 crx si D16A(non vtec) I/H/E clutch & flywheel, from 65 to 100 I put 3-4 cars on him. But that was also a very strong car I pulled off a 15.3 @ 87 mph with those mods on street tires.

 

Stop listening to those guys...

 

how often do you go the top speed in your car anyways?

 

BULLSHIT!

D15B7 going 130+ mph with 12.5 lb flywheel

 

Thanks for all the replys guys. It sums up to what I thought also. So the flywheel is goin in no question about it.

 

my thoughts w/ just basic physics concepts... anyone correct me if im wrong at anypoint

it should not lower top speed... may even increase it a bit. Since a moving car has linear kenetic energy and the rotating parts have rotational KE, reducing the weight of the rotating flywheel should reduce the amount of energy it requires to rotate vs a heavier flywheel, allowing it (and the car) to move/rotate faster. thou i think its pretty insignificant since the KE needed to move the car 1mph faster at top speed is probably waaaaay more than the KE needed to rotate the flywheel the same amount. But for technicallities i think it does increase top speed.

Acceleration should improve when the clutch/flywheel/gears are all connected and running.
"getting off the line" refers to the time while slipping the clutch/flywheel right? As far as how a lighten flywheel would affect that, i'd need to spend a lil more time thinking of it.

oh and i stlil dont see the where the "lose torque" figures in. I don't think it (lighten flywheel) loses a ny torque.




[Modified by TypeSH, 7:25 PM 12/23/2002]

 

the torque loss theory comes from the same kinetic energy. A heavier wheel is harder to accelerate but it is also harder to decelerate once in motion, so once that wheel is spun the weight will actually help your launch....in theory. The rest of the acceleration process would benefit though, so a lighter flywheel, in my opinion, is an advantage. A small advantage maybe, but most are.....it's the sum of all the modifications together that add up.

 

depends on traction..........

got a lack of traction, a lighter flywheel will soften the launch
got PLAENTY of traction, a HEAVY will launch the car out of the hole better.

Once moving and tires fully hooked, lighter is better. Less weight to accelerate.