Lighter flywheels

[meady100]

You see some pretty off-the-wall suggestions for power gain in this forum, so I'm surprised in the year Ive been here noone ever mentions lighter flywheels. Obviously it's not actually a power *gain* but it's gotta make a faster 0-60 surely? Maybe the engine just isn't torquey enough to make such a mod successful. Actually, thinking about it, a flywheel converts the high revving 'peaky' energy into torque in a way, by turning it into low down power and momentum. How's that for a piece of Saturday cod pseudo science?!

Steve

 

[edde]

Won't make any different to 0-60. All it does is help even out the running of the engine.

 

[Birdthom]

Errr - I don't know much about this but thought that losing 1kg from the flywheel or other rotating parts like wheels is equivalent to losing approx 10kg of fixed weight in terms of acceleration, which is exactly the reason racers are so keen on that kind of thing. Doesn't affect outright power or top speed but does affect acceleration.

BUT - for a road car it's probably not worth the bother! you'll just end up with a car which is a PITA to drive in town.

Tom.

 

[edde]

Errr - I don't know much about this but thought that losing 1kg from the flywheel or other rotating parts like wheels is equivalent to losing approx 10kg of fixed weight in terms of acceleration, which is exactly the reason racers are so keen on that kind of thing. Doesn't affect outright power or top speed but does affect acceleration.

BUT - for a road car it's probably not worth the bother! you'll just end up with a car which is a PITA to drive in town.

Tom.

Racer are also keen as its lighter and lighter is better also the engine responds quicker which isn't more power just more response which is what they need.

 

[GordonD]

My 172 ph2 is a pain getting away from a standing start. You have to pick up just enough revs so that it doesn't stall, but not so much throttle that is squeals the front tyres. A lighter flywheel would make that even worse. And a lot worse up hill with the air conditioner on. Race engines don't need much a flywheel, but a road car with too light a flywheel can be a pain to drive in stop-start traffic.

 

[haitch]

^eh?