A lighter flywheel does not take as much time to spool up to speed.
I'm not engineer enough (not at all!) to discuss how much can be gained, but
it is significant. Can you lighten too much? You can lighten to the point of
failure of the component, that's too much. You don't want it to come apart
at 8000 rpm!
The spooling argument was what finally convinced me to invest in a new set
of race wheels -- 9-pound wheels instead of the 15-pounders that were on
the car. Someone pointed out that, in effect, I had a flywheel on each
corner of the car and if they were lighter they would get up to rotational
speed quicker == the CAR gets up to speed quicker.
Kinda important in racing. Real important in autocrossing!
--Rocky
-----Original Message-----
From: Russell <rjmunns@btinternet.com>
To: FOT <fot@autox.team.net>
Date: Monday, August 20, 2001 1:42 PM
Subject: Flywheel
>Please can someone explain the advantages/disadvantages of a lighter
>flywheel and clutch. Plus how much can be gained, and can you lighten too
>much!
>
>Russ
>Http://www.btinternet.com/~rjmunns/
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