Extra weight on the crank pulley
Discussion
Hi all,
Ive been wondering wether the extra weight Ive stuck on the end of my crank pulley will cause problems with the crank. Its an RV8 which Ive supercharged, in order to drive the blower Ive had to extend the length of the pulley by 30mm with an round aluminium block. Ive bored it out to reduce its weight but just wondered what it might do long term to the crank?
Heres a picture of it:
www.replica-cobra.co.uk/Pics/Pic84.jpg
Phil
Ive been wondering wether the extra weight Ive stuck on the end of my crank pulley will cause problems with the crank. Its an RV8 which Ive supercharged, in order to drive the blower Ive had to extend the length of the pulley by 30mm with an round aluminium block. Ive bored it out to reduce its weight but just wondered what it might do long term to the crank?
Heres a picture of it:
www.replica-cobra.co.uk/Pics/Pic84.jpg
Phil
It all depends on what you're using the car for, if its just for racing then don't worry too much as doubtless you'll be regularly stripping the lump anyway.
However the front pulley incorporates a inertial damper which is a tuned chunk of iron rubber mounted. This damps out the natural frequency of the crank and helps to reduce crankshaft twist and 2nd order harmonics ( crank whip). If the inertia of this piece is changed you'll change the frequency of the damper and probably no damp out the crank natural frequency as well.
If the engine feels more vibratory or you start knocking out mains shells then you'll no something is amiss.
However the front pulley incorporates a inertial damper which is a tuned chunk of iron rubber mounted. This damps out the natural frequency of the crank and helps to reduce crankshaft twist and 2nd order harmonics ( crank whip). If the inertia of this piece is changed you'll change the frequency of the damper and probably no damp out the crank natural frequency as well.
If the engine feels more vibratory or you start knocking out mains shells then you'll no something is amiss.
Hi,
thanks for the replies, it sticks out 33mm from the edge of the alternator pulley to the edge of the blower pulley, then theres 36mm of blower pulley, so in total it sticks out 70mm.
As its made from billet alluminium and turned centrally on a lathe I didnt bother having it balanced, but I think i'll play it safe and get it balanced,
thanks
Phil
thanks for the replies, it sticks out 33mm from the edge of the alternator pulley to the edge of the blower pulley, then theres 36mm of blower pulley, so in total it sticks out 70mm.
As its made from billet alluminium and turned centrally on a lathe I didnt bother having it balanced, but I think i'll play it safe and get it balanced,
thanks
Phil
My new front pulley is simmilar but much shorter. As I understand it the front pulley is in two parts with the inner part being rigidly connected to the crank and the outer weight flexibly mounted to that. The pressed pulleys for the drive belts bolt on to the inner, fixed part so adding extra drive pulleys here shouldn't have any effect on the damper frequency. It still needs to be balanced, just as any rotating part would, but I don't think it will affect the damping.
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