[Healeys] Lightened flywheels

Wed Sep 8 02:41:52 MDT 2021

Well, this is all very interesting I’m sure. 

As for AH 3000 flywheels, they don’t seem to like coming off. However, mine’s at the workshop now. 

I’d always thought that they reduced the weight of a standard flywheel by drilling, not that I’d given it a whole load of thought. In fact, I’d never even seen a whole flywheel until the other day. But, it seems, they skim it off. Getting the dowels out can be a trial apparently.

Mine weighed in at 28 and a bit pounds. 

Simon

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of John Spaur via Healeys
Sent: 08 September 2021 06:14
To: 'Michael Oritt' <michael.oritt at gmail.com>; 'Keith Pennell' <llennep at verizon.net>
Cc: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Lightened flywheels

More nitpicking.

The density of gasoline is also determined by its temperature and chemical makeup. Premium unleaded gasoline has a higher density than regular unleaded. Ethanol has a higher density than gasoline without ethanol, so the percentage of ethanol needs to be factored in. Finally, gasoline is denser at colder temperatures than it is at higher temperatures. So please, take all of this into account when determining the fuel weight in your cars based on your location and the fuel available.

I wonder if the lead content of gasoline increases its weight because, as we all know lead, is very heavy. Hahaha

John Spaur

From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Michael Oritt
Sent: Tuesday, September 7, 2021 5:40 PM
To: Keith Pennell <llennep at verizon.net <mailto:llennep at verizon.net> >
Cc: healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> 
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Lightened flywheels

Keith--

Right you are (and wrong I am) but 6 x 6.3=20+/-which is still more than 5...

Best--Michael Oritt

On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 7:53 PM llennep--- via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> > wrote:

Nitpicking me here . . ..  .. . 

gallon of gasoline weighs a tad over 6 lbs

:)

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Oritt via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
To: richard mayor <boyracer466 at gmail.com <mailto:boyracer466 at gmail.com> >
Cc: healeys <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
Sent: Tue, Sep 7, 2021 7:40 pm
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Lightened flywheels

I hesitate to nitpick but as to the statement that "4 to 5 pounds off vehicle weight is really only the equivalent of half a tank of fuel"  the last time I looked an AH fuel tank holds about 12 gallons and since gasoline weighs approximately 7.5 lbs per gallon half a tank weighs about 45 pounds.  The defense rests....

Best--Michael Oritt  

On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 6:00 PM richard mayor via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> > wrote:

Michael, 

Comparing the weight of fuel in the gas tank to rotational mass is like comparing apples to bananas. 

Richard

On Tue, Sep 7, 2021 at 2:24 PM Michael Salter <michaelsalter at gmail.com <mailto:michaelsalter at gmail.com> > wrote:

The total mass of the flywheel is not completely relevant insofar as engine moment of inertia is concerned. 

What is important is the mass removed times the square of the radius, so just how much weight has been removed per se is not important. 

Secondly removing rotational inertia is not always the best thing to do, if it was you can be assured that manufacturers would be all over it as a way to save money.

The rotational mass is often designed in to protect the drive train, in particular the gearbox.

Read this:  https://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/2017/01/03/austin-healey-100-crank-failures/

Thirdly lightening a flywheel in of itself has very little effect on acceleration.  An engine with a lightened flywheel may accelerate to 6000 RPM 1 - 2 seconds more quickly but that doesn't necessarily equate to 1-2 seconds faster to 60 MPH. You may be able to shift marginally faster if the gearbox can stand the extra loads and the 4 to 5 pounds off vehicle weight is really only the equivalent of half a tank of fuel. (Who ever notices that their car accelerates more quickly with a half full gas tank).

Just sayin'

M

On Tue., Sep. 7, 2021, 4:17 p.m. Earl Kagna via Healeys, <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> > wrote:

I have Bill Bolton lightened flywheels in both my Healeys.  According to Kent Lambert, who took over Bills Healey business awhile back, the stock weight (6 cyl) is 28.5 pounds, and Bills machining program reduced them to 24.

Both of my cars run just fine, no problems at all in the 20 + or so years that I’ve had them installed.

Earl Kagna

Victoria BC

BJ8, BT7 tri-carb

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> > On Behalf Of richard mayor
Sent: Tuesday, September 7, 2021 10:23 AM
To: healeys <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
Subject: [Healeys] Lightened flywheels

6 cylinder flywheels vary slightly but are all generally in the 29 pound range. Very aggressive machine work can get the weight down to the 22-23 pound range. 

How much weight you take off will affect your driving style. To maintain the feel of a stock Healey while still improving the engines response, I suggest removing no more than 3 pounds. 

Richard   

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Best--Michael

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