[TR] Electric Fans: Something Different

[TERRY SMITH]

Hmmmm.  Interesting.  Thanks, Randall.  So I guess how much one takes off a flywheel depends on the effect desired.  More off gives faster acceleration but can make for finicky stalls and engine vibration.  None off means slower acceleration.  Is there a mathematical middle ground in terms of ounces that can be removed to optimize all variables?


> On September 11, 2018 at 12:14 PM Randall <tr3driver at ca.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> > So what exactly is the energy co-efficiency of heavy vs. 
> > light flywheel?  Heavy means more torque to take you up a 
> > steeper hill in higher gear, whereas light means less mass to 
> > move on acceleration so prompter speed?  Something like that?
> 
> Heavier means the engine has more resistance to sudden changes in speed (aka
> inertia).  So you get less drop in rpm when you let the clutch out
> (especially on a hill).  Acts like more torque, but isn't really since it
> only applies to sudden changes in engine rpm.
> 
> But more inertia also limits how quickly the engine can spin up.  It takes
> power to accelerate that heavy flywheel, so a lighter flywheel acts like
> more power when accelerating (but again isn't really more power, just less
> resistance).
> 
> A heavier flywheel also tends to damp out the vibration from each cylinder
> firing, so the engine seems smoother.
> 
> -- Randall  
>