light weight pulleys and flywheels

[lane]

does anyone have any experience with using light weight pulleys or flywheels, does it have much of an effect on fuel efficiency or power or reliability??
post your opinions right about.............NOW!

[SVOboy]

I have a 3 pound lighter flywheel, but have never driven a standard weight!

[kwtorbe]

Lower reciprocating weight....makes sense that it would help FE....as long as the engine is balanced correctly...

I've been considering a lightweight flywheel change whenever I switch to a cx tranny...I haven't researched if the balance will be thrown off yet.

[SVOboy]

Honda engines are internally balanced, shouldn't be a problem. In any case, the cx flywheel is what I run.

[Ryland]

I would think you might notice a little rougher running engine as a heavy flywheel is going to do a better job evening out engine speed, but just like having a lighter weight car, it's going to give you better mileage, mostly thru better acceleration, I would think that having a lighter weight pully would be an easy/cheap way to start unless you are removing your tranny already.
a heavy fly wheel on the otherhand is going to alow you engien to idle at lower RPM, and use more electricity when the starter is turning the engine over to start it.

[cfg83]

lane -

When I was looking into this for my manual transmission, I read that it improves FE but the gear changes can become alot rougher, like what the racers are used to. Since my wife has to ride in the car too, I didn't want to put her through choppy gear changes. It was also a high ticket item when I looked into, maybe $400 or $500, so I couldn't justify it.

CarloSW2

[rh77]

With the lighter flywheel, you may have trouble maintaining speed when going up hills at higher speeds. The momentum generated with a heavier wheel will help to drive with load instead of loosing too much speed and having to give it more gas.

Now, around town, it would probably help with getting up to speed more quickly and more efficiently -- so if you do a good majority of low-speed, in-town driving it may be of benefit -- but again, it's maintaining that speed that could be a concern.

RH77