Handwheel light: features, device, advantages and disadvantages

One of the main elements of the engine is the flywheel. It is on him that the torque from the twisting shaft is transmitted. The element is connected to the box via the clutch plate. It is one of the most expensive parts in the crank mechanism. What is this element and what gives a lightweight flywheel? Let's find out.

Function

As we said earlier, the flywheel is an integral part of the crank mechanism. The element is intended for:

• To reduce the uneven rotation of the crankshaft.
• Transmission of torque from the engine to the transmission (the flywheel is the driven clutch disc).

Smoothing of moment pulsations is achieved due to periodic recoil and accumulation of kinetic energy by the flywheel. It is stored at the working stroke of the piston. The energy is consumed at the stroke of the piston of their dead point. The working stroke of the pistons increases with the number of cylinders in the block. And to ensure an even transfer of torque, the design provides a flywheel. The lightweight element differs from the factory element primarily in mass (about it - later). But, regardless of the type, this mechanism is fixed in the end part of the crankshaft, at the rear main bearing. The latter is highly resistant to stresses. It is on the main bearing that the weight of the flywheel and all the loads from it are laid.

About the mass

If we consider the elements of ordinary passenger cars, their mass will be from 7 to 9 kilograms. The light weight flywheel weighs about 5. But there are models whose mass is 4 or less kilograms. As a rule, these are thin elements made of aluminum alloy.

What is the importance of a heavy factory flywheel?

This element ensures stability at low engine speeds. This greatly helps when starting newcomers - the machine moves as smoothly as possible. If the flywheel is lightened, the car will move very sharply with it.

The factory element also makes it possible to move from higher gears. In the city, there are often times when you need to get away already. The car scored 5-10 kilometers per hour "down", and you need to continue moving further. Include the first speed will be difficult - you will either break the synchronizers, or do not stick it at all (all this is accompanied by a characteristic crunch). Therefore, the most optimal option is to use the second gear. Due to the heavy mass of the factory flywheel can provide a good torque from the bottom. This is a big plus.

Why put lightweight?

It would seem, why climb into the engine design and change something, if the normal flywheel normally copes with its task. But it is worth noting the main drawback of the factory element. In view of its huge mass, it greatly slows down the acceleration of the machine. The motor needs to be applied more effort, in order to untwist such an element to the required parameters. A similar picture is observed with the installation of disks of large diameters. Strange as it may seem, but the dynamics on these wheels are inferior to those that were measured on the regular casting (less diameter - less weight). Thus, a lightweight flywheel will open up the full potential of the engine. The crankshaft will be easier to rotate it. Accordingly, the dynamics of acceleration will increase. To this end, and install a lightweight flywheel on the VAZ-2101 and other cars. But why such an element is not put immediately, from the plant? There are a number of disadvantages to this flywheel. We will describe them below.

The cons of the lightweight flywheel

Why do manufacturers themselves not use such a flywheel when assembling engines? Yes, it's very easy to get speed with him. But just as easily it is lost due to the small mass. Noticeably increases the fuel consumption of the car. Before turning on the increased gear, the engine speed drops. If you do not turn on the speed quickly, you'll have to go back down again. Because of this, the box is constantly loaded. To save its resource, it is recommended to sustain a pause between the gear changes (at least two seconds). With a lightweight flywheel during this time, the revolutions will fall almost to idle ones. The box will have to be constantly "raped" in order to move around the city normally.

What advantages and disadvantages does the light flywheel have? This element will not allow you to smoothly start from the spot. No matter how you try to release the clutch slowly, there will be a characteristic push. On long distances the driver is forced to constantly give gas. The results of the tests showed that such a flywheel allows faster speed gain. But at the same time, the torque itself falls, the magnitude of which is so important in speed dialing. In view of this, the driver will have to constantly keep the engine at high speed. This can provoke an increased wear of the parts of the KSH, not to mention the expense of oil. The motor itself should operate within the green scale. If you install a light flywheel, the arrow will approach the cutoff. And it will happen so quickly that you will not notice it.

Cost

Usually, the installation of these elements involved the owners of domestic cars. Now there are a lot of shops that sell ready-made, lightweight flywheels. Their mass is about 3.9 kilograms for a 1.5-liter motor. What is the price for the VAZ flywheel? The cost of sports elements starts from 2.2 thousand rubles (for the VAZ of the "tenth" family). Also there are ready-made kits for "Zhiguli" classic models. For example, a Soviet "penny" lightweight flywheel costs 2.65 thousand rubles. The most expensive flywheel is for the VAZ-2181 cable box. Its price is 2.9 thousand rubles. Also on sale are lightweight flywheels for the Niva (including Chevrolet). But experienced motorists say that this detail is completely useless on an off-road car. Such cars, on the contrary, should have a good torque. Especially if this machine is prepared for off-shore.

Can I make it easier for the factory?

Also there is an option to facilitate the factory flywheel (although the cost is almost the same as the new sports element). This is done by removing an excess layer of metal from the surface of the disk. When grinding, the mass of the VAZ flywheel decreases from 7.5 to 4 and less than a kilogram. But whether it is worth taking such actions remains a big question. If you do not participate in automobile competitions, most likely, you do not need it. Install a lightweight flywheel on a civilian car does not make sense. You have an instant increase in fuel consumption. You will have to constantly keep the gas in the floor. In this case, there will be sharp gear changes. Use this machine for travel to work will be uncomfortable.

Conclusion

The lightweight flywheel is a very good development in motorsport. But putting it on a civilian car does not make sense. Such a flywheel has a number of drawbacks, which it is very difficult to reconcile.