Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Here's my fly wheel:

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psfdb23d65.jpg

As you can see it is worn very unevenly, due possibly from a number of different things - substandard clutch disc, pressure plate, clutch mechanism, release (throw-out) bearing, or even the fly wheel itself. All of the first four are being replaced with new from VanPelt.

Here is the 10:00 to 12:00 o'clock section where the last resurfacing marks are still visible indicating no rubbing at all in the outside 2/3 of this area.

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psfb548ccf.jpg

And here's a close-up of the 8:30 section showing the heat cracks.

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/...psb2e8c77d.jpg

Question is: Can this fly wheel be successfully resurfaced and saved or must it be replaced?

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

It looks like a good candidate for a bass boat anchor unfortunately. The apparent flaws and physical damage would make that flywheel terribly unreliable. That is the case even if the car was infrequently driven.

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

If so, what is the best source for the best fly wheel?

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

I have several 9" flywheels tha have been lightened. (lip machined off) I'd gladly give you one. Shipping might be a little high. I could re drill it for the 10"

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Any halfway competent machinist will tell if there’s something wrong with it.
All you're going to get here is 20 opinions

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

I will have it into the machinist first thing Monday morning and see what he thinks.

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

looks like a bad pressure plate applying uneven pressure to fly wheel, the strech cracks are really no problem, caused by a slipping clutch, generating a lot of heat, it can be turned and trued, ask the machinest

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

It's not that uncommon to have heat checking/cracking when there are clutch lining problems or just hard use. Walt mentioned in a previous recent flywheel thread about the bolt head clearance problems with the clutch disk that can happen if they are finally shaved too far. A good machinist should be able to determine if it's fixable pretty quick.

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Post #23 in your previous thread suggested you check the runout of the flywheel with a dial indicator while it was bolted to the crank, BEFORE BEFORE BEFORE BEFORE, you took it off.
Did you do that???? Did you do that????

If you did that and it showed to be less than plus or minus .001, you can re-use that flywheel by surfacing it lightly.

If you did not do that, you need to start at the beginning and dial the crank flange.
If it is good, proceed.
If it runs out more than .001, the engine needs to be torn down and the crank flange trued.

If the crank flange is ok and the flywheel is ok, the pressure plate was the culprit.
After you either have the flywheel surfaced or get a different flywheel and have it bolted on, CHECK THE RUNOUT on the clutch surface area.

Your problem was caused by something running out as shown by the wear pattern.

Have the new flywheel and clutch balanced. Have the flywheel balanced ALONE, then bolt the clutch on and balance the whole assembly. Be sure they index mark the clutch cover AND flywheel when done.
Make sure they understand to balance the cover by drilling the SPRING STANDS and NO drilling on the cover itself. Absolutely NO WELDING weight on.

If you follow this and Mac did his job, your clutch won't chatter or slip.

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Thanks Pete. I will print your suggestions (and all others) and take them to discuss with the machinist on Monday. I did not check the run out before I took the flywheel off. I will see if I can find a source for the instrument to check it when I get it all back together as you suggested. If you can provide any more information about that instrument and a source for it that would help. I've never checked run outs of anything but think I'm just beginning to understand what that means.

Thanks again for your knowledge, advice, and time you took to give it.

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Thanks Max. I've already talked to them and that's where I planned to take it Monday. Glad to hear another endorsement of their competence. (I was referred to them by a long time mechanic friend in Lindon who said, "They do all of our flywheels".)

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

I'll try to remember that.:o

Thanks.

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Here's one of quite a few on Ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Univers...item486466f4fe

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Thanks but that listing was for the magnetic base that holds the indicator. What is the test instrument called so that I can try to find one?

Thanks again for your help.

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

OK, I thought it was for the base and indicator.
The instrument is called a dial indicator.
Try and get the indicator and base together. It can be used for almost unlimited
things. If you get one with a 1 inch travel, it can be used to check cam lifts also

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Thanks. I'll search for one.
It might even work to check out tires thought to be out of round?

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Yup.

Re: Can this 59A fly wheel be saved?
 

Looks like you have it covered. I would just add since the type of driving you do a lightened flywheel is not what you want aluminum or 30-35lb flywheel. surfaced is fine. If your crank is out of line then a dial indictator would show it. If the previous surfacing was out of level that would be evident. So many factors to concider but should be taken up by the clutch disc and plate. Unless its really out of wack. Seems like it was out far beyound a few thousands, if not a few hundreds. Some thing to concider is your driving habits, like riding the clutch.

All and all its just my thoughts.