Model A/B flywheel Q.......

[hardtimes]

Has anyone here ever dealt with a flywheel that has CRACKS from the bolt holes thru to center (pilot bearing hole) A buddy here had his checked before lightening it, and it had several such cracks. As never had seen/heard of such , in that area, began wondering if others have.

[1931 flamingo]

I think there was a thread recently about this and the concensus was NOT to use it.
Paul in CT

[ursus]

If that heavy flywheel should ever break loose, it could be dangerous. It is rotating in the direction of your feet!

[Tom Wesenberg]

About 30 years ago a school bus driver in the Twin Cities was killed when the flywheel on the bus exploded.
I always wondered if he had the engine revved up pretty high?

[Pete]

Originally Posted by hardtimes

Has anyone here ever dealt with a flywheel that has CRACKS from the bolt holes thru to center (pilot bearing hole) A buddy here had his checked before lightening it, and it had several such cracks. As never had seen/heard of such , in that area, began wondering if others have.

Don't even think about using it.
Imagine an RPG exploding in your lap with a gas tank a foot away.

[hardtimes]

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Originally Posted by Pete

Don't even think about using it.
Imagine an RPG exploding in your lap with a gas tank a foot away.

Hey Pete,
Thanks for all input. Yeah, I wouldn't use any such equipment either.
I was wondering , however, if this is a very uncommon thing to occur with the huge A/B type flywheel. I have a picture of the involved flywheel and maybe could post it up , if anyone doubted the possibility of such a heavy piece of equipment cracking In this critical manner.

I've seen 'heat' cracks on the face of many flywheels , where the disk rubs/burns...from heat. However, It would be interesting to know just how common/uncommon this situation is. Maybe someone who works on many A/B flywheels, like James, can comment ?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Is this the same flywheel that was mentioned a few days ago, or is this the second one in a few day to be found with mounting hole cracks? Seems odd if it's 2 different ones, because I've never seen mounting hole cracks in a Model A flywheel.

[mshmodela]

Gee, I'd not take a chance... replace it..

[Rowdy]

Throw it in the scrap iron pile as fast as you can get it there. Plenty of good ones out there. I have scrapped two due to cracks and one early one with the whole center busted out of it. Rod

[redmodelt]

This is the other one;
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169972

[Pete]

I have only seen one in many moons that was cracked in the flange area. Most likely due to running with loose bolts.

I was driving a modified hard top for another guy back in the late 50's and the clutch exploded half way down the straightaway. It took the flywheel with it. Just about cut the car in half. All I got was a small piece in the bottom of my foot.

[hardtimes]

Originally Posted by redmodelt

This is the other one;
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=169972

Ahh, very good and thanks, as I've been gone for some time and did not see that thread. YES, same flywheel and I will post up/add a picture after 'training' session !
James commented, and I think that his input is most telling and answers my curiosity about possibility of frequency of such equipment cracking in the 'flange' area. Hey, worth paying attention too for sure !!

Hey Pete,
You've apparently lived a fun on the edge life in this hobby. You play hard , you pay hard...as the saying goes I know that one well, myself.