lightweight flywheel pros and cons?
Originally Posted by Almostlude,Jun 17 2009, 03:30 AM
I don't claim to be an expert in physics, truthfully, I don't like physics and wasn't that good at it, but your friend's argument is not really valid. if there were identical cars, but different flywheels, the car with the heavier FW will lose more power due to the additional weight of the flywheel during acceleration (contributing to added parasitic power loss). Granted, the momentum generated by a heavier flywheel maybe beneficial during gear shifts (which i believe is your friends argument). A lightened flywheel would be more responsive overall and would be relatively better in certain aspects. Again, I'm not a scientist and I'm not claiming to be... anyone else chime in?
thinking about the drag racer's argument:
a heavier wheel flywheel would store more energy (more weight at the same speed) when you are revving for the launch and would hit the clutch disk harder when you engage it for the launch. maybe for a 1/4 mile that is the benefit.
^^^^^^
i need to ask my friend with his mustang. i bet this comes up a lot in their forums. they have some real transmission/rear end wizards and they are drag obsessed.
for a road course i would go as light as stays "drivable"
a heavier wheel flywheel would store more energy (more weight at the same speed) when you are revving for the launch and would hit the clutch disk harder when you engage it for the launch. maybe for a 1/4 mile that is the benefit.
^^^^^^
i need to ask my friend with his mustang. i bet this comes up a lot in their forums. they have some real transmission/rear end wizards and they are drag obsessed.
for a road course i would go as light as stays "drivable"
Originally Posted by Zoomie,Jun 18 2009, 02:01 AM
thinking about the drag racer's argument:
a heavier wheel flywheel would store more energy (more weight at the same speed) when you are revving for the launch and would hit the clutch disk harder when you engage it for the launch. maybe for a 1/4 mile that is the benefit.
^^^^^^
i need to ask my friend with his mustang. i bet this comes up a lot in their forums. they have some real transmission/rear end wizards and they are drag obsessed.
for a road course i would go as light as stays "drivable"
a heavier wheel flywheel would store more energy (more weight at the same speed) when you are revving for the launch and would hit the clutch disk harder when you engage it for the launch. maybe for a 1/4 mile that is the benefit.
^^^^^^
i need to ask my friend with his mustang. i bet this comes up a lot in their forums. they have some real transmission/rear end wizards and they are drag obsessed.
for a road course i would go as light as stays "drivable"

Yes, the heavier flywheel stores more energy.
But here is one for you, where did it get the energy from in the first place....

Conservation of Energy law: Energy is neither created or destroyed, merely transformed.
/\/\
he dropped the clutch, that's where it came from. Zoomie is talking about 1st gear, not the later gears. since they can rev to redline before launch, flywheel energy would effectively be "free" energy to a drag racer.
he dropped the clutch, that's where it came from. Zoomie is talking about 1st gear, not the later gears. since they can rev to redline before launch, flywheel energy would effectively be "free" energy to a drag racer.
Hypersonik, lets talk here without getting condescending or rude. in reality, you misread what i wrote. i certainly will show all due deference to thermodynamics.
my line of thought was that the heavier disk, spinning before the clutch is engaged for first gear would store more energy and allow a stronger launch. since i was looking at advice given by a drag racer, it applies. ace123 has my idea right
the entire purpose of a flywheel (on any motor)is to store energy by adding reciprocating weight to the engine.
my line of thought was that the heavier disk, spinning before the clutch is engaged for first gear would store more energy and allow a stronger launch. since i was looking at advice given by a drag racer, it applies. ace123 has my idea right
the entire purpose of a flywheel (on any motor)is to store energy by adding reciprocating weight to the engine.
Originally Posted by Zoomie,Jun 19 2009, 07:19 AM
Hypersonik, lets talk here without getting condescending or rude. in reality, you misread what i wrote. i certainly will show all due deference to thermodynamics.
my line of thought was that the heavier disk, spinning before the clutch is engaged for first gear would store more energy and allow a stronger launch. since i was looking at advice given by a drag racer, it applies. ace123 has my idea right
the entire purpose of a flywheel (on any motor)is to store energy by adding reciprocating weight to the engine.
my line of thought was that the heavier disk, spinning before the clutch is engaged for first gear would store more energy and allow a stronger launch. since i was looking at advice given by a drag racer, it applies. ace123 has my idea right
the entire purpose of a flywheel (on any motor)is to store energy by adding reciprocating weight to the engine.
The 'free' energy you get at the start will be easily be overcountered by dragging that extra mass as well as spinning up that extra mass during the run.


