[Zak650]

I'm thinking of turning an aluminum flywheel and then having it hard anodized for the clutch friction area since it's main purpose is to make shifting more "regular" and the slipping action isn't needed at all. It's either that or go clutchless.

Zak

[ricklearned]

Originally Posted by clonezero

Why did you go with a lightened flywheel? On my bug I had the flywheel and pressure plate ballanced. But not lightened. Was this a mistake?

No, it wasn't a mistake. I had mine balanced also. I didn't want any vibration and I expect to take the motor to higher revs than the gas engine. According to the previous poster, I also saved the equivalent of 60lbs of body weight. I think it has something to do with not having to overcome the inertia of the flywheel when accelerating. The flywheel serves a purpose on an ICE but for an electric drive car it's only purpose is for the clutch.

[Zak650]

Weight should really be considered, think of it as replacing the weight with additional batteries, better acceleration, longer range.

A few examples:
Starter motor 10 lbs
Spare tire 30 lbs
flywheel 13 lbs
rear seat 27 lbs
gas tank 20 lbs

Basically about 100 lbs in just a few items, it's all weight you don't have to drag up a hill or get moving from a dead stop. These items are about the same as 8 Calb180 cells.

[ricklearned]

Here is the clutch plate I purchased. It has hardened and longer splines so I won't have the problem Corbin experienced. I also got a Kennedy 2000lb pressure plate

[onegreenev]

I would not worry about a few extra pounds unless your going to RACE your car and really need that extra 1/100th of a second for the win. Really, what's that few extra pounds going to actually do to your speed and distance?

[corbin]

Originally Posted by ricklearned

Here is the clutch plate I purchased. It has hardened and longer splines so I won't have the problem Corbin experienced. I also got a Kennedy 2000lb pressure plate

cool - where did you get that plate from?

corbin

[ricklearned]

Originally Posted by corbin

cool - where did you get that plate from?

corbin

I got it from Scat, which is in my neighborhood, so I will called it.

http://www.scatvw.com/

Hopefully you got yours back together.

[ricklearned]

I am a little behind in posting. After getting the adapter mounted to my motor I realized that the clutch return spring was broken so the next day I repaired that and mounted the motor to the transmission. Here is a picture of it just before I put it in the car.


I have since mounted the controller and begun wiring.

[winzeracer]

Originally Posted by ricklearned

I am a little behind in posting. After getting the adapter mounted to my motor I realized that the clutch return spring was broken so the next day I repaired that and mounted the motor to the transmission. Here is a picture of it just before I put it in the car.


I have since mounted the controller and begun wiring.

Looks like it is coming along. You are right about the inertia of the flywheel, less energy required to rotate the lighter flywheel which results in more energy transfered to the wheels. I am just about to take my final on rotational dynamics.

[ricklearned]

Originally Posted by winzeracer

Looks like it is coming along. You are right about the inertia of the flywheel, less energy required to rotate the lighter flywheel which results in more energy transfered to the wheels. I am just about to take my final on rotational dynamics.

Good luck on your final.

Come down to Hermosa Beach sometime and see my bug.