Lightweight crank pulleys?

[Kracka]

I came across an interesting post by ACTman on EvoM (he works for ACT) stating that Brent Rau was having issues with his flywheel bolts coming loose until he switched back to an OEM crank pulley. Also found some info basically stating that although a solid pulley won't break your engine, it will wear the bearings faster. The more power the engine makes the more issues that arise it seems.

[blackrosenova400]

http://damperdudenz.tripod.com/id3.html

Reading matierial

[Super Bleeder!!]

http://damperdudenz.tripod.com/id3.html

Reading matierial

good link :)

[s1ngletracker]

Note, harmonic dampers do much the same thing as balance shafts, and we all get rid of those, don't we?

[Kevin 1G Drummer]

Balance shafts reduce overall engine vibrations, where as a crank damper reduces vibrations more specific to the crankshaft.

[niterydr]

Balance shafts reduce overall engine vibrations, where as a crank damper reduces vibrations more specific to the crankshaft.

Exactly. The balance shaft is there to not transmit vibrations to your ass when you are sitting in the car. The harmonic balancer is there to cancel out crankshaft vibrations.

[CarPsyco84]

I think the reason is when the crank is twisting slightly from the torque output of the rods, that resonance that can occur is the crank basically jerking foreword and then back, kinda like a rubber binder, at a certain frequency that vibration will be very dramatic compared to normal (its resonating frequency). The crank pulley being attached to the water pump and alternator has rotating energy, and like Blackrosenova said, the rubber absorbs those vibrations... I cut metal for a living, you realize how harmonics can affect metals, and what slight changes it takes to fix them...

On a side note, not all engines need dampening, just certain cranks will resonate at a frequency that could be made under use.

[Kracka]

Thanks for all the thoughts, opinions, and facts guys. I'm glad I started this thread as its pretty much reaffirmed what I initially thought. A local guy down here just installed the Perrin pulley and it got me to thinking what exact purpose the stock pulley serves.

[FattyBoomBatty]

<- beefcake crank that doesn't rev. I don't need no stinking damping! ;)