Textralia’s New Flywheel… With a thank-you!
08-15-2005, 06:30 PM
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Textralia’s New Flywheel… With a thank-you! We’d like to thank everyone who helped us achieve this. It’s been a massive effort from many shops and individuals both in The USA and Australia who have helped us with the testing of our new flywheel surface. Finally our new flywheel is all complete and will be included as standard equipment with every Textralia clutch for the LS# assemblies... For those who aren’t aware of what we are on about, let me explain;
We have been testing various wear surfaces against our long lasting, high-grip sintered friction material.
Initial testing of other manufactured billet flywheels using materials such as chrome-moly, mild steel, and various other off-the-shelf metals revealed major coefficient mis-matches causing premature degradation of working surfaces. This results in 'clutch chatter' which not only makes the vehicle impractical to drive, but it is also a contributing factor to drivetrain failure.
Put simply, after many tests it was soon realized there was no bolt in type material that would work effectively. Engineering consultants were then commissioned and as a result, Textralia was introduced to a relatively new but expensive process involving the application of pseudo alloys to the flywheel via a laser process. In-house testing with a variety of materials in various percentages, combined with independent testing in various vehicles over a 6-month period, yielded a durable wear surface containing eight different materials. This allows enough grip and slip to hold higher HP applications whilst maintaining exceptional drivability.
Cost was the next largest obstacle.
Machining costs and impractical lead times from various vendors resulted in a decision to purchase our own CNC equipment. This allows Textralia to maintain our stringent quality standards in-house whilst keeping the total purchase price at a practical level for our customers.
The end result is a clutch you can trust to perform on the street or track with a life expectancy second to none.
Once again, thanks to all the people who helped us during the developement...Here are a few pictures of the process….
New CnC Lathe...
Flywheels going through the process....
The finished product....
We have been testing various wear surfaces against our long lasting, high-grip sintered friction material.
Initial testing of other manufactured billet flywheels using materials such as chrome-moly, mild steel, and various other off-the-shelf metals revealed major coefficient mis-matches causing premature degradation of working surfaces. This results in 'clutch chatter' which not only makes the vehicle impractical to drive, but it is also a contributing factor to drivetrain failure.
Put simply, after many tests it was soon realized there was no bolt in type material that would work effectively. Engineering consultants were then commissioned and as a result, Textralia was introduced to a relatively new but expensive process involving the application of pseudo alloys to the flywheel via a laser process. In-house testing with a variety of materials in various percentages, combined with independent testing in various vehicles over a 6-month period, yielded a durable wear surface containing eight different materials. This allows enough grip and slip to hold higher HP applications whilst maintaining exceptional drivability.
Cost was the next largest obstacle.
Machining costs and impractical lead times from various vendors resulted in a decision to purchase our own CNC equipment. This allows Textralia to maintain our stringent quality standards in-house whilst keeping the total purchase price at a practical level for our customers.
The end result is a clutch you can trust to perform on the street or track with a life expectancy second to none.
Once again, thanks to all the people who helped us during the developement...Here are a few pictures of the process….
New CnC Lathe...
Flywheels going through the process....
The finished product....
08-15-2005, 06:49 PM
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What are the advantages of this flywheel as opposed to the flywheel shipped in the previous packages other than even longer life? What is the weight of this flywheel compared to the previous? How does the material used in the pressure plate compare to this new material?
08-15-2005, 06:51 PM
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Umm Wow!
I am soooo getting one when my cartek clutch blows up
Awesome work guys.
How much horse can this clutch stand up to? Boost? Juice? Stroked?
Do you get the smell of burnt clutch on a 5000 drop?
I am soooo getting one when my cartek clutch blows up
Awesome work guys.
How much horse can this clutch stand up to? Boost? Juice? Stroked?
Do you get the smell of burnt clutch on a 5000 drop?
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08-16-2005, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by MY99TAWS6
I am close to ordering a new textralia for my car and also have the same questions..cost with new flywheel..weight of new flywheel ?
Regards Wash
08-17-2005, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by CANNIBAL
Why would the standard flywheel still be offered with this new one out?
Hi Cannibal....The oem flywheel in our opinion is an excellent piece too.
Regards Jeff
08-17-2005, 11:48 AM
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Very interesting flywheel!!
You mention laser welding. I am curious as to what alloys you use in the laser welding (if you can tell me, my guess is no). I have done some work with what we call "laser clad" steel parts.
I am also curious as to what the hardness is of the new flywheel surface (on a Rockwell C scale)?
You mention laser welding. I am curious as to what alloys you use in the laser welding (if you can tell me, my guess is no). I have done some work with what we call "laser clad" steel parts.
I am also curious as to what the hardness is of the new flywheel surface (on a Rockwell C scale)?
08-17-2005, 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by CANNIBAL
Why was this better piece created, then?
Originally Posted by bowtieman81
Very interesting flywheel!!
(if you can tell me, my guess is no).
(if you can tell me, my guess is no).
08-18-2005, 11:29 AM
#18
A lighter flywheel will free up HP b/c less energy is required to spin it.
However, a lighter flywheel requires more RPMs when engaging the clutch b/c it has less mass now. This can make one more prone to chatter and higher RPMs to leave from a stop or launch vs a heavier flywheel.
This flywheel also has alloys more appropriately directed toward the disc material used to prolong its service interval.
However, a lighter flywheel requires more RPMs when engaging the clutch b/c it has less mass now. This can make one more prone to chatter and higher RPMs to leave from a stop or launch vs a heavier flywheel.
This flywheel also has alloys more appropriately directed toward the disc material used to prolong its service interval.
08-25-2005, 10:53 PM
#20
Is this flywheel tested at 700hp like the original steel flywheel clutch kit? What is the max safe recommended HP for the billet flywheel? I am running a twin turbo z28 and the lightened flywheel will help bring boost up quicker but i also plan to run an average of 600 + rwhp on the street and up to 900+ on an occasion or two (probably just dyno pulls). I am ready to buy but i just don't know what to buy.
Greg
Greg