TomB Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 Is it possible to lighten my normal 1.4k flywheel? Which type of specialist would I have to contact & would it likely be worth the effort considering they are £100 from CC? I was wondering if I could find a local engineering place to do it for a wad of greasy fivers & no VAT?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted September 19, 2004 Area Representative Share Posted September 19, 2004 Tom, A badly lightened flywheel could explode, break it's way through the bell housing, through the tunnel, then through your legs ❗ I'd buy one from one of the specialists! The 1400 one at £100 from CC looks good value, but only refers to it as "light weight",but the £250 one is listed as "ultralight weight". The very light ones are made of different material. May be worth doing some research to find out exactly what you've got fitted now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted September 19, 2004 Author Share Posted September 19, 2004 I did hear of a Lowcost builder lightening a FW by drilling lots of holes in it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EFA Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 Unlike Nike, the reccomendation here is "Don't do it" Ex Fat Arnie Shameless Site Manager Approved Commercial Link here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 I think it was Arnies special friend Joachim that once had the experience of a disintegrating flywheel. I saw some pictures of this, and I would NEVER take the risk of such a thing! /r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted September 19, 2004 Leadership Team Share Posted September 19, 2004 Tom - I've been telling you for months to get the lightweight one from Caterham. It is a specific lightweight flywheel rather than a lightened "normal flywheel", and is a pukka piece of kit. All the lightweight flywheels, 1400, 1600, 1800, Superlight / Superlight R are the same weight - only exeption is the R500 flywheel which is lighter still. Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted September 19, 2004 Author Share Posted September 19, 2004 OK, a bad idea, thanks chaps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikehoile Posted September 19, 2004 Share Posted September 19, 2004 Thinking of something next to do am considering fitting a lighter flywheel & take note of the pitfalls in the postings!! --But what difference has anyone noticed, ie does it affect general driving from the standard unit & is it a worthwhile excercise. Ive got to replace the thrust bearing this week so thought it might be worth doing whilst the engine is out..? Regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted September 19, 2004 Author Share Posted September 19, 2004 Stu, I know you have, I just didnt want to do it as Im scared of taking the engine out!! THere was a standard one for sale & I just wondered whether it could be lightened. My mate has volunteered to help with the HG change & while we are at it, he is going to help me take the engine out to show me how easy it is!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted September 20, 2004 Leadership Team Share Posted September 20, 2004 I believe Caterham stock is down to single figure of the l/w 1400 flywheels Make that decision quickly - when they're no longer available new, s/h value will probably be more than the £100 that caterham want 🤔 Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 Mike The advantage of the lighter flywheel is less inertia so the engine response is better in lower gears with the engine revving more freely. The only downside is when driving in slow moving traffic when it can be a little more jerky but this is overcome by adjusting your driving style. I fitted the R500 flywheel last year and I'm pleased with the results. Mark D Su77on Se7ens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luddites7 Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 I bought a 1400 Lightweight one from CC a couple of weeks ago and they had 5 in stock at the time - I have since found the car already has one 😳 - oops - lucky the clutch needed replacing anyway so the whole engine out wasn't a complete waste of time. Think the 1400 weighs in at about 3.7 Kg Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whitley Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 The only downside is when driving in slow moving traffic when it can be a little more jerky but this is overcome by adjusting your driving styleI haven't worked out how to adjust my driving style to overcome the kangaroo hops 😳 when trying to use part throttle, but they may be partly due to the partial mismatch between my ECU and engine. M1 7 SMW 1.4-now-1.8K Mem.No. 10376 Picture here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 Tom I recently purchased a 1400 LW flywheel from CC and I can confirm Stu's post that they only have a few left. Good value at £100. Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Howe Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 Forget lightening a cast iron flywheel. unless you are also looking to save the extra weight of a leg or two! 1400cc flywheel, as previously mentioned, are in the bargin basement - strange for CC to be offering a deal. Your will experience quicker pickup i.e. less mass to wind up and most cetainly obtain better engine braking. Hi Mike (a.k.a. Sid Nasty), where is your pic CD's? JH Deliveries by Saffron, the yellow 222bhp Sausage delivery machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikehoile Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 Thanks guys, have been thinking about the flywheel mod for some time & your comments are as I had expected about the running of the engine, I wondered how some owners might have found their cars behaved afterwards so was reluctant but it seems to be worthwhile in the interest of upgrade-it-is !! John, picky's will be with u soon. Cannot get the B....y things in the right order st present & have been a tad busy -- will E you soon. Mike alias Sid Nasty !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted September 20, 2004 Author Share Posted September 20, 2004 Right then, push comes to shove! Ive just ordered online the last 2 lightweight flywheels for me & LancasterBob. As long as no one has ordered one since 3 pm this afternoon, I'll be happy!! Now I'll need to do some bribing to get help fitting it!! Any tops tips or brief instructions would be appreciated!! Looks like Im going to have break my mental block on taking the engine out!! 😳 Edited by - TomB on 20 Sep 2004 19:48:55 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LancasterBob Posted September 20, 2004 Share Posted September 20, 2004 I'll give you a hand. We can do yours first, then move onto mine once we've found all the pitfalls. Might be an idea to replace the flywheel bolts; if memory serves they are some weird catering-van specific concoction. Rob Fishy 1400 Supersport, 75% complete, complete with C3 in the passenger seat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 IIRC the bolts that hold the clutch cover to the flywheel are a bigger size than the standards, M8 possibly but I cannot be sure so I suggest you check with Caterham. Other than that its fairly striaight forward just make sure you align the centre plate correctly and whilst you have the engine out it might be worth changing the foam baffle in the sump if it has not been done recently. Mark D Su77on Se7ens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Whitley Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 No magic tricks involved apart from the clutch cover bolts - M9 rings a bell, but I re-used the ones I had anyway, maybe I was lucky. Check A&T's website, I'm sure there's something about it there. You might want to change the CRB while the engine's out. And check the state of the clutch obviously. M1 7 SMW 1.4-now-1.8K Mem.No. 10376 Picture here 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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