Pros and Cons of Different Crankshaft Pulleys

[Boonies]

alright ive looked around the forums and have seen some opinions on different pulleys. So now im wondering what are the actual pros and cons of different pulleys. We are talking stock size here no power or oversized pulleys.

1.Aluminum pulley
Ya know emip, scat, ect with the degree rings on them

2.Berg Achiever

3.Berg Equalizer

4.Fisher Damper
or other damper pulleys

5.Stock vw pulley

6.Any other v belt pulley

7.Serpentine belt systems

Ive read what different sites have to say about them. Some of this may be true, all of it may be true, but im looking for people with first hand knowledge and experience with these. Also think it would be good to have a discussion that covers all of these for future use.

thanks

[Alan_U]

FISHER pulleys have been known to reduce harmonics and save conrod bearings amongst other things. Friend of mine found a harmonic damper pulley extend his conrod bearing life ALOT compared to using a "normal" aluminum one.

Some aftermarket aluminum pulleys are shorter so you need to put a spacer to shim out the pulley. CB's santana clone and the scat ones are known to require a spacer and some people get annoyed since theres no mention of a spacer requirement.

Heavy pulleys have no harmonic reduction effects. I wont ever use a heavy pulley. There are people noticing thier balanced rotating parts (crank, flywheel etc) to get out of balance significantly using a heavy pulley.

No idea how the serps work but would be neat for the track when you pull them off quickly.
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11.92sec pump gas true daily driver. Who says it cant be done.

No more time for VW's.......

[Boonies]

no one else has an thing to say... thats a first.

[Vayabroder]

I've read in different places that for street use it's better to stick with a steel pulley such as a stock one or a Berg Achiever. The Berg Equalizer is meant more for race cars and cars that will see lots of rpm's. As the other posts said, it has to deal with harmonics on the crankshaft and its effect on the engine case.

[Boonies]

Is there any advantage to running a aluminum pulley over a stock one on a daliy driver. What would be the disadvantage?

[Alan_U]

After talking to Bob at DMS I'd stick with an aluminum pulley if your not gonna dynamically balance the crank and flywheel all together.

He's seen heavy pulleys thow off the balance on units that are "balanced"

If I wanted a plulley that would help eliminate harmonics I'd buy a fisher. Putting a heavy pulley at the end of the crank does squat especially if its not balanced with the rotating mass.

Aluminum pulleys have timing ring/marks throughout the pulley usually. I guess thats a cosmetic but useful tool. If you like the look of a stock pulley stick with it.
_________________
11.92sec pump gas true daily driver. Who says it cant be done.

No more time for VW's.......

[mighty-manx]

We interupt this thread for an important hijacking...

I've looked and can't find a fisher listed anywere anybody got a link???

This hijacking is now over we return you to your origional thread programing

[TWD]

http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=ESM0037&cartid=0524200693430323

[glandnut]

For years I loved my Berg pulley... until the plating started to flake and it started to rust like crazy. I was diappointed as I thought I would buy one once and that would be it!
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Looking for aluminum single port Kadron manifolds.

[Glenn]

[TinCanFab]

I was under the impression that the heavy pulleys were designed to put weight back onto the crank after removing in from the flywheel side? My friend had one sent out to be balanced with his other parts, I agree it was out of balance-it runs smooth though

[glandnut]

Yeah, I expected mine to do the same Glenn. It started flaking near the hub and just kept going...
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Looking for aluminum single port Kadron manifolds.

[Glenn]

[Steve Arndt]

I like my Fisher. Sorry it is a little rusty. It is installed in a baja (no engine cover).

Steve

[[email protected]]

we are also just finishing the Fisher dampers in a Serpentine version (so it is compatible with our Fan-Clutch System).

John
Aircooled.Net Inc.

[Boonies]

So a damper would have little use on a stock car, correct. What would be the advantage of the aluminum ones with the degree ring? Would being lighter be a negative thing?

[Blaubus]

[Boonies]

how hot does aluminum have to get to start to expand? Seems like it would have to be rather hot...

[Vayabroder]

Actually the expansion rate of aluminum is rather large; that means that upon heating it will expand more than any other metal subjected to the same temperature change.

[Boonies]

And this is a common thing to happen on an aircooled vw?