8 dowel flywheel on 4 dowel crank; any issues?

[DonziGT230]

I have a lightened 8 dowel I got from a buddy I'd like to put on my stocker. It seems to fit fine, not as tight as the stock one which fits very tight, but not loose at all. Looks like there'd be no problem, just making sure there's not something I've overlooked. Most importantly, could it have different balance? I think vw wheels are neutral balance-?- It was on a forged 84mm stroker crank. I will be rechecking thrust in case it's different.
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I refuse to call a distributor a dizzy--earthquake.

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[jeffsbugs]

I wouldn't recommend doing this.

If you want to use an 8 dowel flywheel get the crank drilled for 8 dowels. You don't want that connection to come loose.

http://www.aircooledtech.com/8_doweling_crank/

I had a lightened flywheel on my baja and hated it. Very much reduced rotational mass to go slow and crawl over stuff and also to coast. Very good throttle response though.

Jeff
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'73 Westfalia, rebuilt 1700, dual OG solex - 3500 miles and counting
'62 Baja

[oukno]

Just buy the die/tool
Drill your stock crank and make it an 8early dowel
otherwise I do see it as being a weak spot in a place you don't want things to be weak
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74 Scout II
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Love them all but I never enough time to play with them.

[DonziGT230]

Ok, thanks guys.
Are flywheels ever balanced to the motor or are they always neutral balance?
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I refuse to call a distributor a dizzy--earthquake.

The glass is always full and I can prove it!--me

[gargamel]

Old post but it on the question I also have.

Seller just sent me a nice German flywheel but it has 8 holes while I requested 4 hole. He stated that I did not need to waste money sending my crank to get it machined for a 8 dowel since my stock 1600 engine would not put any punishment on the flyweel and I can easily run it with 4 dowels. Of course he said the internet guys are misleading me. Go figure.

Any thoughts?

[joescoolcustoms]

You will have 4 extra holes. Those holes are a weak area at a small circle of high torque. The flywheel is not hardened and even though the stock engine is regarded as low on power, it can deform the area around the dowells and slowly move metal into the open hole area making the dowell occupied hole oblong.

I have seen this happen on engines I have torn down that ran a 8 dowell on one side and 4 dowells on the other.

I have sucessfully cut dowells to where they will fit into the open holes, sit just below the gland nut seating surface and run them many years without metal deformation. The dowells are hardened steel and hard to cut, but fill that gap and keep the softer metal around it from moving.

It also appears to me your parts supplier does not want to make the purchase right. Don't settle, you will pay for it in the end. I would 8 dowell the crank if you have the crank out of the case.
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[donbarnes]

I've forgotten the whole issue now, but it seems I tried to put a 8-dowel CB flywheeel on a stock crank and one of those holes on a 8-dowel is slightly offset and it wouldn't fit right on the stock crank? Can't remember now what fix I used...
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Hater of cheap parts and poor workmanship..

[Glenn]

[joescoolcustoms]

[joescoolcustoms]

Did not see Glenns post.
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Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

[EMPIImp69]

If you leave the 8 dowell flywheel on a 4 dowel crank, when you do some offroad beatings, you will ruin the crank and flywheel. Especially if you like to dump the clutch and spin the wheels in dirt and sand.
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1966 Vert Bug

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