Flywheel: resurface or replace?

[virusdoc]

I'm rebuilding my '76 vert engine, and the flywheel I pulled off is very heavily glazed, has some pitting, and also was clearly parked for some time in direct contact with clutch rivets (leading to worse pitting in those contact areas). So I guess now I know why my clutch shuddered miserably when engaging first gear!

I believe it is the original flywheel for this engine. Should I resurface it, or invest in a new one? If the latter, I'd welcome recommendations for high quality balanced flywheel vendors. Thanks!

_________________
1976 Convertible Super Beetle, "June Bug".
FI-->34PICT3 carb conversion-->now dual 40 IDFs
Self-rebuilt 1904 (after totally botching a 1641 rebuild, cussing a lot, and throwing lots of cash in the fire)

[Dan the workingstiff]

I agree that "seems" fairly pitted. What are specs on it?

[virusdoc]

[Glenn]

It's burnt and checked... replace it.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[wcfvw69]

[Glenn]

[windfish]

fwiw, I bought this one to pair with my counterweighted crank - https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/1303.htm
Machine shop said it didn't take much to balance it.
They carry a standard version as well - https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/1308.htm

Wouldn't surprise me if Hicks had a pile of old German flywheels if you wanted used.

[Glenn]

[volksworld]

if you get it or another one resurfaced the shop doing the job has to be aware that the surface that the pressure plate bolts onto needs to be machined as well or the pressure plate wont apply sufficient clamping force...this additional cut makes them more expensive to resurface than "regular" flywheels....

[Zundfolge1432]

It’s so easy to look at a picture and pronounce a part bad, I cannot. OEM flywheels are forged and they are tough and they can be rebuilt in most cases. It’s not the face that causes the problems but where it mates to crankshaft, wear at the dowels the seal area and runout. The face can be cut and an equal cut along the mounting surface to keep engagement within specs. The teeth can be machined off and a new ring gear pressed on. All of this can be done but who even rebuilds flywheels anymore? With every passing year less and less support for refurbished OEM parts and people hang more and more chinese junk. What you want to find is a stash of original flywheels. They are still out there gathering dust just like the ones you see here. Shipping costs eat up any chance of sending out to those in need.

[Buggeee]

[wcfvw69]

[VW_Jimbo]

I just took four flywheels into DPR in Santa Ana, CA to have them resurfaced. They came back perfect!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Glenn]

[scdevon]

I haven't killed a German flywheel yet. The things seem indestructible even the ring gear teeth. The flywheel in the picture looks kind of whooped, but it depends how deep the heat checking and pitting on the face is.
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1970 Beetle 1600 DP

[virusdoc]

Thanks for all the perspectives and suggestions. I have decided to try to find a local machine shop that can resurface this, if it can still be within specs. That might be a challenge--there are no machine shops in the Raleigh Durham area that do VW work anymore. There is one about an hour from here that might--I have a call in to them.

If I can't get it resurfaced I'll buy one from DPR machine shop that Glenn linked above.
_________________
1976 Convertible Super Beetle, "June Bug".
FI-->34PICT3 carb conversion-->now dual 40 IDFs
Self-rebuilt 1904 (after totally botching a 1641 rebuild, cussing a lot, and throwing lots of cash in the fire)

[RWK]

Like mentioned above what ever they grind off clutch face should be removed from PP mounting surface. Some shops have a problem with this because of the recess the PP mounts on, I believe the depth number is around .825 +-, or 21mm, but don't hold me to it, I have a couple here, that's what is marked on them, number I gave to a local shop to grind them to.
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73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530

[Alan Brase]

[heimlich]

[virusdoc]

Good news: I found a semi-local machine shop (less than an hour drive from home) that can properly machine both surfaces of my stock flywheel for $35.

He will also balance the entire rotating assembly for me (flywheel, pressure plate, crank, rods, pistons). The balancing may be unnecessary, but it's not that expensive and I've worked with too many unbalanced centrifuges in my career to be not do it. At 3000-4000 rpm, a small percent imbalance makes for a really rough spin. I have to imagine the same is true for the lower end of an engine, and that unequal force can't be good for bearings and other force-bearing parts.
_________________
1976 Convertible Super Beetle, "June Bug".
FI-->34PICT3 carb conversion-->now dual 40 IDFs
Self-rebuilt 1904 (after totally botching a 1641 rebuild, cussing a lot, and throwing lots of cash in the fire)