MI Pulley Black and Red Colors!

[DJYojimbo]

These are soooooo tempting to get! Definitely saving up for the black ones! :) Garm you are the man! http://shop.microimageonline.com/MI-Lightweight-Crank-Pulley-MI-LWCP-Yaris.htm

[bambam28]

Question...I am planning on buying it...BUTTTT what would be the consequences if it doesnt have the harmonic balancer???

[CrankyOldMan]

Question...I am planning on buying it...BUTTTT what would be the consequences if it doesnt have the harmonic balancer???

Long story short: a harmonic balancer only applies to longer, heavier crankshafts, particularly on inline-6 or V-8's. There is a LOT of discussion on these forums about it, so I'm not going to reproduce all of it here. The bottom line for us is: lots of people have lightweight crank pulleys, nobody has reported any sort of engine failure as a direct result of using one, even under very heavy race conditions.

[bambam28]

Thank You Crankyoldman...could you try to tell me the power gains is it worth it? I know the acceleration will be better, but since there is less rotational mass it also means there is less inercia...give me your thoughts please :)

[CrankyOldMan]

I would be willing to bet that it frees up only 3 or 4 HP, but with our little car, it makes a big difference.

[DJYojimbo]

I heard it helps when going uphill! Since these are already painted? Will they be able to handle salt? I live in chicago. Snow is supposed to come soon I think haha! (No snowstorm yet)

[jpmck03]

I heard it helps when going uphill! Since these are already painted?

It most certainly does! One of the main things I like about mine.

Will they be able to handle salt? I live in chicago. Snow is supposed to come soon I think haha! (No snowstorm yet)

I'd hope so, but I'll find out this winter too. I would think that with the location of the pulley and the way the wheel well lining is that it should remain pretty protected and dry...

[DJYojimbo]

Jpmck03 thank you sir! I'm hoping to get the MI Pulley mid January or February!

[cali yaris]

The new pulleys are hard anodized, not painted. The anodizing will help protect against the elements. I don't anticipate any problems with corrosion.

Lightweight rotating elements, like pulleys, flywheels, and wheels/tires, confer more responsiveness and feel than actual measurable horsepower, but it is a noticeable difference.

[DJYojimbo]

:thumbup: :w00t: :clap: :bow: Dang best news ever!

[CrankyOldMan]

Lightweight rotating elements, like pulleys, flywheels, and wheels/tires, confer more responsiveness and feel than actual measurable horsepower, but it is a noticeable difference.

Doh. I oversimplified the result. You're not actually adding horsepower, you're just removing parasitic losses. The net result is that your acceleration curve as a function of time has a steeper slope. I don't think it would show up on a dyno, since that is hp/torque vs RPM, not time.

For racing purposes this means reaching the power band sooner--so your elapsed times will decrease. For daily driving, this means less energy spent spinning up the pulley--decreasing fuel consumption.

I frequently have issues with acceleration wheel spin (outside of ideal road conditions) and my only other engine mod is a drop-in high-flow filter. I can only imagine what a lightweight flywheel and I/H/E would do. Perhaps it would require me to add that magical LSD?

[imike929]

how easy of an install is this for say...a beginner? lol:iono:

[tooter]

Doh. I oversimplified the result. You're not actually adding horsepower, you're just removing parasitic losses.

I think it would be more like removing inertial force. The motor would work harder to get the heavier stock pully spinning, but the stored inertial energy in the pulley would resist slowing down.

The net result is that your acceleration curve as a function of time has a steeper slope.

Yes, both the acceleration and deceleration curve would be steeper because of less rotating mass. Essentially a similar effect to a lightweight flywheel.

[jpmck03]

how easy of an install is this for say...a beginner? lol:iono:

It's not too bad. Jack up the car. Put it on jack stands. Take off the front passenger wheel. Pop off the wheel well panel. Remove the old pulley. Put on the new one. Put everything back together.

There are a few links in my sig on how to install it and a review of the pulley itself.

[cali yaris]

Hardest part is the one bolt that holds it on. Can be tough to remove (depends on which guy in the Toyota factory put it on there, lol), and should be torqued correctly on install. Make sure you adjust your belt correctly also.