Flywheel Maintenance

Professional Long Island Flywheel Services

When it comes to flywheel maintenance, it is imperative that users make sure they look after the flywheel properly. Otherwise, you run a greater risk of it being in need of repair. And not only is that bad for your wallet, but it may also be bad for your health!

First, let's briefly discuss what a flywheel is. A flywheel is a metal disc that resembles a gear. It is positioned between your clutch and the transmission helps to provide power to and from the engine and the transmission. Any manual automobile, heavy-duty truck, or big rig has a flywheel.

Over time with normal use, the flywheel will develop grooves, imperfections or will simply wear thin. When this happens, professional flywheel services may be in order! So please, do not hesitate to reach out to us today to learn more about our flywheel services and repair. Get affordable work done to improve your flywheel!

What is a Flywheel?

A flywheel is a heavy disc that attaches to the end of a rotating shaft that helps smooth out the engine's power pulses and stores energy through rotational momentum. A flywheel typically is a solid, metal disc that is about one inch thick and a foot in diameter. However, it can take on other forms such as a cylinder or an outside ring with spokes like a wagon wheel. The flywheel attaches to the end of the engine's crankshaft, where it bolts to the transmission.

Signs For Flywheel Maintenance

When you use a flywheel, it has normal wear and tear. Over time. these issues may escalate and require a resurfacing or other services to improve the flywheel. Flywheel maintenance is required from time to time, even when you use it is accordance and there is no over-exertion. Here are some common signs to look out for when you suspect that you may need flywheel maintenance.

Slipping Gears

When you slip gears, your car just slips back into the previous gear and does not reach the more advanced gear. As you shift, the engine revs and you can tell that the gears did not successfully shift. Slipping gears is a sign of clutch trouble. So when you experience slipping gears, then you need to make sure the clutch is working fine or if the flywheel is in line for maintenance.

Vibrating Clutch

You expect to feel a smooth pedal that pushes down as you step on the clutch. However, if the flywheel is going bad, then you will not feel this smooth pedal. Instead, what you will feel is a vibration as soon as you place your foot on the clutch or press down on it. In most cases, the vibration tends to get stronger as you push on the clutch pedal.

A Burning Smell Arises

If you smell something burning as you shift in or out of gears then you may have problems with both your clutch and your flywheel. You will notice this smell in your cabin, so it is hard to miss. A quick way to check for the flywheel is to lift up the hood of your car. If there is no scent there, then this is a problem with the flywheel or clutch and not with the engine. When this smell arises, bring it to a professional for them to check it out. Because you likely need flywheel maintenance!

Your Clutch is Chattering

When you release the clutch to switch gears you may hear some chattering. So, instead of a smooth shift, you will feel some stuttering and vibrating. When this happens, you may feel like your car is going to stall switching gears, which is not a great feeling. Because your car may actually stall!

When you start to drive from a complete stop is the most likely scenario of a chattering clutch. However, any time you switch gears you may experience it. There are a few different reasons you may experience clutch chattering. So when you do, bring it down to Thomas Auto, because we offer top-notch flywheel maintenance. We will diagnose the issues and repair and resurface it for you.

Why is Flywheel Maintenance Important?

Many cars have a four-stroke design with each stroke being 180 degrees or one-half turn of the crankshaft. Of those four strokes, intake, compression, power, and exhaust), but only the power stroke encourages the crankshaft to turn. The compression stroke coming right before it adds a load to the crankshaft, while the crankshaft simply coasts through the exhaust and intake strokes.

So why is the flywheel important? Well, without a flywheel to smooth things out, the crankshaft would slow down during the compression stroke, then accelerate rapidly during the power stroke, coast through the exhaust and intake strokes, then repeat the process. This is a problem because it would result in an uneven flow of power and a decent amount of vibration. The flywheel is important, because it helps to rotate the shaft at a more consistent speed, so its maintenance takes on more of an importance. Otherwise, issues will arise with the engine.