Sooty
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 1999
- Location
- Midlands, UK
Earlier today I was happily driving around and upon finding a nice quite stretch of road I decided to try and practice some fast launches (I’m in practice for a 1mile sprint start – don’t ask)
I managed two good starts, both around 1900rpm, lift the clutch, floor the accelerator – nominal spin was arrested by the Quaife, I was very pleased. At the third attempt I lifted the clutch, and heard an almighty noise from under the bonnet, I instantly switched off.
After opening the bonnet, I saw the remains of the crank ancillary drive wheel along with the anti vibration wheel happily sat next to the fuel pump! With the ancillary drive belt resting on the lower engine cover. At first I assumed the worst, after calling out the VW OnCall service a friendly VW mechanic came and had a look at what I had done. He found that I had sheared all four bolts that hold the anti vibration wheel to the crank pulley wheel, the noise would have been generated by an out of control anti vibration wheel bouncing around the engine bay.
The car was taken to my faithful VW dealer, who happened to have a spare anti vibration wheel in stock (it’s a first for them to have the correct part in stock
) it was changed, along with a new belt and guide wheel. The crank pulley wheel was removed and checked for damage and finally replaced with a new belt.
Thankfully not a great problem, the anti vibration wheel and belt did not cause any damage – apart from the odd paint scuff.
While I know what triggered the failure, I’m on two minds as to the real cause behind the failure. On the one hand the car is a 90hp engine tweaked to 150hp which I am fully aware will induce more than normal stresses. On the other hand the car has done over 180,00 miles..
Your opinions ladies and gentlemen, was it fair wear & tear, or am I guilty of abuse.
I managed two good starts, both around 1900rpm, lift the clutch, floor the accelerator – nominal spin was arrested by the Quaife, I was very pleased. At the third attempt I lifted the clutch, and heard an almighty noise from under the bonnet, I instantly switched off.
After opening the bonnet, I saw the remains of the crank ancillary drive wheel along with the anti vibration wheel happily sat next to the fuel pump! With the ancillary drive belt resting on the lower engine cover. At first I assumed the worst, after calling out the VW OnCall service a friendly VW mechanic came and had a look at what I had done. He found that I had sheared all four bolts that hold the anti vibration wheel to the crank pulley wheel, the noise would have been generated by an out of control anti vibration wheel bouncing around the engine bay.
The car was taken to my faithful VW dealer, who happened to have a spare anti vibration wheel in stock (it’s a first for them to have the correct part in stock
Thankfully not a great problem, the anti vibration wheel and belt did not cause any damage – apart from the odd paint scuff.
While I know what triggered the failure, I’m on two minds as to the real cause behind the failure. On the one hand the car is a 90hp engine tweaked to 150hp which I am fully aware will induce more than normal stresses. On the other hand the car has done over 180,00 miles..
Your opinions ladies and gentlemen, was it fair wear & tear, or am I guilty of abuse.