RE: alfa-digest V9 #553

["Korolyshyn, Dan Mr. DAC DPW ENGR RESOURCE MGMT BR" <Dan.Korolyshyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Warren,

With all due respect, I too have a degree in mechanical engineering, and
have
been working with different materials for many years, but sometimes, though
the technology has greatly advanced in material as well as other sciences,
the
*Bean Counters* force the designers and engineers to cut corners and provide
materials that are either marginal or under-engineered, ie. too thin or weak
to
provide the service required for the duration hoped for.  As a result
materials 
often fail because either the best materials are not used or the parts are
too
thin, etc..  Case in point, just this week my Alfa mechanic showed me two
very 
interesting items in his shop.  One, a brand new front pulley for my Spider
that
he checked, fortunately, before installing and it was cracked in the keyway
so he 
had to get another one.  What if he hadn't checked, as many mechanics are
wont not 
to do, since it was brand new???  The other was a pressure plate from
another Alfa
that was broken into 4 pieces.  Material failure due to crystalization.
Cest la vie
as the French say.  Maybe that is why I am careful and will probably order a
steel
flywheel.

Ciao!
Dan K.

********************************************
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 08:30:37 +1000 
From: "Reid, Warren" <Warren.Reid@domain.elided>
Subject: flywheels

Hi Dan,
 
Just to allay some of your concerns about using "new flywheels". I would
actually think that you would be taking much more of a risk (albeit it very
small) with using a standard second hand flywheel, (even an Alfa one) for
two reasons:
 
(a) Alfa flywheels were originally cast iron and casting technology
(especially material quality) has improved dramatically over the last few
decades. I wont bore the digest by going into details.
(b) A thirty year old second hand flywheel is more likely to be fatigue
cracked than a new one! Given the choice of a new flywheel to a thirty year
old one at the same price (or even much cheaper), I know which one I would
be heading for!
 
By the way, I have a Master of Applied Science degree in Physical
Metallurgy.
 
Warren Reid
Melbourne Australia
68 1750 GTV
86 Spider Veloce

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