Where to get a stock flywheel machined down in AZ?

[Dietrich]

Anyone know were to get a flywheel machined down/lightened in Arizona? I have a spare (Thanks Rule62!) that I'm thinking of swapping out very soon...

[25695]

Tom Hull

www.tomsitaliantuneandservice.com

[rule62]

Originally Posted by NAKID

Tom Hull

www.tomsitaliantuneandservice.com

+1 he milled and installed mine. Drop it off to him first so he can get the milling done. He'll call you when it's ready to install. It's a GREAT modification! I went down to about a pound and a half and it's just about right.

[Dietrich]

I've tried contacting Tom a couple times over the last year and a half, with no response (email and phone messages). Oh well. I dropped the flywheel off today at lunch at Competition Machine. They do performance work on VW, Porsche, drag bikes, etc. They do this kind of work all the time, so are well euipped to do the work. Pick it up next week, and will report back how it feels once it's installed. I weighted the stock flywheel on my digital postal scale and it came out at 4lbs 1.7 oz. I'm going pretty agressive with the material I told the guy to take off (without any fancy machine work), and am hoping to cut the weight in half.

[rule62]

Half weight seems like a good compromise. I've heard that those aluminum jobs are a littl too light at 8 - 10 ounces. Stalling, rough idle etc. Another supposed benefit of milling the stocker is the strength of the splines that hold the flywheel to the shaft. A few reports of failure with the aluminum pieces. And make sure you don't reverse the sprague/starter clutch direction upon install. :P

[Dietrich]

FLYWHEEL ON.
OK, so I know I'm not the first person to do this, but thought I would share my experience... The machine shop was able to get the weight down from 4.11 lbs to 2.31 lbs. I installed it myself over a couple evenings.

A couple pics(Stock flywheel on the left):

[img width=600 height=381]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/FlywheelInstall/FlywheelInstall3-20-08b.jpg[/img]

[img width=600 height=408]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/FlywheelInstall/FlywheelInstall3-20-08a.jpg[/img]

To do the fly wheel install you need a cover puller (ducati specific or modd'ed universal puller), some red locktite, blue locktite, case sealer (grey Threebond, 1104), metric allens, torxs bits to swap the alternator rotor, 30mm deep socket, impact wrench, torque wrench for samll bolts, torque wrench good for at least 150 ft.lbs, some degreaser such as brake cleaner, a bunch of rags and a penny. The penny is used to jam in the starter gear when you torque the nut back on, works great. Oh, and whatever you need to do an oil change (minimum, new oil).

I had to get a couple tools, so I went to what I like to call "the dollar store for guys", Harbor Freight Tools.

I got this electric impact wrench, 240 ft.lb capacity, less than $40:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45252

And this deep socket set under $20:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34683

[img width=600 height=450]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/FlywheelInstall/FlywheelInstall3-20-08e.jpg[/img]

I picked up the flywheel from the machine shop on Wednesday, and had the bike back together Thursday night (adjusted valves also, which added some time). Rode to work and around town yesterday, and it feels great. It's a subtle change. The bike feels a little lighter, and a bit more rev happy. Idles fine, but you can feel the power pulses a little more through the pegs. So far what I really like about it is shifting! It is so easy to rev match now that you can just snick it into gear when up or downshifting and the motor just seems to imediately be at the right RPM, smooth... (I've heard of lightweight flywheels being called a "poor man's slipper clutch".)

[img width=600 height=450]http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/dietrichpfeifer/FlywheelInstall/FlywheelInstall3-20-08d.jpg[/img]

I'll have a better impression when I can get it out in the twisties, but for now I would consider this a worthwhile mod! 8)

[Monster Dave]

Dietrich, I really think that the remains of a crazy Ducati mechanic from a past life of yours still lives on in you today.

Awesome as usual. [thumbsup]

[rule62]

I felt the same improvement in shifting. When you get it into the twisties, see if the bike seems more "flickable". It was my experience that my bike seemed easier to throw from a right/left transition and back, after the lightened flywheel was installed. Less rotating mass. What's your impression?

[s4_randy]

i would agree with the improved flickability. I had an STM lightened flywheel installed in my S4, at the same time the aluminum clutch & basket were installed. vast improvement [thumbsup]