McLaren F1 flywheel question
HansGruber
05-17-2012, 01:31 PM
Hello, I am doing a project on the McLaren F1 and have a question regarding the flywheel.
In a Road & Track article I found, Gordon Murray says the engine has no fly wheel.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/special-report/salon-mclaren-f1-lm/page_2_-_salon-3a_mclaren_f1_lm_page_2
"This is mainly due to lightweight reciprocating components but also because the engine has no flywheel and a 3-kg carbon-carbon clutch assembly."
But other sources state otherwise, saying it had a very light and minimal flywheel to reduce weight. I found this picture of the engine which shows what appears to be a flywheel.
Can someone please explain this to me. Thanks,
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/lotusnut/cars/764216306_809b1026c3_b.jpg
In a Road & Track article I found, Gordon Murray says the engine has no fly wheel.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/special-report/salon-mclaren-f1-lm/page_2_-_salon-3a_mclaren_f1_lm_page_2
"This is mainly due to lightweight reciprocating components but also because the engine has no flywheel and a 3-kg carbon-carbon clutch assembly."
But other sources state otherwise, saying it had a very light and minimal flywheel to reduce weight. I found this picture of the engine which shows what appears to be a flywheel.
Can someone please explain this to me. Thanks,
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/lotusnut/cars/764216306_809b1026c3_b.jpg
carbuilder2002
05-17-2012, 07:42 PM
The term no flywheel strictly speaking is both correct and incorrect, correct in that what you see is basically just a ring gear for the starter pinion to engage, however saying that no matter how light there will inevitably be some flywheel effect due to the thickness of the toothed portion of the plate acting at a distance from the centre. As most will know the best flywheels have the mass at the periphery so it will act like a flywheel, albeit a very minimal one.
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