Many have wondered how a flywheel has been able to start an engine; in the course of the article, I will answer the question, how does the flywheel start the engine?
With the help of the Kickstarter solenoid, the current from the battery makes the flywheel start running, and after the initial start, the inertia force helps it to keep running.
I couldn’t start my engine when my Kickstarter was damaged because nothing was rotating my flywheel during the initial start-up.
Below, I will explain more about flywheel starts the engine.
How Does Flywheel Start An Engine
As the name implies, a flywheel is a wheel that rotates very fast and is part of the engine component. With the help of a tooth ring around it, the Flywheel helps in engine rotation. Let us consider in detail how the Flywheel helps in engine rotations.
A toothed ring is pressed around the circumference of the Flywheel, which serves as a connection for the starter pinion. When the engine is started, the starter pinion slides out, which fits precisely into the flywheel ring gear. The pinion spins the Flywheel, which starts the engine.
When you get in the car and turn the ignition key, a small gear called a Bendix with a flywheel engages and turns it. It rotates the crankshaft, which begins the compression cycle needed to start the engine. After starting the internal combustion engine, the Bendix is ”pulled out” and allows the Flywheel to rotate smoothly.
Rotating the Flywheel at 2,000 rpm is not a big problem now. It is within the material’s capabilities as long as the Flywheel is balanced. Other elements in the engine are subject to a much higher load.
For example, the pistons also go through a full stroke (up + down) 33 times per second at these engine speeds, going from 0 to 100 km / h with each stroke. The pistons experience forces G in 1000 G. The valves undergo similar forces.
The main components of starting components are:
- Electric motor;
- Retractor relays;
- Bendix pinion;
In short, a flywheel with ring gear is mounted on the engine’s crankshaft. When the starter is on, the starter converter engages the flywheel ring, and the electric motor rotates the crankshaft.
After starting the engine, the starter passing the clutch disengages the gear on the shaft when the engine speed exceeds the starter speed.
What are the Engine Flywheel Material
The Flywheel is made of a special steel alloy and is usually dynamically balanced with the crankshaft, so no deviations occur at high speeds.
It is very obvious that this mechanical component is made of materials that are highly resistant to high temperatures and friction, so the material with which it is mainly made is cast iron or steel,
The assembly of the engine flywheel on the crankshaft is carried out in a single possible position, in such a way that the more cylinders the car engine has, the rotation of the car will be more regular, so the necessary mass of the Flywheel will be less
So with the help of the Flywheel, the rotation of the crankshaft is regulated and kept constant
Is the Flywheel Part of Diesel Engine
The answer is yes. A flywheel is part of a diesel engine. Let us dig deep about Flywheel a little to get it more clearly.
A flywheel is a crank mechanism assembly located on the end of the crankshaft, a metal disk of large mass with a gear rim, which ensures the stable operation of the motor due to the accumulation and subsequent release of kinetic energy.
The work of reciprocating internal combustion engines is uneven – in each of its cylinders, four strokes are performed in two shaft revolutions. In each stroke, the speed of the piston is different.
To eliminate the uneven rotation of the crankshaft, the engine flywheel was made in the form of a massive metal wheel fixed on the rear of the crankshaft.
How Does A Flywheel Operate
When you get in the car and turn the key in the ignition, a small gear called “Bendix” is engaged and turned with the flywheel.
Then, in turn, rotates the crankshaft, which begins the compression cycle necessary to start the engine.
As soon as the internal combustion engine starts, the bendix is stuck back, and the flywheel is allowed to spin smoothly with the help of inertia.
For those who still don’t know what inertia is, we can define it as the motion that an object sustains without a force acting on it.
So the flywheel only needed initial assistance from the Kickstarter; after that, it started running on its own based on the stored power from the engine
What Are The 3 Main Purpose Of A Flywheel
Let’s discuss 3 main functions of the flywheel
1. The flywheel helps engines with fewer than four cylinders overcome idle strokes and top and bottom dead center.
The flywheel thus ensures that the engine runs smoothly, even at low speeds, and also influences the response behavior of the engine.
2. In addition, the flywheel also serves as a clutch carrier. The clutch is attached to it, and the flywheel is rotating; it also helps the clutch to rotate.
3. It serves as the bridge between the engine and the clutch. It transfers the rotation from the engine to the clutch or the transmission for movement to be possible.
How Many Flywheel Does A Car Have
Every car has a single flywheel. Have not seen a car with a double flywheel.
When talking about one flywheel, I am not talking about types of flywheels, single and double types of flywheels.
In this context, I am referring to how many flywheels an engine has. For example, a four-cylinder engine will surely have four pistons. Each cylinder has one piston.
So as a component, a car has a flywheel.
Although, there are engines with double flywheels, which means there is a flywheel at the side of the engine.
Both end ends of the crankshaft have each flywheel. But this engine is not used in a car.
So, in summary, a car has only one flywheel.
What Are The Main Components Of A Flywheel
1. Bow springs: The bow spring is installed in the spring channel of the dual-mass flywheel and rests on a guide.
In operation, the coils of the bow spring slide along the guide, thus creating friction and therefore damping.
2. Friction control discs: This component is only found on some dual-mass flywheel models.
3. Flange: The flange transmits torque from the primary to the secondary mass using the bow springs from the engine to the clutch.
4. Bearing: The bearing seat is located in the primary mass. A pivot bearing connects the primary and secondary masses.
5. Secondary mass: The dual mass flywheel is connected to the powertrain on the gearbox side via the secondary mass.
6. Primary mass: The primary mass is attached to the engine crankshaft. Its inertia is combined with the crankshaft to form a single unit.
Where Is Flywheel Located In A Car
Flywheel is located at the end of the crankshaft on the opposite side of the radiator.
It is connected to the clutch and transmission.
If you are unfamiliar with the engine, you may find it difficult to locate the flywheel because it is not visible unless you remove the transmission completely.
There is a housing where the flywheel is located, called flywheel housing.
You can use your flywheel very well when you remove the clutch.
Is Flywheel Part Of Engine Or Clutch
Flywheel is part of the engine and only works with the clutch.
For instance, if you want to buy an engine, the engine will come together with the flywheel.
If you are to name the engine components, the flywheel is one of the major engine components; naming the engine components without mentioning the flywheel is unacceptable.
Many think the flywheel is not part of the engine because of its closeness to the clutch. Flywheel is a clutch carrier, but that never made part of the clutch.
If you are to buy a clutch, the flywheel will not come together with it, but if you are replacing your engine, the flywheel will surely come together with the engine, making it part of the engine, not the clutch.
How Do You Know If Your Flywheel Is Bad
1. Shifting Problem: If you try to shift a gear instead of the clutch responding appropriately, the next gear may not go or go but immediately reverts to the previous one. That is most likely due to a worn flywheel.
In this case, you will hear a loud noise like grinding and friction.
2. The Smell of Burning: One of the main symptoms of a worn flywheel is the smell of burning, which can be felt even inside the car. This smell occurs when the clutch is defective, which generates a lot of heat.
3. Vibration: When Depressing the Clutch Pedal
If you feel vibration when you depress the clutch pedal, this is usually a sign of flywheel spring bearing wear.
Summary
How does the flywheel start the engine? You can now boldly answer if you are asked this because you know what you read from this article.
The article also mentioned how flywheel work and the location of the flywheel in an engine
You also need to remember the flywheel components and types of flywheels available.
As I mentioned in the article, the flywheel is a part of the engine, not a clutch.