Flywheel

[DougS]

Hey Gang,

I've got a '91 XLT with over 200,000 miles on it. I put in a rebuilt engine about 25,000 mi ago and rebuilt the trans about 5,000 mi ago. In the last year, I have broken 3 flywheels. What could be causing this?

I have extended warrenties on both, but the shops that did the work are pointing the finger at each other. How can I determine whether it is a trans or engine problem?

Any responses would be appreciated.

 

[DrewP]

Weird! When you say "broken", how exactly did they break? Teeth missing, flywheel cracked in two... Are there hot spots on the flywheel? What's the condition of the other clutch components, like the throwout bearing/pilot bearing and pressure plate(if you have a standard)?

 

[jmarley]

Hi Doug,

I have a '91 also, I have replaced the flywheel 2 times in 2 years. The last time I ordered the spacer that goes between the flywheel and the crankshaft. This seems to have fixed the problem. Been running fine for over a year now. Hope this helps.

 

[DougS]

Hey Drew,

Thanks for getting back to me. First, it's an automatic. By "broken", I meant that it cracked and a piece or two broke off. I spoke with a mechanic today who said that it could be caused by a "walking crank shaft". That's a new one for me, but I'm going to find out if any one else had heard that term before. If this is the problem, I wonder what it will take to replace the bad shaft.

This seems to be an unusual problem. I did a search on this message board and found out that there isn't even one other reference to flywheels anywhere. Guess I'll have to keep digging.

 

[DougS]

Hey J,

Unfortunately, I already checked that possibility out and it wasn't it. Thanks for your suggestion anyway though. Back to the drawing board.