Really bad experience with Kraftwerks C30 supercharger

[wqc3241]

My friend suggested me to go with Kraftwerks C30 supercharger when I first had a thought to get some more power from either turbo or supercharger. And I heared his advise.

It was all good at begining, before I go to track. It seems no problem at all for me to daily drive it.

However, on my first open track day with this supercharger, the belt was broken.
All the jags was gone, it just became a flat belt. So I have to cut it.

Then they sent me another belt later, and I went to track again. Well, it's broken again. This time, it just "explode" everywhere in my engine bay. I don't even need to cut it. The material of the belt was spilled everywhere inside my engine bay.

After the second broken, I ask them for 3 belts. I ordered two extra belts besides the one under the warranty, just in case it will broken again.

Today, I went to track again. Guess what? The belt broken again. Material spilled everywhere in my engine bay again! But I have 2 extra, so I don't need to ask them and wait for shipping ha!

I asked them why that would happen, they told me it maybe something about belt tension. Then I ask how to measure the tension? They told me to use a phone app to test the vibration frequency near the belt, if the frequency of the belt is around 75 Hz, it would be no problem. However, no matter how I adjust the tension, loosen it or tighten it, the Hz rating on my app is not changing too much.

After all these things happened, I would not recommend anyone to put on the Kraftwerks C30 supercharger. Yes, it is belt on supercharger, when there are some problem with the supercharger, u can just take off the belt. Well, from my experience, the main problem with this supercharger is the belt.

Right now, I'm asking my friend to see if anyone can make a new belt in the same size with better quality. If no one can do this, i will just wait til my 3 extra belts finished and then go with another force induction products.

I attached all the belt broken pictures in the attachment, so you can see it clearly.

[rusty959]

Swapping out FI kits isn't easy. Likely, fixing your belt issue is. Clearly you don't have much experience working on cars, which is completely fine since everyone starts from somewhere, but I'd suggest doing some research on your issue before you just toss the system.

[aagun]

shield ur headers

[themajesticone]

This is why I am going with the other rotrex kit.

This has been a known issue and apparently isn't resolved.

This doesn't happen on the JR kit as far as I have read, no?

I am sure belts snap regardless of the kit, but KW's kit seems to be notorious for it happening often vs. the other S/C options.

Thank you for posting and sharing. I hope you resolve your issue and don't have to continue dealing with these shenanigans.

[Model Citizen]

Something is wrong. Youve gone through far too many.

I went through one belt on my early kit after about 10k miles a couple track days and well over a hundred autox runs. Kw sent me new cogs and a new belt. That second belt has seen 5 or so track days, several hundred autocross runs and 10k+ miles. Its still going fine.

[ck-GT86]

You need new friends

[D K]

There is a reason why Rotrex doesnt recommend cogged belt for this application.


Call Jackson Racing and see if they will sell you just the bracket and piping?

[SPCorBUST]

Originally Posted by rusty959

Swapping out FI kits isn't easy. Likely, fixing your belt issue is. Clearly you don't have much experience working on cars, which is completely fine since everyone starts from somewhere, but I'd suggest doing some research on your issue before you just toss the system.

The issue is the belt drive system.

Its poop. Nothing more, nothing less.

His experience is commonplace.

[SPCorBUST]

If the belt snaps, I usually see it snap with only a few fibers here and there and a bit of fiberglass dust, but when its shredded flat like yours is, there will be fibers and fiberglass dust everywhere, as you've noted.

That said, @wqc3241 I suggest taking a can of compressed air to the small nooks and crannies of your engine bay to blow out the fiberglass and threads. Try and do it with the bottom shield off, so the threads and dust can fall down for easy sweeping. Otherwise, they'll just be sitting atop the tray, and will fall on you when you remove it.

Just some general questions if you have the time...

Did you install the KW supercharger kit, coilovers or headers yourself?
I see the bolts on the mounting plate are a tad rusty, how long did you have the kit on before heading to the track?
How long between track days?
How many sessions before it broke?
Were you running an oil cooler?

[FirestormFRS]

You're still running the smooth idlers?
Some have had zero belt failures while others have had multiple failures. Seems either a tension issue or a bad batch of belts

[wqc3241]

I emailed with workers in Kraftwerks back and forth, and I did everything they told me to do. Things like this still happen. By the way, I didnt put it on by myself. It's all done by a mechanic

[wqc3241]

@SPCorBUST
Did you install the KW supercharger kit, coilovers or headers yourself?
It's all done by a local mechanic
I see the bolts on the mounting plate are a tad rusty, how long did you have the kit on before heading to the track?
3 months before I went to track with it. Was winter, and lots of snow
How long between track days?
half months
How many sessions before it broke?
2 sessions, then it break
Were you running an oil cooler?
yes, i have skunk2 oil cooler

[DAN_BRZ]

i dont know if this is your issue but i see you have "smooth pulleys" they should be sending you out the cogged pulleys. id would inquire with them.
btw i have yet to break a belt in 5k of driving.

[wqc3241]

@DAN_BRZ
They actually sent me a set of new pulleys in different size. But there is no help. Still broke