My lightweight crank pulley experience
 

First off this will have some grammar mistakes, English is not my strongest field so i apologize for that and this is my first writeup/review of a product. I would like to thank @JERZgrl88 for letting me test the Ralco RZ pulley. If you would like to purchase it at only $99 then by all means do! http://www.ultrarev.com/product.php?...79&cat=&page=1 I recommend this as a first mod to anyone. Now onto the review/experience! :thumbup:

I'm not going to lie, I never really thought much or even knew about lightweight crank pulley's. My first two cars had a 4g63 engine and they dont get the best rep for some reason (was always told to stay away from them). So when I saw the recent buzz about them on this forum I wasn't sure on what to believe. I did know that they could improve rev and response, but by how much? When i had the stock pulley on and when I would up/down shift I would often feel a little throttle lag. This was really noticeable for me when I did a down shift via throttle blip. I had to really push the pedal down when going to 3rd to 2nd or it would not be a perfect rev match. So I was really looking for something to "fix" that problem, and this is where the pulley comes into the story.

I'm a 125lbs scrawny white guy, so if I can achieve doing this anyone can! I used this DIY (http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12583) really well explained, took me around 20 mins total. 5 was my skinny ass trying for the life to remove the bolt while it was raining on/off. Rest was just me taking my time (this might be the biggest thing iv done to any of my cars yet :D). Let me tell you something, the difference in weight for the stock vs aftermarket is a HUGE difference. I was really amazed at how heavy the stock one is (I did some searching and found a few sites selling other pulleys claiming that the frs stock is more 1lbs more compared to the BRZ?) and the new Ralco RZ only being 1.50lbs. I slapped the new one on, put everything back on, (FYI the belt is the most annoying thing ever) and went to turn my car on. It started up normal :bow: gave it a blip of gas and INSTANT response with a faster rev up vs stock. I went for a quick test drive and saw a big improvement. The car did drop idle a little bit faster between shifts but that is normal for less rotational mass. My shifts were a bit smoother but that could be my mind playing tricks on me however, my downshifts were really improved. No longer needed to blip the gas as mush to get it to rev match downshifting into 2nd gear this also was the case downshifting into any gear. Over the past few days of driving the car I can still feel the difference thanks to the new pulley. I have no idle problems but the occasional idle dip which would happened with the stock pulley nor stalls. Was going to go to the race track but it rained that day so I have yet to "fully" test it out. There is a little more umph in the car lower end and really in the higher end, though the torque dip area still sucks to drive in :mad0260:. I'm blasted away by what this single, affordable mod can do.

Hope you guys enjoyed reading my short but sweet review of this pulley :thanks:.

Sounded like when I slapped the UR Pulleys onto my TSX. Glad its working well with the boxer engine. This will definitely be my next mod. :thumbup:

that is one ugly pulley. spend a few bucks more and get the Perrin one

haha wont matter much since i dont really look at it :p

Thanks for the info! I'm a bit more impressed with the mouse but that's the computer geek coming out.

wont matter since in your case think you got it for free too haha. enjoy it :thumbup:

Would like to add if anyone lives by me and you want to see how it is then your welcomed to stop by.

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It's pretty, would rather see it with a nice mat under it..

i hate mats, feels like there is resistance.

For more Scion Crank Pulley Stories in Scions, refer to scionlife Pulley Owners thread to help out as well. http://www.scionlife.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61222

Quote for truth.
I volunteer to test this thing and I can tell you the manufacturer is lucky they picked somebody else. My friend could have turned out something much more attractive in his garage (and has but I wouldn't put them on my car neither.)


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Thanks for the review of your experience. I've been thinking about getting a pulley, and this just points me a little more in that direction as an inexpensive way to upgrade a little.

I got Razor mat here and microsft X6 (think.. was their large wireless gaming mouse) get no resistance at all.
used to get more without it due to buildup of grime on the feet..
i should put something in here about the pully..

my mouse seems to rev nicer with the pully installed :threadjacked:

remember guys that it wears your belts waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay faster.

Pictures or it didn't happen.

Sounds like user error, or a problem with the product.

I really want to get one...I just think it will harm the engine. The stock one has rubber/balance points on it as well. I think I will just have to save up for a carbon driveshaft and lightweight flywheel.

It will not harm a boxer engine.

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It is not a balancer. It is a dampener. The two are very different things.


As for harming the engine... I do not have the data on boxer engines and such. But for I-4 and I-6's there are numerous reports and data provided by Dinan, ATI, etc. that describe the dangers of an undampened pulley. I have posted this in another pulley thread.


For the boxer engine... maybe it doesn't matter. Idk.

^I'm waiting to see if Fluidampr, will release one for our cars. I always had a thing for that company.

Thanks, I do understand what you're saying...I'm just weary of installing it. If there were some hard data out there to fully support that adding a lightweight pulley is beneficial to the engine and does not increase wear I would be more than happy to get one. That said, I'm just not going to to take anecdotal evidence that the part is 'fine' for the engine. I plan on owning this car for 200,000+ miles so I'm being cautious with it.

I dont know if this goes for our cars but. This messaged was asked to SoA, which they had asked FHI for the answer.http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444518

Great thanks for info