Circuit Werks lightweight pulley kit?
 

This pulley kit is being sold on Ebay and it seems to be one of the lightest overall.
Alternator: 0.17 lbs
Water Pump: 0.55 lbs
Crank: 0.82 lbs
I have contacted the seller and he wrote that Circuit Werks is a sister brand under the Pride Exhaust umbrella which makes high end car parts from Exhausts, Carbons, Suspensions, Big Brake Kits,... etc. So the company seems to be legit - everyone sells on Ebay these days.
I have also shoot a msg to the guy who bought (only one comes up so far with a feedback) this kit asking for a quick review and he said the fit and finish on this set is excellent.
Has anyone tried these pulleys, suggestions? I don't really care about visual appearence - the more it looked as stock the better it would be for me, just the functionality: weight, noise, any other possible issues?..

PS interesting, these look like the pulleys 86motoring sells here http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46181

WOW these look exactly the same as the 86motoring pulleys! Weird.

I am supposed to be getting in on a special groupby/discount with 86motoring to get their pulley kit for $146 (half off regular price).

Now I am wondering if these on ebay are the same thing. Gonna ask them in their groupby thread and see what they say.

Well, if they are the same - who cares, the price would be the same too, and vendors here to make money. At least they also provide some buying comfort and information on what's available.

I'll just pull the plug on ebay pulleys, they're cheap enough to try.

I would go with the ebay ones. 86motoring is nonstop tuning http://www.nonstoptuning.com

Just google them and you will see why i would be concerned.

I ordered them on eBay, got a phone call like 20 minutes later asking what color I wanted, already got shipping info.

don't know how you found out 86motoring is nonstop but i did some digging on the web as you suggested. it seems folks have had problem with pretty complex pulleys that have bearings?

ours though just a single piece of aluminum, I could probably cut a simple one myself if I had a lathe.

these from ebay and 86motoring look like they're chineese made, simple, cheap, yet not too ugly and functional. i'll post a review when i get them. i'm just getting these for short term until i either go FI and have clutch replaced with lightweight flywheel (as I won't be running lightweight pulleys with lightweight flywheel) or just sell the car. however if one really wants great looking and actually designed pulleys (for double the money though) - i'd go with raceseng. it's like those who can justify spending get a CF driveshaft, others get aluminum, although it's not a completely fair comparison.

I saw they where in Houston (where I live) and googled the address. I was talking more about the vendor reviews some people have left for them.

Just wanted to say I contacted someone who bought these and asked their opinion on them and if they would buy again.

This was their response:
"The fit and finish on these is excellent, and as you have discovered it is the same kit being sold by several vendors for a much higher price. I would absolutely buy them again, the quality is outstanding with no burrs or rough areas on the pulleys, a flawless anodizing job (Black), and at an unbeatable price point. Other complete kits like the Go Fast Bits (GFB), Beatrush, or Tomioka, etc go for twice the price or more and don't have options for colors, if that matters."

For the record there are now two people who have left feedback on this set being sold on ebay by prideexhaust and both feedback are very positive.

received my pulleys. it's not state of the art, if to be very anal, there are minor blemishes and light scratches on anodized surface (must have been packaging and shipping), the edges of the holes are not smooth but finished. overall however these are decent well done pulleys.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4i3...it?usp=sharinghttp://i803.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps35bf45e9.jpg


http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps226ffe13.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps3330af85.jpg


now the communication and support though from seller is awesome. the guy is always responsive although I have bugged him a lot with bunch of questions. he even offered money back if I'm not happy with the pulleys.

hopefully will install these this saturday

Edit: re-read my post and noticed that i am being VERY picky considering how soft aluminum is.

I have the gold ones installed. Absolutely love them.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

Hmmm, may have to give these a try.

I pulled the trigger on these after reading reviews of both ebay and users here.

I actually contacted prideexhaust asking about their pulleys vs. 86motorings. They responded very quickly with this: "We don't manufacture our own pulleys. These were made by our manufacturer. Possibly 86motoring uses the same manufacturer or they make them somewhere else just the same design. "

I am going to go out on a limb here and assume that 86motoring buys theirs from a manufacturer as well, most likely the same one as prideexhaust. It just seems too coincidental that these pulleys are identical and the same colors. I asked 86motoring about the coincidence and they said they are not affiliated with Cicruit Werks or prideexhaust but they never said where their pulleys came from and they certainly never said they manufactured the pulleys themselves.

Glad I found these as I was just about to pull the trigger on the 86motoring ones. Those were $286 with the word that they would give you half your money back AFTER writing them a review that they approved of.

After writing a review, please! When I emailed them about joining and received the same reply I knew they were using a premium to fund their stocking requirements, basically buy 2 to sell one and increase available inventory discount from original manufacturer, buying power.
I was born 2 minutes before midnight, not last night.

finally installed the pulleys. i was not able to get the alternator pulley out, just bent the outside groove so anyone trying to do that - better get the right tools or just have the shop do it.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/y...psbfa6c095.jpg

Otherwise the installation was easy, just read these 2 threads:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...t=crank+pulley
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...t=crank+pulley

I bought just in case the o-rings but mine was OK still sitting perfectly in it's place so ended up without replacing it. I'll check if there is any oil leak in a few days.

The pulleys are awesome, no extra noise, a bit faster rev, which is what I was looking for for better rev matching. I don't really care about the look but those who do can decide for themselves looking at the pic above.

All in all I think it was well worth $150 for three pulleys.

I received mine last night.

Seem to be decent quality although there were some issues with the finish.
I had a spot in one of the holes of the crank pulley that did not get painted, so i touched it up.
There is also a tiny nick in the edge of one of the crank pulley threads but I dont think it is going to have any effect on the pulley itself.

Overall considering the price I paid so far I give them 7.5/10.

After I install them I will come back and post an update.

Interesting, I had a spot in one of the holes as well, I think that's probably from some kind of a hook or support they use while anodizing.

As for the notch on the edge, I was wondering about that too when I got the pulley as the notch is actually painted. When I contacted Mark he said it's meant to be like that and sent me some pics. I'll post his reply with pics here when I get home (I hope he doesn't mind).

Same here my notch is painted too. Interesting to know yours had the exact same issues as mine.

Both things seem to be purely cosmetic though and I dont think they will affect performance of the part at all.

In fact since they are black after hitting the unpainted mark with a little black touch-up it almost impossible to tell it was ever there.

I heard the way to get the alternator pulley out is use an impact wrench because it can torque fast enough to loosen the bolt.

here's what Mark sent me: "The marking (notch) on the crank pulley is actually normal. I've attached a picture of it that I just took off another one of my pulley here. Also the picture below from here (http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12583)"


i believe he was referring me to this pic:


http://www.lastonehere.com/misc2012/...perrin-11s.jpg

I finally installed my pulley kit today. Everything went relatively smooth and can say I am completely satisfied with the pulley kit. All pulleys went on easy, have no wobble, and look great.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/1...36b07fee_c.jpg

For the main pulley I borrowed a 24' breaker bar from Auto Zone. After putting the car in 6th gear and setting the e-brake very tight it took 2 good tugs. On the 2nd tug it broke and I damn near hit my ass on the ground, LOL.

As for the alternator pulley unless you have an impact gun that thing is not coming off or on. (luckily I did). It took a little bit but the impact gun was able to break the nut loose. I also had to use the impact gun to re-torque to bolt to 80 pounds when putting it back on.

My car definitely feels "peppier" and is quicker to rev up. I am very glad I did this mod and very glad I went with the Circuit Werks kit and saved some serious $$$$!

Starting to think the same thing. I was on the groupbuy, and so far no pulleys, and no contact. I have attempted to get the pulleys, emails pms...nothing. And the groupbuy thread is locked/closed. WTF.

Hopefully hear from them soon, otherwise filing a chargeback with my cc company.

is that 86motoring pulleys groupbuy?

there are vendors feedback threads here, you should leave your review.

Don't wait file chargeback and go get the circuit works they are awesome.

why didnt the manufacturer of this car just use lighter pulley's to begin with? Everything can be modded but I am curious. Could their possibly be any adverse effects on long term engine stability with these or other brands? Is this safe all around?

thanks

I will be doing this on monday most likely. Everyone seems to be happy with the circuit werks pulleys. And boy, they sure appear to be the exact same. Luckily its only be about 20 days since @86motoring charged my card, so should not be a problem getting the money back.

Once the discovery of the circuit werks pulleys were posted on this board the 86motoring gig was up and shortly after they disappeared.


I think they purchased their pulleys from the same supplier and were trying to turn a quick buck.


The vendor on eBay selling the circuit werks pulleys is top notch and I highly recommend him. The pulleys are fantastic and turning out to be my favorite mod for the $$$$.

That looks like a promotional response from a "fake" buyer.

Hey guys, any negatives to this pulley set thus far? comparison pics next to the stock pieces?

There are those that claim that the heavy steel / rubber OEM crank pulley is in fact a torsional vibration damper, the removal of which will lead to shortened life and/or increased risk of failure of a) the crank, b) the timing chains, c) the oil pump and gawd knows what else. There are others who claim to have asked Subaru and gotten the response that "It's only a pulley". In which case one wonders why they put such a heavy piece of crap on a sporty car. Having worked for big manufacturing companies in the past (and a smaller one now) I think the sound engineering reason (i.e. we need it) is probably no more likely than the inertial one (i.e. we've always done that and it doesn't break (much)).

I thought about buying lightweight pulleys (I'd like less flywheel effect during shifts)... but on doing a little math I think I'd be disappointed in the difference these would make. I'll put the cash in the piggy bank for now and maybe put it towards a lightweight flywheel later (which will make a much bigger difference and doesn't come with the downside risk of some internet maven looking under my hood and screaming "Oh Noes! :cry:Lightweight Crank Pulley, your crank is half broken!! :cry:".

:search: There's a ton of opinion on the subject, very little actual info.

is this kit undersized pulleys or standard ?

as just lighter/ same size pulleys shouldn't make any difference to steady state horsepower?

unless the dyno pull was done with a transient brake?

They are same size

Standard size. I wouldn't pay much attention to the dyno, I got it for throttle response

so who does the best undersized ancillary pullies?

I was thinking about 10% smaller on water pump and the alternator

Smaller overdrives the alternator and water pump. You oversize to reduce the drag. Which is therefore better, normal size (lighter) or larger (less drag) who knows?? I'd suggest that both are pretty much close enough, I'd just rather not under drive essential parts.

Whoops thats what I meant

10% slower running is what I was after

the reason for asking is that most water pumps are over capacity and alternators too so while you're there making new pullies, then it makes sense to me to slow these down a little

circuit werks seem to be std size so who does a lightweight overszed pulley?

These guys:

http://www.fensport.co.uk/Parts/Mode...ategory_1/4246

But after much deliberation, I went Circuit Werks from Mark @ Pride Exhaust.....

........couldn't be happier.

i got the same exact pulleys but they are made by a company called Ralco

they always try to leave some meat on the bone. they want a reliable car.

thats probably the case. but yea. good stuff