adie_morris Posted April 28, 2011 Report Posted April 28, 2011 Hello Guys & Gals. I have seen references to Solid Flywheel Conversions on the forum, but not seen any posts by any one who has had one! I thought I would share my experience with you......... My DMF was getting noisy and gear selection was getting worse on my Tdi 115. So after reading up on Valeo's Conversion Kit I decided that it would be a good investment and set about the job last weekend. Job itself wasn't too bad, Dad is a Farmer so made full use of a Matbro and front end loader to lift that big heavy box in and out!! Now the verdict......! Lets say the damn thing is coming out again. Gear change is worse but the major thing is the vibration. The DMF's job is to Damp down the torsional vibrations and these engines have a lot. Valeo reckon that they can absorb these vibrations by using extra strong springs on the clutch plate instead, thus removing the need of a DMF. Well I have to say in the case of this particular engine Don't even think about doing it. I shall be removing mine ASAP as I am concerned that the vibrations could damage the box or even snap the crank! The DMF may be a pain and in some cases unreliable, but it does do a tough job! If anyone has had a succesful conversion, I would be intrigued! Incidentally, after the event I Googled Solid Flywheel Conversions, & there are mixed reviews out there. Quote
RADIOTWO Posted April 29, 2011 Report Posted April 29, 2011 Hello Guys & Gals. I have seen references to Solid Flywheel Conversions on the forum, but not seen any posts by any one who has had one! I thought I would share my experience with you......... My DMF was getting noisy and gear selection was getting worse on my Tdi 115. So after reading up on Valeo's Conversion Kit I decided that it would be a good investment and set about the job last weekend. Job itself wasn't too bad, Dad is a Farmer so made full use of a Matbro and front end loader to lift that big heavy box in and out!! Now the verdict......! Lets say the damn thing is coming out again. Gear change is worse but the major thing is the vibration. The DMF's job is to Damp down the torsional vibrations and these engines have a lot. Valeo reckon that they can absorb these vibrations by using extra strong springs on the clutch plate instead, thus removing the need of a DMF. Well I have to say in the case of this particular engine Don't even think about doing it. I shall be removing mine ASAP as I am concerned that the vibrations could damage the box or even snap the crank! The DMF may be a pain and in some cases unreliable, but it does do a tough job! If anyone has had a succesful conversion, I would be intrigued! Incidentally, after the event I Googled Solid Flywheel Conversions, & there are mixed reviews out there. I have just read your post with interest, not that I have had personal experience,but my son has, he had a 1.9lt Skoda Octavia (basically same set up as yours) and he needed a clutch, and was informed it needed a new flywheel, and was quoted a silly price for a DMF and was told that a solid one could be fitted at much cheaper price, so went for that, and to be honest he did not notice any difference, (nor did I for that matter when I drove it), so up to your post I would have said they are fine. But the only difference between a DMF and a solid flywheel is the DMF has a rubber mounted center, so when you let out the clutch there is a bit of give in the clutch operation, so as you are saying a solid flywheel is out of balance then it might be the flywheel itself or there is something else causing the vibration ! I think if I was you I would take the fly wheel back and get it exchanged, but you should not get any vibration, I would (while you have it stripped down) check the main engine bearing, and also the input shaft of the gearbox, and it can only be one of the three problems, difficult to check the gearbox, but start up the car without the gearbox attatched and see if there is any vibration with the flywheel on/off ! Radiotwo Quote
adie_morris Posted April 30, 2011 Author Report Posted April 30, 2011 I am not taking the risk of doing the job a 3rd time! I have ordered myself an original sachs dmf and clutch kit.It is strange that the Original DMF option is Quote
RADIOTWO Posted April 30, 2011 Report Posted April 30, 2011 I am not taking the risk of doing the job a 3rd time! I have ordered myself an original sachs dmf and clutch kit.It is strange that the Original DMF option is Quote
adie_morris Posted April 30, 2011 Author Report Posted April 30, 2011 Just realised I haven't mentioned the other problem with it...........Judder!Quite bad when taking up drive! Quote
RADIOTWO Posted May 1, 2011 Report Posted May 1, 2011 Just realised I haven't mentioned the other problem with it...........Judder!Quite bad when taking up drive! I still can't believe they are that bad,but I don't want to question your expertise, but are you sure the flywheel was flat up to the engine mount ? You only need a bit of swarfe or some thing behind the flywheel before you tighten it up, and that would give you a uneven surface for the clutch togo up against, so this would give you judder. But as I am not a expert on the matter, I will now shut up, but I still say you had a Friday afternoon made flywheel ! Radiotwo Quote
adie_morris Posted May 22, 2011 Author Report Posted May 22, 2011 Sorry for the delay, waiting for my wounds to heal! Here is the final verdict. The car has been transformed with the new Dual Mass. No more Noise. No more Judder No more drag Just lovely smooth gear changes and a nice quiet Gal! Haven't owned mine from new, however I suspect that she has been returned to her original glory! So to summarise, I wouldn't touch a solid flywheel conversion with a barge pole, even if maybe the one I had was just a one off dud. Job time now 6hrs, not bad for struggling on the floor with axle stands and a jack :D Quote
Taygarth Posted May 28, 2011 Report Posted May 28, 2011 Hi I have the 130 TDI and there is a wobble on tick-over with the clutch up but when I put it down it goes away - I guess this is the DMF starting to wear? When you did your clutch / DMF was there anything to watch out for - I do not have a TIS and if I tackle the DMF I would be making it up as I go along.I guess you supported the engine on the axle stand whilst the gearbox was off?. How much of nearside suspension (if any) needs to be removed to give enough space to get the box out. And finally do I need a puller to get the flywheel off By the way 6hrs sounds impressive! Any tips from anyone would be appreciated Thanks in advance Quote
Gteuk Posted May 28, 2011 Report Posted May 28, 2011 Changed the flywheel on a transit van in work to a solid as when the floating flywheel went it took the starter out with it, it drives like a dream but is a total different engine. Quote
daddyfixit Posted May 29, 2011 Report Posted May 29, 2011 friend has a box out of a gal at present due to reverse gear fault; he priced up new clutch & dmf---gsf,euro carparts, partco and CES, ces where cheapest for the luk kit and also an luk dualmass !! it worked out cheaper than a solid conversion. the gearbox is away being repaired . Quote
Simon W Posted June 3, 2011 Report Posted June 3, 2011 Hi, I too have been told we have the start of the same problem!! (57 Galaxy 1800d) Ford Quoted Quote
snowytop Posted June 3, 2011 Report Posted June 3, 2011 Changed the flywheel on a transit van in work to a solid as when the floating flywheel went it took the starter out with it, it drives like a dream but is a total different engine. Hi GteukCould you tell us please what you mean by a totally different engine?cheers Quote
zorgman Posted July 18, 2011 Report Posted July 18, 2011 the clue to the answer its a transit van hence a transit van engine not a vw Quote
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