Inspect....Inspect...Inspect... Another cracked Flexplate

Routine inspections are a part of racing. I am learning the importance of making a list of certain items to inspect prior to each race. During a routine inspection tonight, I discovered a radial crack in my JW Wheel and 2 cracked ring gear welds. This one only has about 80 passes on it. That seems to be the life span of this part in my application.
I am just glad I found it before it got worse and damaged more parts. The last one that cracked, wiped out my trans pump.
Keep an eye on yours.......
Keith

won't run a JW wheel because of the cracking problems, switched to a Reactor - no more problems and he'll recert once
Frank

Frank Merkl wrote:won't run a JW wheel because of the cracking problems, switched to a Reactor - no more problems and he'll recert once
Frank

Thanks Frank.
That is one of the nicer ones that I have looked at.
Keith

What used to "work" aint gonna work after the tq. gets huge and many hits are applied.

Frank Merkl wrote:won't run a JW wheel because of the cracking problems, switched to a Reactor - no more problems and he'll recert once
Frank

I have also seen cracked ring gear welds on the JW's

Did the converter offset change at all when you went to the Reactor Frank?

dkp

bosshoss wrote:

Frank Merkl wrote:won't run a JW wheel because of the cracking problems, switched to a Reactor - no more problems and he'll recert once
Frank

I have also seen cracked ring gear welds on the JW's

Did the converter offset change at all when you went to the Reactor Frank?

dkp

Yeah...that is why I have stuck with the JW for this long. My whole deal is calibrated with that offset. I have a CSR wheel that will make me modify my starter. If I gotta make the change..so be it...
I can just change my setup to accomodate whatever wheel I change to. Since I am leaving next weekend for a long trip, I have a feeling that I will end up putting a warranty JW back in there, since this will be a busy week.
Keith

nothing change going to a Reactor
Frank

I have also had welds craking on a JW "wheel". I had rewelded it a couple of times before I finally replaced it. A couple weeks later, on a Friday afternoon, a buddy was needing a flywheel, so I loaned him my old JW I had just taken off ther car. He went to the track on saturday and on the first pass he made the ring gear came off the wheel before he got to the 60' clock. It broke into 4 or 5 pieces, one of which came through the floorboard. Fortunately it didn't hit him, but we both learned a lesson that day.

This one is the best in the business, you can also get it in a 10 pitch tooth profile.

http://www.meziere.com/ps-101-1390-fp308.aspx

I had a JW come apart at the finish line, 7000 rpm. Man it made a mess.
When we looked at the welding, it looked like who ever was welding the ring gear to the center was trying not to get any distorsion with a small weld, but wasn't getting any penatration.
I also had a metalurgist look at it and he said "those two pieces of metal should not be welded together"
He said "the ring gear has alot of Sulfer which acts as a barrier in the weld pool" I have some photos if anybody is interested.
I have since bought a Meziere. Expensive, but a real nice piece.
I figured all the damage the first one did, I could have bought two Meziere flex plates.
Cheers Colin.

p.s When mine came apart the guy pitted next to me said "he had the same thing happen to him"
I just thought coincidence untill I found out he was running a BBF as well.
And we only get to race maybe 6 to 8 time a year.

I've seen 2 guy's here destroy JW flex plates. I'm an ATI guy so far.


Ace

Good deal....
The JW wheel is not a bad part. It is like everything else...just needing its proper application. Due to being in a pinch, I installed a CSR wheel that I bought a while back. It is a good looking part, but varied from the offset of the JW wheel, making a starter shim modification (front-to-rear) and a new set of converter spacers needed.
The folks at JW are gonna give me another Wheel, but I am sure that I should make the step up to a nicer part, like the Reactor or Meziere.
If I had a lightweight 3000 - 3200 Lb car, the JW wheel would probably last 'till the SFI ran out. I just have a unusual application. Whichever one you have or gonna have....still inspect it regularly.
That is my story...your results may vary. If you have a flexplate that stays stiff for more than 4 hours, be sure and call your parts doctor. This is a sign of too much exposure to a big inch BBF and may cause damage to your billfold.
Keith

richter69 wrote:just looked my JW over again........alls good.......

Redundant... but my take on what Lem said, in my mind, was... "Keep an eye on it, HeRo." lol