Lightened Underdrive Crank Pulley
More stuff from this cool Aftermarket catalogue I got:
LR Racing offers a "Ultra S Lightened Underdrive Crank Pulley" specifically for the
"Elantra/Tiburon 1.8/2.0 L DOHC 16V" from 1996-2000. I assume it will fit the 2001 as well. Also, what the heck is it? How hard would it be to install? It claims:
- 5 to 37 HP, 4 to 45 ft-lbs gains.
- Lower stress on accessories.
- Better fuel efficiency.
- Drives all accessories.
- Lighter than OEM
- Direct bolt-on replacement.
How much of this is true?
LR Racing offers a "Ultra S Lightened Underdrive Crank Pulley" specifically for the
"Elantra/Tiburon 1.8/2.0 L DOHC 16V" from 1996-2000. I assume it will fit the 2001 as well. Also, what the heck is it? How hard would it be to install? It claims:
- 5 to 37 HP, 4 to 45 ft-lbs gains.
- Lower stress on accessories.
- Better fuel efficiency.
- Drives all accessories.
- Lighter than OEM
- Direct bolt-on replacement.
How much of this is true?
- 5 to 37 HP, 4 to 45 ft-lbs gains.
--> if you're THAT lucky
- Lower stress on accessories.
--> false
- Better fuel efficiency.
-->depending on how much city driving you do
- Drives all accessories.
--> I SURE hope so!
- Lighter than OEM
--> probably
- Direct bolt-on replacement.
--> probably
--> if you're THAT lucky
- Lower stress on accessories.
--> false
- Better fuel efficiency.
-->depending on how much city driving you do
- Drives all accessories.
--> I SURE hope so!
- Lighter than OEM
--> probably
- Direct bolt-on replacement.
--> probably
Super Moderator

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 11,851
Likes: 2
From: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Prius 2006 Suzuki SV650S
This pops up from time to time. Unorthodox makes underdrive crank pullies.
I reccomend you do a search over at Fxtreme, as this subject has been beat to death there. In fact...if you do a seach on this forum, I think I posted most of the important links from that forum here.
To try to sum it all up very quickly. The lightened crank pullied (also called an underdrive pulley) does not have a harmonic balancer on it. This means your engine will have more vibration, the bad kind of vibration that kills crank bearings. Some people have had no problems with them after 100,000 miles, some have had crank bearing problems after just 10,000 miles. It's up to you to decide if maybe 5 WHP is worth the risk.
If you could find underdrive pullies for the accesories! (leaving the crank pully alone) that would be "safe", but would have less HP gains.
I reccomend you do a search over at Fxtreme, as this subject has been beat to death there. In fact...if you do a seach on this forum, I think I posted most of the important links from that forum here.
To try to sum it all up very quickly. The lightened crank pullied (also called an underdrive pulley) does not have a harmonic balancer on it. This means your engine will have more vibration, the bad kind of vibration that kills crank bearings. Some people have had no problems with them after 100,000 miles, some have had crank bearing problems after just 10,000 miles. It's up to you to decide if maybe 5 WHP is worth the risk.
If you could find underdrive pullies for the accesories! (leaving the crank pully alone) that would be "safe", but would have less HP gains.
Super Moderator

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 11,851
Likes: 2
From: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Prius 2006 Suzuki SV650S
In theory... you could install it when you wanted more power, and remove it for daily driving. In practice...it is such a PITA to get to and install, chances are you would just leave it on/off.
Super Moderator

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 11,851
Likes: 2
From: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Prius 2006 Suzuki SV650S
PITA = Pain In The Ass
It isn't HARD to put on/take off, just a PITA to put on/take off.
Lemme know if you have questions after doing the search.
It isn't HARD to put on/take off, just a PITA to put on/take off.
Lemme know if you have questions after doing the search.
Well I learned that the sides on this subject are as well defined as abortion rights.
My problem is that I just read about this part. I am not even sure what it does or where it is in the engine. smile.gif
I noticed that many posts refer to Shark Racing carrying pulleys but then...nothing. On FX-Extreme, I found few posts, then the big one...a real big one.
And I noticed that the lines drawn are from people comparing how the pulley's respond to different engines. Everyone with different opinions also seem to drive different vehicles so its hard who to trust.
Now, after reading for some time all I can say is that I have a mild headache.
Did Shark not get those made? I read that the ones you were getting made never arrived. What ended up happening I wonder?
The only result I can figure is to...
...ask my Hyundai Mechanic...
My problem is that I just read about this part. I am not even sure what it does or where it is in the engine. smile.gif
I noticed that many posts refer to Shark Racing carrying pulleys but then...nothing. On FX-Extreme, I found few posts, then the big one...a real big one.
And I noticed that the lines drawn are from people comparing how the pulley's respond to different engines. Everyone with different opinions also seem to drive different vehicles so its hard who to trust.
Now, after reading for some time all I can say is that I have a mild headache.
Did Shark not get those made? I read that the ones you were getting made never arrived. What ended up happening I wonder?
The only result I can figure is to...
...ask my Hyundai Mechanic...
Super Moderator

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 11,851
Likes: 2
From: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Prius 2006 Suzuki SV650S
SR was going to carry some acccessory underdrive pullies, but they either never got made, or the shop that claimed them was just blowing smoke, and never had PLANS to make them.
I've considered asking Unorthodox to make underdrive accessory pullies for our engines, but there never seemed to be a demand for it, so I never bothered.
I've considered asking Unorthodox to make underdrive accessory pullies for our engines, but there never seemed to be a demand for it, so I never bothered.
Well, reading your posts on FX-Extreme, it seemed you doubt their effectiveness. You don't seem that they justify the risk to their engines. You backed up that post with lots of impressive tech-babble that lost me a couple times but I am inclined to trust that.
People seem to endorse the big-bore more anyway...
People seem to endorse the big-bore more anyway...
Super Moderator

Joined: May 2001
Posts: 11,851
Likes: 2
From: Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Vehicle: 2008 Toyota Prius 2006 Suzuki SV650S
The underdrive pullies for accessories are safe, because they would leave the stock crank pulley/harmonic dampner alone.
The current underdrive pulley from unorthodox replaces the stock crank pully/harmonic dampnener. That's the kind I'm not crazy about.
Some people swear by them, others refuse to use them. To me, the maybe 5 Hp gain isn't worth risking your crank bearings. To the best of my knowledge, no one has put one on a 100% stock tibby and dyno tested the car to see exactly what the gains are.
The current underdrive pulley from unorthodox replaces the stock crank pully/harmonic dampnener. That's the kind I'm not crazy about.
Some people swear by them, others refuse to use them. To me, the maybe 5 Hp gain isn't worth risking your crank bearings. To the best of my knowledge, no one has put one on a 100% stock tibby and dyno tested the car to see exactly what the gains are.



