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If the Prius has no belts. WHY IS THERE A CRANK PULLEY?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by 3rdgeargrndrr, Oct 8, 2012.

  1. 3rdgeargrndrr

    3rdgeargrndrr New Member

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    Ok to start off i had the rough start issue yesterday. When looking at my engine bay i noticed there was a crank pulley with no belt. I thought for sure i had shredded or lost a belt but the gen 3 is beltless so why do we have a crank pulley? Rotational mass? Timing? Or did i miss something?
     
    #1 3rdgeargrndrr, Oct 8, 2012
  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    So tuners can continue to install under drive pulleys and feel like they are making more HP? :ROFLMAO:
     
    #2 F8L, Oct 8, 2012
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  3. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Mean. <<snicker>>

    OP: I wondered the same when I first saw it :)
    I was told it works as a flywheel. I presume for rotational energy when the ICE no longer needs to rotate.
     
    #3 SageBrush, Oct 8, 2012
  4. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Timing. TDC #1
     
    #4 spiderman, Oct 8, 2012
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  5. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    It is first off a crankshaft -dampener-. Without it you would trash the bearings. Using it to drive belts was the 20th century solution to make the car work. In the 21st century we don't need the belts any longer. Except on those still making obsolete cars. ;)
     
    #5 David Beale, Oct 8, 2012
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  6. ngc4565

    ngc4565 Member

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    It is probably a harmonic balancer, aka a crankshaft dampener as mentioned above. Don't lose any sleep over this, and continue to enjoy your Prius.
     
    #6 ngc4565, Oct 8, 2012
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  7. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    The same basic engine is used on the Corolla and Matrix, so they probably kept the belt groove features on it for the sake of having a common part. Otherwise, a plain flywheel would probably work.
     
    #7 Jonny Zero, Oct 8, 2012
  8. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Tradition???
     
    #8 KK6PD, Oct 8, 2012
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  9. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    It connects the optional warp-drive transducer to the space-time converter.
     
    #9 mad-dog-one, Oct 9, 2012
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  10. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Where else are we going to attach the drive belt for that hypothetical bolt-on supercharger?
     
    #10 HTMLSpinnr, Oct 9, 2012
  11. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Yea slap a M-60 on there with a 2.9" pulley. Tire smokin Prius [​IMG]

    Mike
     
    #11 WE0H, Oct 9, 2012
  12. Bradley R Beaver

    Bradley R Beaver New Member

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    Probably cheaper to mass produce the same pulley
     
    #12 Bradley R Beaver, Mar 6, 2021
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