Opinions on lightened alternator pulleys (Neuspeed, Agency Power etc)

[sub39h]

Hi guys,

I was wondering if anyone had any opinions on these? Some say they're a good way to get a few hp and get the engine to rev a little freer, others that the pulley works as some sort of dampener and if replaced for a different weight/material your engine will rattle to bits, explode and everyone will die and the world will end. Lol well not really, but their views seem more than a little alarmist for what is a 2.5kg part apparently keeping a whole motor in check .

Agency Power claim they've never had an engine failure because of it - unsurprisingly. But my specialist advised against it, and an engine balancing company who I have no experience with advised that it isn't a good idea without really giving a reason.

What do you guys reckon? Anyone with any actual knowledge or experience rather than hearsay?

Cheers in advance,

S.

[Beddie]

Personally i remain unconvinced about these, defo a whiff of snake oil to them imo..

The claims regarding extra HP always seem unsubstantiated other than hearsay even by the sellers themselves, i can see the theory (lighter pulley / less load) but the slight reduction in rotational mass surely can't make 'that' much difference and result in a BHP gain that could be noticed?
I have the same reservations regarding quantifiable claims of them allowing the engine to rev more 'freely' tbh, usually the way to achieve that is to remove mass from the crankshaft / knife edging etc..

[sub39h]

you're not the first person to say this, but rotational mass makes a big difference. for example, my VZ033s are 1kg lighter than my OEM CH024s and it felt as fast again as when i'd put my CAI on. that's a 4kg reduction in 48-50kg

the pulley is 2.5kg to 1kg which is a bigger percentage reduction. i'm not saying that the car is going to be 250% faster, that would just be daft. but Awesome claim that the Neuspeed pulley can reach dyno tested gains of up to 10-15bhp across all applications (i.e. 3.2 VR6, 1.8T 20v and 2.0T). that's a bold claim to make if the car isn't going to be noticably freer revving. it may not be all that faster but i'd at least expect an increase in fuel economy and slightly less turbo lag (in terms of time rather than revs, on account of the freer revving element)

i'm tempted to give it a go and see if there actually is a difference, maybe even run ir on a dyno before and after, but not at the expense of compromising the engine.

[bacillus]

All those I know who've fitted this found no appreciable improvement.

[Tfsi_Mike]

If I came across one at a good price and was having the cambelt/waterpump done I would do it as an every little helps mod

Doubt there would be a real noteable gain though

[TT-Turbo]

I have this on my TT 2.0tfsi and I did find it made a few differences in all honesty. The MPG went up by around 2, doesn't sound massive but was getting 38mpg then after fitting found it was getting over 40 quite easily. Power wise it's hard to tell, maybe a few BHP and if coupled with say the intercooler to throttle body pipe and turbo discharge pipe I wouldn't be surprised if you found 8-12bhp which is a sizeable difference.

My friend who had the 2.0tdi TT dyno'd his car before and after this mod and actually found about 9BHP! 3 runs pre install and followed by another 3 runs, consistently it was 6-12bhp up. It's not a massively expensive mod and could gain a few more ponies.

I've had it on my car for nearly 50,000 miles and she is running sweet as a nut (bar the clutch and flywheel that needs replacing!). I say go for it but don't expect that you will feel much difference but the gains should be there.

P.S forgot to say it was the Neuspeed version I was talking about :)

[berg]

thinking of getting one of these also, flyboy 1976 has one too so hopefully he will comment soon? Think Danish had one and said could not notice any difference.

[Tfsi_Mike]

Where's the cheapest place to buy one?

[berg]

gnj off here may be able to do a good deal

[TT-Turbo]

I think Awesome don't get a massive amount of discount off Neuspeed and they are the biggest retailer in Europe! So go and get one from the states and save some ££ and risk the duty tax or go to Awesome and try and get some % off. Not looking at much though in all honesty.

I got mine from the states a couple years ago when the $ was close to 2-1£ so probably only cost me about £80 in the end!

[danishmkvgti]

As Berg states, i have now had mine on for app. 70.000km and i have not noticed any difference that i deffo can say comes from this Neuspeed kit.
AS stated elsewhere go for it when you are changing cambelt/waterpump and has the money, it doesn't hurt and i can deffo say that the engine doesn't vibrate itself to death 

[berg]

be a long wait for me then as had cambelt changed other month and forgot about this part - doh

[Tfsi_Mike]

be a long wait for me then as had cambelt changed other month and forgot about this part - doh

Same 

[Hurdy]

There are gains to be had from the pulley, but as with everything the more power you already have to start with, the less you will notice the effect of the pulley. I agree that it is just a nice to have mod if you can fit it with the cam belt.

[Tamiyoman]

Lowering rotational mass do you not lose some torque tho?