Pulley Issues!!

B.A.Q · 09-27-2011, 10:16 PM

I have the NST Pulleys and I was gonna install them couple weeks ago but then saw the video Sam posted in the SC st2 press release!!! He didn't recommend the underdrive pulleys.
I know a guy that has a 350 and he's pulley is leaking some oil (don't know what brand). So these are making me a bit hesitated.

My question is did anyone have similar issues? How likely is it to happen?

Jordo! · 09-27-2011, 10:29 PM

Everything Sam said in detail I've also heard from a number of highly skilled tuners and engine builders, and that is why I do not have one on my car.

I say, sell it off to someone who laughs at the risk of engine rebuilds -- I'm sure someone will scoff and pony up.

XwChriswX · 09-28-2011, 12:03 AM

Yes there are nay sayers, but also those that have had them on, and on boosted cars and have had no problems as well.

Most problems can be attributed to improper installs.

I had my NST pulleys installed almost a month ago and have had zero problems and zero oil loss and I've been checking it every week for this exact purpose. I held on to my stock pulleys in the event of something going wrong, or if I decide to swap them back out for TT.

Jamaica · 09-28-2011, 12:26 AM

Which people had them on there boosted cars?

XwChriswX · 09-28-2011, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamaica@UAMotorsports

Which people had them on there boosted cars?

Go on NST's website and you'll see.

B.A.Q · 09-28-2011, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

Yes there are nay sayers, but also those that have had them on, and on boosted cars and have had no problems as well.

Most problems can be attributed to improper installs.

I had my NST pulleys installed almost a month ago and have had zero problems and zero oil loss and I've been checking it every week for this exact purpose. I held on to my stock pulleys in the event of something going wrong, or if I decide to swap them back out for TT.

Damn it!! you bought them a month ago, I hoped that you're the one that is gonna buy them from me lol

Jordo! · 09-28-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

I had my NST pulleys installed almost a month ago and have had zero problems and zero oil loss and I've been checking it every week for this exact purpose.

Hopefully you will be saying the same in a year...

It's the high revs that exacerbate the effects of undampened vibrations. If you never race it to redline, it may never break... then again, why take the risk?

daisuke149 · 09-28-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Hopefully you will be saying the same in a year...

It's the high revs that exacerbate the effects of undampened vibrations. If you never race it to redline, it may never break... then again, why take the risk?

if he doesnt say it after a year, i can just say it now

ive had mine a long long long while now.

Even had mine powdercoated before installing.

and zero issues.

People should be careful about what they read as "bad products" as i could find "horror" stories on just about every single aftermarket (and oem) parts sold for any car.

Like someone said, alot of times, the issues come from installer problems and or user being stupid (cant be stupid with pulleys, but for example going too much boost, or not tuning a boosted motor, etc etc etc)

DIGItonium · 09-28-2011, 11:40 AM

I've had mine for over a year, and had the turbo kit on for a month. So far there are no issues. I can only imagine what it would be like to remove the pulleys, but I have no reason to do so at the moment.

B.A.Q · 09-29-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

I've had mine for over a year, and had the turbo kit on for a month. So far there are no issues. I can only imagine what it would be like to remove the pulleys, but I have no reason to do so at the moment.

could you try to see the results

DIGItonium · 09-29-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.A.Q

could you try to see the results

LOL... hopefully I'll never ever have to do so.

wstar · 09-29-2011, 12:01 PM

I've had my Stillen underdrive pulley (which is even lighter and more underdriven than NST's) on the car now for about 20,000 miles over the course of 2.3 years or so. I'm in the upper end of the RPM range often. Zero issues. I don't even get what some consider "normal" VHR oil consumption. My dipstick level stays virtually at the same level throughout an oil change cycle for me (but then again, keep in mind I'm a fan of changing oil early and often. What I take out of my engine often looks good enough for some people to put right back in theirs). I also haven't had any strange engine symptoms or noises of any kind.

All of that said, there are at least two things to take to heart from Sam@GTM's pulley info in that other thread:

1) Clearly, he has a point about the Aluminum pulleys partially welding themselves onto the crankshaft over time. It makes basic sense, and his video removal evidence is pretty compelling. They can still be removed, but don't expect to get them off at a later date with just a simple home garage impact wrench with the engine and radiator still installed like normal. I'm sure mine is pretty well glued on at this point, but I also don't see myself ever removing it.

2) Underdriven pulleys will throw off the pulley ratios for a supercharger kit. You can correct for this by also changing the pulley size on your SC kit, but it's probably far simpler to just leave the stock pulley in place with SC (not to mention, if there's *any* shred of truth to engine life concerns, which I doubt at least in the NA case, they'd be more important with FI). You're adding so much power with FI anyways that any gains from a pulley are too trivial to care about.

Jordo! · 09-29-2011, 07:13 PM

FWIW I look at mods in terms of bang for the buck as well as bang for the risk likelihood and bang for the magnitude of risk severity.

Bang for the buck, 5-6 whp for the cost of the pulley and install is relatively good value.

Bang for the risk likelihood is unknown, because the base rate for failure due to pulleys in not known, but lets say for sake of argument it's something to the tune of 5-6 whp for less than a 1% risk, which sounds very reasonable.

Bang for magnitude of risk severity... 5-6 whp for potentially catastrophic engine damage. That's not so great...

That last one has me convinced that although it's not exactly a terrible idea to run a pulley, it's not a really good idea either.

You can apply that same set of decision criteria to FI, which can also result in a destroyed engine or trans with a bit of bad luck (and probably a higher risk likelihood), but you get a lot more bang for the risk severity magnitude.

Not suggesting that everyone should adopt this overly cautious outlook, and of course individual results will vary anyway, but this is just how I try to decide what is and what is not worth doing.

B.A.Q · 09-29-2011, 07:32 PM

OK so it's a debatable thing. like VVEL will never be cracked or they're still working on it

anyway I need the money for an oil cooler so decided to sell it if anyone is interested

NST Pulleys

quicksilver08 · 09-29-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

2) Underdriven pulleys will throw off the pulley ratios for a supercharger kit. You can correct for this by also changing the pulley size on your SC kit, but it's probably far simpler to just leave the stock pulley in place with SC (not to mention, if there's *any* shred of truth to engine life concerns, which I doubt at least in the NA case, they'd be more important with FI). You're adding so much power with FI anyways that any gains from a pulley are too trivial to care about.

This.

And let me ask yall this, how many people have yall known that have installed UD pulleys on vehicles (foreign and domestic) and have ever had any issues? Cause I know close to a dozen in the domestic world that in the last 10yrs have never had an issue with their UD pulleys and their engines.

09-27-2011, 10:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
B.A.Q Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Phoenix,Az Posts: 302 Drives: Touring 370z Rep Power: 14	Pulley Issues!! I have the NST Pulleys and I was gonna install them couple weeks ago but then saw the video Sam posted in the SC st2 press release!!! He didn't recommend the underdrive pulleys. I know a guy that has a 350 and he's pulley is leaking some oil (don't know what brand). So these are making me a bit hesitated. My question is did anyone have similar issues? How likely is it to happen? __________________ SOLD!! 09 370z Touring MT: GReddy Ti-C CBE - Berk HFC - Stillen 3G CAI '11 Mustang GT/CS 5.0 MT

09-27-2011, 10:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	Everything Sam said in detail I've also heard from a number of highly skilled tuners and engine builders, and that is why I do not have one on my car. I say, sell it off to someone who laughs at the risk of engine rebuilds -- I'm sure someone will scoff and pony up. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it.

09-28-2011, 12:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
XwChriswX WFLYIDNNE Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In The Fastlane Posts: 50,648 Drives: 02 GDB WRX Rep Power: 451	Yes there are nay sayers, but also those that have had them on, and on boosted cars and have had no problems as well. Most problems can be attributed to improper installs. I had my NST pulleys installed almost a month ago and have had zero problems and zero oil loss and I've been checking it every week for this exact purpose. I held on to my stock pulleys in the event of something going wrong, or if I decide to swap them back out for TT. __________________ Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall! R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

09-28-2011, 11:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	I've had mine for over a year, and had the turbo kit on for a month. So far there are no issues. I can only imagine what it would be like to remove the pulleys, but I have no reason to do so at the moment. __________________

09-29-2011, 12:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	I've had my Stillen underdrive pulley (which is even lighter and more underdriven than NST's) on the car now for about 20,000 miles over the course of 2.3 years or so. I'm in the upper end of the RPM range often. Zero issues. I don't even get what some consider "normal" VHR oil consumption. My dipstick level stays virtually at the same level throughout an oil change cycle for me (but then again, keep in mind I'm a fan of changing oil early and often. What I take out of my engine often looks good enough for some people to put right back in theirs). I also haven't had any strange engine symptoms or noises of any kind. All of that said, there are at least two things to take to heart from Sam@GTM's pulley info in that other thread: 1) Clearly, he has a point about the Aluminum pulleys partially welding themselves onto the crankshaft over time. It makes basic sense, and his video removal evidence is pretty compelling. They can still be removed, but don't expect to get them off at a later date with just a simple home garage impact wrench with the engine and radiator still installed like normal. I'm sure mine is pretty well glued on at this point, but I also don't see myself ever removing it. 2) Underdriven pulleys will throw off the pulley ratios for a supercharger kit. You can correct for this by also changing the pulley size on your SC kit, but it's probably far simpler to just leave the stock pulley in place with SC (not to mention, if there's any shred of truth to engine life concerns, which I doubt at least in the NA case, they'd be more important with FI). You're adding so much power with FI anyways that any gains from a pulley are too trivial to care about. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

09-28-2011, 12:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jamaica A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 15,362 Drives: Under boost Rep Power: 73	Which people had them on there boosted cars?

09-29-2011, 07:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
Jordo! A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: nirvana Posts: 6,394 Drives: 2023 NATM Rep Power: 418	FWIW I look at mods in terms of bang for the buck as well as bang for the risk likelihood and bang for the magnitude of risk severity. Bang for the buck, 5-6 whp for the cost of the pulley and install is relatively good value. Bang for the risk likelihood is unknown, because the base rate for failure due to pulleys in not known, but lets say for sake of argument it's something to the tune of 5-6 whp for less than a 1% risk, which sounds very reasonable. Bang for magnitude of risk severity... 5-6 whp for potentially catastrophic engine damage. That's not so great... That last one has me convinced that although it's not exactly a terrible idea to run a pulley, it's not a really good idea either. You can apply that same set of decision criteria to FI, which can also result in a destroyed engine or trans with a bit of bad luck (and probably a higher risk likelihood), but you get a lot more bang for the risk severity magnitude. Not suggesting that everyone should adopt this overly cautious outlook, and of course individual results will vary anyway, but this is just how I try to decide what is and what is not worth doing. __________________ Enjoy it. Destroy it. Last edited by Jordo!; 09-29-2011 at 07:18 PM.

09-29-2011, 07:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
B.A.Q Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Phoenix,Az Posts: 302 Drives: Touring 370z Rep Power: 14	OK so it's a debatable thing. like VVEL will never be cracked or they're still working on it anyway I need the money for an oil cooler so decided to sell it if anyone is interested NST Pulleys __________________ SOLD!! 09 370z Touring MT: GReddy Ti-C CBE - Berk HFC - Stillen 3G CAI '11 Mustang GT/CS 5.0 MT

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