We ran tests for years on lightening flywheels with stock engines and found that indeed VW knew what they were doing to make the engine live a normal life with the stock crankshaft. When I started counterweighting the crankshafts in the early 1970's I found that we increased the engine life dramatically and in some cases as much as 100%. Again, tests were made with lightened flywheels and indeed the counter- weighted crank allowed the use of lightened flywheels with no loss of life.

Further, improvements in longevity were made when we started using our GB 440E and GB 442E heavy pulleys. The idea came to me to again do the test with a stock crank, our GB 084 lightened flywheel and our GB 440E pulley. Yes, this provided the faster acceleration I wanted and stopped all the conditions and even improved the engine's life. We found that having weight on both ends of the crank stopped these conditions even sooner and better. See about Berg Achiever and Equalizer in the pulley section.

Only genuine VW factory forged chrome vanadium flywheels are used. These are approved for race applications and are allowed on NHRA tracks without a scatter shield except when turbocharged. We may appear to be a little more costly to some people, however, in the long run it is far cheaper than using a poorly made after market flywheel that will not work or live, especially if you have it matched to a crankshaft.

Berg flywheels are lightened only on the extreme outer perimeter for maximum acceleration and reliability. We do not take material off behind the clutch surface to do the lightening. Our flywheels maintain this extremely important cross section that avoids distortion (bending) when the clutch is depressed, providing far more rigidity and life. This is especially critical to clutch life, to assure proper release, and full engagement so it will not slip, especially when HD clutches are used.

When improperly lightened, as our competitors are, the pressure plate bends the flywheel when being disengaged, requiring far more pedal travel than normal, often not fully releasing or taking far longer to do so, damaging the syncros or pro rings in the transmission. When re-engaged the disc only touches the outside edges (of the bent flywheel) at first and starts to slip.

When enough power is present it may not completely hook-up even when the flywheel is fully returned to a flat position. No material is removed behind the clutch area on our flywheels for this reason and this is also an important heat dissipation area.

We grind the clutch surface with a swirl out pattern to remove heat from this critical area. Grinding assures flatness and removes heat checks that cannot be achieved by lathe machining. Grinding also provides the longest clutch life and smoothest operation. We then re-cut the pressure plate seating height to factory tolerances.

Flywheels are supplied with stock 4 dowel holes. Before you ask about 8 dowel flywheels please read about doweling a crank to a flywheel in the dowel section of this catalog. If you still want us to drill it for 8 dowels see LA FLY010 or LA FLY012.

We recommend using 12-volt o'ring flywheels as they have induction heat treated ring gear teeth for maximum life. This can be used with either the 6-volt Bosch SR 14X starter which has the small 12-volt bushing size shaft and a 12-volt Bendix for extra fast spin. Or use any regular VW 12-volt starter. Berg lightened flywheel. SW 16# ea.

Using a lightened flywheel with a stock, non counterweighted crankshaft requires using a GB 440E Equalizer pulley to dampen harmonics, bending, torsional twist and vibration. Without doing so can cause premature case, piston, rod bearing and even possible crank damage.

GB 084 O'ring Flywheel, 12-volt 200mm as described previously. Finished weight is about 12.5 lbs. that we have established from hundreds of thousands of test miles to provide the longest clutch, crank and crank case life. Priced exchange, not balanced. For balancing, see LA BAL017. We recommend the crank, flywheel, pulley, and pressure plate all be dynamically

GB 084-O Same as GB 084 but priced outright with no core or core credit at a later time.

GB 084R O'ring Flywheel, 12-volt 200mm processed as above with a new hardened ring gear installed. Priced exchange, not balanced.

GB 084R-O Same as GB 084R but priced outright with no core or core credit at a later time.

GB 084-CORE Core charge for GB 084, refundable upon receiving your good stock 12-volt 200mm o'ring type flywheel. Any received with worn out teeth or bad dowel holes are not acceptable for GB 084. Any core not returned within 30 days of invoice date is considered sold and terminates our core credit slip.

GB 084R-CORE Core charge for GB 084R, refundable upon receiving your good stock 12-volt 200mm o'ring type flywheel. Bad dowel holes are not acceptable. Worn out teeth are acceptable for GB 084R. Any core not returned within 30 days of invoice date is considered sold and terminates our core credit slip.

Note: We can also supply lightened 6-volt o'ring flywheels at the same price as above. Inquire if you have such a need.