For those of you that have pulleys...i am considering getting either AEM or Unorthodox pulleys.

However, when i talked to my tuner guy, he said that the problem with installing pulleys is that sometimes the alternator can't handle it and as a result it may drive funny...he wasn't too specific...he said he will install them for me if i wanted but he said i shoudl think about it first because i might have to change the belt as well. Has anyone had any problems with their installed pulleys?

thanks,

 

I have the AEM. You do have to change the belt, but it comes with it so no biggie. He might mean if you change the alternator pully you may have some small power issues, since it is now a smaller pully. The CL/TL alternator is fine however. I have mine on for a few months now, & no problems.

 

I would buy the Unorthodox kit as it has proven performance and reliability.
Oil analysis has been done as well and everything has been normal. Gains are good as well.

 

how much is that unorthodox kit and where can I get it?

 

AEM's dont do jack shit. the only pulley that actually gives performance gains is the CRANKSHAFT pulley and that is only available with the unorthodox kit.

 

I agree, the AEM's are just for looks.
Go to Unorthodox's website, which I think is www.unorthodoxracing.com.
If not check through yahoo.
I think they are around $300.00 per set.

 

I posted a thread about this which I'm too lazy to look up...My tuner directed me to get the UR crank pulley only as the others are cosmetic only. It was like $200...The thread gave a review...

 

I choose to be safe. No one has put 100K miles on a car with the aftermarket crank. The AEM does add about 4 HP on my dyno runs. But the real HP gains are in the crank pully

 

Call Silas at Velocity 800-790-1967 $280 shipped to your door

 

I think JohnTypeS gained about 12hp and 8 lb-ft of torque based on the crank pulley alone .. UDP that is.

...and that's ACROSS the entire power band

 

For a complete set, this is an excellent price.

 

so the unorthodox pulleys aren't painted like the AEM ones?

what is this about not making it to 100k?

 

UR have coated and Polished... I have the polished.

 

The Hp gains are mostly from a decrease in rotating mass of the crank pulley. They eliminate the dampner part of the pulley, the heaviest part. The underdrive gains are minimal. the only thing that slows down is the P/S (no drag when going straight) and alternator (usually alt rpm is compensated by a smaller pulley so you wont have any charging issues) and the AC (which shouldn't by on anyway when you want more power).

Some think that by eliminating the dampner the crank is subject to harmonics that will eventually destroy itself. This is proven on many V8's. The jury's still out on the Honda motors.

Normally when building an engine the entire rotating assy from the crank bolt to the clutch is balanced. Replacing the crank pulley may unbalance the engine. Just like balancing a rim and tire.

Like Fuzzy said, until people (not just 2 or 3) have over 100k AND have maged their crank, I'll stay safe with the stock pulleys.

Dan

 

one about the UR pullies, the belts will squeak.. I tightened the belts to the max and still there is squeaking sound.

 

squeaking is annoying...

 

it would be

 

My AEM's do not squeak

 

The UR pulleys do not squeak one bit. Maybe you should try some different belts or you might have the belts too tight.
The engine is balanced with or without the pulley and many Honda's have used the crank pulley for some time in 4's and 6's with no adverse results.
It's like you guys are making excuses not to reccommend the pulley set, when it's actually one of the best mods for the money.
You will see gains of at least 5-8 hp period.

 

for 5-8 WHP at 440 it is NOT the best mod for the money!

 

I used the Gates Belts the recomended belts brands bt UR. I may had better listen to Acura Mech and got Bando ( Acura Stock Brand) instead.

If I spray some belts dressing the squeaking sound will go away. this means that the belts are slipping, no?

 

Mine do not squeak either. At all. The belt (I only have the crank pulley) came from Napa. I have no vibrations, no issues, nadda...I only have 8k miles on the pulley, so I cannot comment about long term anything. Oh, and I got the silver polished pulley...

 

No squeaking on mine with Napa Belts at all. As for the balancing issue, UR has done extensive testing and found them safe, again check with Silas at Velocity for the scoop on this as well.

 

I have the UR crank pulley and used Gates belts, no issues at all and the gains are very good.

 

I have the UR Pulley Set. And I bought the Gates belts.

NOTE: I was told at NAPA that the NAPA belts are also made by Gates. I believe this is true because the NAPA belts use the Gates part numbers.

I have no squeeking problems. I believe the gains are good, but I did this at the same time as installing the IceBox. I am not sure how much of the gains were from the pulleys and how much were from the IceBox. Between the two, the gains were very noticable. And the gains continued to improve for a couple of days.

 

Nashua, sounds like you might have a problem. I use Gates belts and they are great.
Maybe you should try changing the belts again.

 

That would cost me at least some $130. Maybe I will ask a tech to check the tension first.


BTW, the sqeak is not loud like some AC belts that you can heer from 100 ft away. It is kind of whistling sound that is noticable at the stop lights and when the engine is at idle and the hood is open. If I spray some Belt dressing the sound immediately goes away.

 

Interesting.

 

Nashua, is your pulley polished or anodized (blue, red)?

 

I just read your mods,says you have polished. I know this sounds crazy, but do you thinka light scuffing of the crank pulley, with emory cloth, will cause it to grip the belt any better? Maybe the pulley is too slick, polished?