That is not true, the reference was about "over speed(ing) a flywheel not designed for a fast speed". It was not about Metro hub failures.
If you run your automobile with loose lug nuts, it is a certain thing that the wheel will fail, through no fault of its own.
If a Listeroid is run with the gib key loose, sooner or later the flywheel will fail, through no fault of its own.
(The following comments from this forum in December 2006)
Quinn said "It's from a 6/1 he says, that suddenly began knocking, so he shut it down. Next morning, he found the gib key lying on the ground and the flywheel rim cracked almost clear through. Reaching across a cracked flywheel to hit the stop lever like he did, he's lucky to be alive."
Tim (the owner)said "The void at the bottom of the picture goes within 1/2 inch of the outside.The motor was not running at the time i found the cracks , i shut it down last night because of a knock. This motor has 3615 hours on it since june 26"
Tim (the owner) then said "The flywheel was cracked two places. I took a John13 special tool and broke it off in order to put another one on [special tool, sledge hammer]"
And the owner does not say "the asssmebly" fell apart. He says he broke it off. Quinn also says the key was lying on the ground, not "when the gib key was removed"
Doug, please be accurate. There are enough issues on this forum without ones like yours being posted.
If you have privileged information that the key fell out because it was tight, and the flywheel just got tired of being so tightly bound by a poor-fitting Indian gib key, please let us know.
There is a bit more information that seems to be relevant. The first is from Bob G, a first class diesel mechanic with 40 some years of experience. He said on 19 December 2006, in this forum: "
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Re: Danger: Broken Flywheel
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2006, 08:04:23 PM »
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ok guys i am going to err on the side of safety here.
if you have an engine that you discover knocking or poorly fitted jib keys, or one that has had the living crap beat out of it in installation
Remove the flywheels and have the hubs magnafluxed!
it is clear as mud that the crack was there from the assembly of that engine, had any evidence of a knock or overstress gib key been
evident the wheels could have been mag'd and there would have been no failure.
in my thinking this should probably be a mandatory step in preparing one of these engine's, i know it will be for me!
most any automotive machine shop can mag them for you for a very small fee, i would expect 20 bucks would cover the cost if you clean all the paint off
yourself around the hub area at least.
this is sickening, and appears to be an isolated instance, at this point. but i do wonder how many other flywheels are running with the start of a very small crack
and are waiting to fail.
but again i will probably be flamed for this observation, but oh well.
i like the heat Smiley
bob g
And last, Tim, the owner again, said on that same day: "bob g
I think that should be the first thing that should be checked on every engine .The casting flaw had bee filled in with what looked like silicone mixed with fillings. I don't think it was the manufactor,probaly a caster who didn't want to lose a rupel. But i'm thankful,plus it's it's running as i type
Tim
Doug, MY two cents worth is that there several conclusions to be drawn from this:
1) You did not post accurately.
2) Tim reported, and there is no doubt, that an actual running failure was not very far away. Yet, even with all the problems, the flywheel was still holding together. This is truly a testament to the 4 to 1 engineered safety margin.
3) Indians should not be allowed to fit gib keys on export engines to the USA. Even one injury is one too many.
4)If there is any question as to the fitting of a gib key on your Listeroid (or Lister), please take the time to pull the flywheels, and make SURE the keys are fitted correctly. If there is any doubt as to the condition of the flywheel, have it magnafluxed, and replace it if necessary.
5)This incident is well described at
http://utterpower.com/flywheel_danger.htm6) Correct gib key fitment is described at several places in this forum. Everyone should read (again) the comments starting with Rod's post on January 27, 2007,
"gib key installation???" Rod, okiezeke, peterako, hotater, Doug, and others reported very well on this subject. Hotaters "how to" on February 4, same subject, is probably "the" textbook answer to correct fitting.
There is just one other thing about personal safety, and it has been my "golden" safety rule for a long time. "If you think it may be unsafe, don't do it."