Hi, George....I have been closely following the work you have
been doing on the bell housing.  Really looks great.  We all
benefit from experimenters like yourself.  One question, if
I may.  One of the features that I found attractive about your
design, is that it is "closed" similar to the Ross unit, which
prevents foreign matter from entering the spinning flywheel
mechanism.  One of the drawbacks on Tracy's system is that
it is open, and although it allows for inspection, my greater concern
is that it also allows for foreign matter (fod) to enter,
which is not a good thing.  Will the bell housing be offered both with
and without the lightening holes? I was hoping to cut one
inspection hole, and cover it with a removable light weight
aluminum inspection cover.  I would much rather trade a
little extra weight for peace of mind.  Mind you, this is only one
opinion, however it is most likely a purchasing opinion.
 Thanks again for all of the time and effort you have put into this
project. We will all benefit from it.  sincerely, Paul Conner

Foreign matter is unlikely to enter any holes in a bell housing as there
is a centrifugal vortex of air in the interior. Many Ross bell housings
have had holes cut in them. It has never been a problem in over
ten years of use. Ed Anderson's Ross had holes as I recall. Nobody
running Tracy's PSRU have reported any problems along these lines
in years of use.

I think the cooling effect on the rubber bushing torsional vibration
dampener far outweigh this minor consideration.

Paul Lamar

Paul Connor,
In reference to the bellhousing - anyway you want it mate!
George (down under)

If you don't cast the holes in George the cost of machining will be 
much higher for you or for us than to put them in during the machining process.

If we have to do it on this end it is really expensive as it must
be done on an NC mill or on a rotary table and an ordinary
mill. No other practical way of doing it. Unless of course you
want to cut and reweld your band saw blade ten times. Once for
each hole.

With the given wall thickness casting limitations there is no other way
to get the weight down to a reasonably number.

Paul Lamar
 
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