1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: HELP crank pulley might have died.

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #2 Nathan, Jul 2, 2011
    Looks like a classic case of a dead crank pulley. Recently had the same issue myself and replaced the OEM with an ATI. There are others out there that will work as well however I'd steer clear of ones that do not offer any damping. While there is only a shred of anecdotal evidence a solid pulley can cause issues my gut tells me that MINI used a damped pulley for a reason.
     
  2. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #3 jeffster06, Jul 2, 2011
    That is most likely my guess. Im trying to understand why the belt shredded itself that I don't quite understand. I also hope I didnt hurt anything when I overheated my scan gauge hit 246 when I finally realized it. gonna be checking my oil for water now.
     
  3. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #4 Nathan, Jul 2, 2011
    The crank pulley alignment went wonky when it failed cutting into the belt. That's why it shredded.
     
  4. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #5 jeffster06, Jul 2, 2011
    possibly when I was looking at it when it first started smoking I could see the belt sitting still on the SC pulley only turning occasionally. guess the crank pulley was still trying to work?
     
  5. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #6 BlimeyCabrio, Jul 2, 2011
    Yeah, exactly how mine failed. Exactly.

    The pulley kinda sorta still turns for a while... it's rubber filled, and it makes enough friction with the melted/burned rubber filling to turn for a while. Then it starts to tilt a bit and misalign and starts eating belts (plus overheating the belt because it's slipping). But once it starts breaking belts, when there's no belt on it, you can probably spin the outer part of the pulley on the crank with your hand. That's a sure sign.
     
  6. AliceCooper

    AliceCooper Club Coordinator

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    #7 AliceCooper, Jul 2, 2011
    Yep, There is no doubt in my mind that your crank pulley bought the farm, ATI is best bet for replacement. Summit Racing has the best price I have seen on them.
     
  7. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #8 BlimeyCabrio, Jul 3, 2011
    I really believe there are only two conditions for the OEM crank pulley on modified and hard-driven 1st gen MCSs: those that have already failed, and those that are going to.

    Anyone out there.... if you haven't replaced yours, and you have a hard driven, modified MINI (no one on this site would fit that criteria I'm sure).... then plan to replace it as a preventative measure. The ATI or the fluid damper that some others offer are both good options. Happy with my ATI from Way.

    Why do it before it fails? Because paying to flatbed your MINI a couple hundred miles SUCKS. Ask me how I know.
     
  8. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

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    #9 lotsie, Jul 3, 2011
    Blimey, how do you know? Inquiring minds want to know:lol:

    Mark
     
  9. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #10 BlimeyCabrio, Jul 3, 2011
    I little flying monkey told me.
     
  10. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

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    #11 lotsie, Jul 3, 2011
    Oh, that story:lol:

    Mark
     
  11. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #12 Nathan, Jul 3, 2011
    At MOTD this year I kept eyeing the ATI Crank Pulley and thinking I should pull the trigger cause I figured I was on borrowed time with mine. Instead I fixed a rear brake issue, or well...Chad did.

    Little did I know just how right I was about the borrowed time, not a month later there it went and getting it fixed proved to be stupid expensive cause no one would listen to me at first when I said that was the issue. They tossed parts at the issue and I paid a grand more than I should have. Plus it took a week to effect the repairs.
     
  12. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #13 jeffster06, Jul 3, 2011
    Well I talked to way my car will be getting flat bedded to him sometime this coming week. Lucky me he is only 40 miles away from my house, still probably gonna pay for that one but I have 100 bucks for towing through my insurance so that will help it hurt not so much.

    I'm debating on getting the 2% overdrive pulley that he sells. not sure what kind of gains I will get from it though.

    I'm just happy I was only like 5 miles from my house when it died and most of it was downhill so I coasted it for a bit tried to drive it some but it overheated so I had to shut it down and push for some of it too.

    oh and as for the crank pulley I played with it again this morning I can grab the ribbed portion and wobble it back and forth with ease and it also turns by hand pretty sure it is no longer attached.
     
  13. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #14 minimark, Jul 3, 2011
    Yep did a preventive replacement of mine with the fluid damper that RMW sells.

    Peace of mind is a good thing! ;)
     
  14. Ofioliti

    Ofioliti New Member

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    #15 Ofioliti, Jul 3, 2011
    :postcount

    :popcorn: :beer
     
  15. Way Motor Works

    Way Motor Works New Member

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    #16 Way Motor Works, Jul 3, 2011
    We'll get it fixed this week, I still have the tools laying out from the one I did on Friday.:biggrin5:
     
  16. yellowbritishrocket

    yellowbritishrocket Well-Known Member

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    #17 yellowbritishrocket, Jul 4, 2011
    mine lasted for 156k miles before i decided to replace it... kinda had a feeling it was bound to fail so i decided to preempt it so while Ian @ Maitland had my engine out to replace the clutch i had one of the RMW pulleys installed... great stuff...it might not be lightened or be 2% overdrive but a pulley that drives the crank is not something i really want to lighten
     
  17. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #18 jeffster06, Jul 4, 2011
    Awesome way can't wait to drive my MINI again :Thumbsup: i'm starting to feel like something in the universe wants me to own a Hyundai cause every time my breaks thats what I end up in for a rental car lol.

    On another note when the flatbed showed up today I tried to start my car to limp into the road for him and my battery was dead. scan gauge was reading 10volts hoping it will come back to life with a charge.
     
  18. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #19 jeffster06, Jul 5, 2011
    Got my car back today it runs like a champ. Thanks again Way for your help and a fast repair. :Thumbsup:
     
  19. quikmni

    quikmni Moderator

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    #20 quikmni, Jul 6, 2011
    Did you go with the stock or 2% size pulley?
    I am thinking of going with the 2% because I have JCW SC pulley (12%).
     
  20. jeffster06

    jeffster06 Active Member

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    #21 jeffster06, Jul 6, 2011
    I ended up going with the stock size. I already have a 15% reduction pulley and sadly the extra 25 bucks for the 2% was gonna break the bank for me lol. This hit me at the worst time (doesn't it always?)