The fear of blowing my car's engine is more than the fear of MBUSA spys my posting on this forum.

And really, spending $1,000 on a KLEEMANN pulley is not expensive either, considering I'll be owning the car for 5 years. That's $200 a year only for 25hp more of boost. But my thought was since both pulleys are basically the same thing and if I could get the ASP one for cheap why not?! The roundness and tolerance thing show the reasons for the price difference now.

 

Buellwinkle, wait a minute... Do you have a Kleemann pulley too? And a spare ASP one? I'm a little confused. Also, do I understand your phrase correctly, that the ASP pulley is "less round" than the Kleemann one, but stays within tolerances? Then what are the tolerances?

 

Roundness and tolerance vary from pulley to pulley. You guys may have the better tolerance ones than the one that I have.

 

The mechanic that helped me put on my Kleemann pulley told me to make sure to sand the pulley lightly all around where it goes on the crank. This is to get rid of any small piece of metal that could be there, and then clean it off real good and put it on.

So it could be possible that something is or was on the pulley that damaged the seal and causes the leak.

 

I don't have a Kleemann pulley but I assisted on Kleemann installations and I had the ASP, Kleemann alloy and ring pulley in my hand at one time side by side and borrowed it for while. Although not intentional, the sizes are identical, a product of space limitations, the workmanship/machining/finish is top notch on both pulleys. There are going to be issues with any pulley and right now the spotlight is on ASP because they have about a dozen people out there with a pulley in a short amount of time doing installations on their own, something that other pulley companies either don't allow or don't condone. But I can tell you of 4 people on the forums that have had problems with Kleemann pulleys and 2 of them sold their pulleys, 1 switched to ASP. So I'm not going to debate which pulley is better and if you have a warranty issue with any pulley manufacturer you should resolve it through them just as you do when you car has problems. These are all small production pulleys despite what some tuners want you to believe and I can see variations from one run to another. If you pursue your issues with ASP, not only will they resolve it for you but will help everyone.

 

At my dealership, the mechanics couldn't fix a sandwich. Eight times I've been in for sunroof squeaks and rattles.

 

At my dealer, I can't bring it in once for anything. My oil change took 2 visits, first day to do the oil change, second day to fix the oil filter gasket they broke. They detailed the car and the first day they detailed it and it looks great but doesn't run, second day they repaired the sensor they broke while steam cleaning the motor. That's OK, I have low expectations and they meet them all the time. At least they make it up with the absolute best customer service and attitude and free car washes and cookies.

 

It sounds like you have made a mistake, after the third attempt to fix something you should have gone to another dealership. I have no patience for mechanics that are incompetent.

 

Free car washes and cookies??? Where is the milk??

 

Sorry, no milk. They have coffee, decaf, water bottles, soda. Fletcher Jones, 15 miles away offers Cappucino's and Latte's and they have a bartender but don't know what they serve since I'm not their customer, just stopped by to check it out. Before they were Fletcher Jones they were Jim Slemons and I took my 190 in for cruise control problem 12 times before they lemoned it. I've tried the game of trying different dealers, doesn't always get the desired results.

 

I don't know how you get so much joy driving to and sitting around car dealerships.

I can look out my window right now and see the people walking around Fletcher Jones. I shudder every time I even think about having to go over there to waste an hour again. Their having a goofy bartender just doesn't really help. I'll buy my own 50 cent bottle of water, thanks.

"My oil change took 2 visits, first day to do the oil change, second day to fix the oil filter gasket they broke. They detailed the car and the first day they detailed it and it looks great but doesn't run, second day they repaired the sensor they broke while steam cleaning the motor. . . . At least they make it up with the absolute best customer service."

That's "the best customer service"??? I'd hate to see what you consider BAD customer service!

 

You wouldn't feel that way if you had very low expectations like I do. I've learned to live with mediocraty, otherwise life it too stressfull. Plus I really enjoy the loaners, yes even the C240. As for waiting for car washes, that's not as big a deal as it may seem. I meet up with people I know so it's just an excuse to get together.

 

Well, that is good for you (seriously). You are a retailer's dream.

Waiting 2 days for them to fix a problem that should take an hour (after they said it would take a half a day), and therefore having to go to the dealer 4 trips (there, back, there, back) irks me, wastes my time and costs me real money. I wish that the free 50 cent bottle of water and the E320 rental car could tranform that experience from annoying to enjoyable for me, like it would for you.

I take it you are on salary or something so your time isn't money.

 

OK, im going back to Mercedes of San Diego where I would at least get free beverage's and food.

:p

 

OK. For those of you who are still interested in the original discussoin of this thread:

Two days after having the stock pulley back on, I do not find any leaks. I checked this by physically removing the cover pan each night after returning home from work, and went underneath the car and inspected for any visual oil residual on the engine using my four eyes (two real eyes with corrective lenses) and a shop lamp. The pan was dry on the surface, and there was no sign of oil resting on the engine block.

Now I can make the conclusion: I did not break the seal while installing the ASP pulley, and the leak was caused by the ASP pulley alone.

I've notified Lee and he said has already aware of the issue and has already changed the spec on the pulley for the current orders. And he will also remachine my pulley to the new spec. I understand this is an issue that the first phase of users implementing a new product has to face. Hope this will solve my problem.

Final cut: no need for a dealer visit = no worry .

 

Interesting..... did he tell you what they are doing to fix it?


So all the people with the older pully will have some small defect?
Or will u guys need to send the pully back?


~fk

 

I do not mean the original design was a flaw/defect. The change I'm referring to is solely the change in the pulley size after I reporting it rubbing the water pump pulley. They now make the pulley to be 1% smaller than the original design as I know of. Anyone who is interested in the details should contact Lee at ASP directly.

And yes I am sending the pulley back for remachining, and they will also change the steel ring so I hope the new one will not cause leakage.

 

Alrite,

I am confused now. I contacted Lee and he said I would have a choice between the new and old spec pullys. I ordered my pully before this problem was discoverd, but he said he will give me which ever one i want. So are All the old spec pullys rubbing? If so I will just order the newer spec pully.


Thanks
fk

 

My guess is that the belt thicknesses may vary and the slightest difference maybe enough to cause rubbing. Go with the smaller pulley. .001" is not going to make a difference in performance. Most don't have a problem but why take the risk. I'm the one that decided on the diameter and I wanted the largest pulley that would fit, should have taken into consideration belt thickness variances.

 

Mine's OK, early.

 

alrite... good deal tehn

im gonna order the newer spec pully. Lee said it will be 2 different colors... so I guess Ill be surprised on what it will look like.



I hope this is enough so it doesnt rub on my car!


~fk

 

has anyone else with the pully experienced this problem?

 

I beat out a Saleen Mustang and C32 yesterday. OK, only for the first 10', I had the jump on them, the C32 leaped out in front of me and the Saleen laid back for the ultimate kill, he went past the C32 like it was standing still. I need more boost!

 

I looked at my Kleemann and noticed that it is rubbing also. I am going to take a closer look at the belt tomorrow to see how bad it is. It kind of looks like it has already worn as much as it is going to, just a little bit off the end, and only through the top layer, so the full width is still in contact with the pulley. It didn't look frayed at all.

Anyone know if this is okay, as long as it doesn't wear anymore?

Maybe I should get this new ASP pulley instead.

 

Should be 0.01", according to Lee.