Can anyone explain to me in simple terms the difference between these 3 pulleys? All are 15%.

Helix 13's pulley - MCS 15% Supercharger Pulley $100.00
MINI Madness' pulley - $150
Alta pulley from Out Motoring - $124.95


_________________
Torrun Dearg
'04 CR/B MCS, T/B interior, Premium, Sport, Cold
5 Brake Lights... more mods to come.

 

One more question. Do all pulleys need a new belt? I'm considering the 17% ProMINI pulley, but it makes no mention of a new belt. Only the Alta one does.

 

All the pulleys are basically the same. Helix offers them for less than anyone in the country. You don't need a new belt for the 15%, but you probably should for the 17%. For the 19%, you definitely need a shorter belt.

 

So whats the difference in the Helix pulleys that "clamp on" and the regular ones?

 

>>So whats the difference in the Helix pulleys that "clamp on" and the regular ones?
>>
That was my next question too. :smile: Along with what is that pulley without the hub?

 

I'd go with the Alta for 3 reasons:

1) It's a 2-piece pulley that's installed at room temperature.

2) It has a capped end, so runout isn't much of an issue.

3) It's stainless, rather than aluminum, so you don't get all kinds of wierdness with the thermal coefficient.

 

Think I should read more closely. The ProMINI pulleys do "require use of
special reduced length drive belt #157848". Their's is also all stainless steel. Helix has the combination of aluminum (outer part of pulley) and steel (hub). Ahh! That's what the hub is for, and what the hubless pulleys are for as well....

Just to be complete, MINI Madness' pulley appears to be all aluminum, although they don't indicate explicitly that both the hub and pulley are aluminum. And their's is anodized.

 

>>I'd go with the Alta for 3 reasons:
>>
>>1) It's a 2-piece pulley that's installed at room temperature.
>>
>>2) It has a capped end, so runout isn't much of an issue.
>>
>>3) It's stainless, rather than aluminum, so you don't get all kinds of wierdness with the thermal coefficient.

I have used all of them, and I do like the Alta pulley the best, for the reasons above and the fact that it has a positive stop on the pulley side. When you cinch the hub into the pulley, it has a machined surface that the hub comes to stop on on the pulley side. It makes sense if you see it!

BTW, I sell it for $120. I also have access to the Helix and several others, for the same price. Eric at Helix is a great guy to buy from, and is a staunch supporter of the MINI community, so if you like that pulley design better, get it direct :smile:

Hope that helps! Feel free to contact me with any other questions.

Randy
720-841-1002

 

the Helix and Promini taper fit pulleys have a positive stop so the length of engagement on the shaft is always correct.

 

i asked this same question last week and did not get all these answers! :???:
i called Eric @ Helix on it and he said they have a new pulley now that is all carbon steel, he no longer uses the aluminum/steel combination pulley.

 

pulleys do i smell?

 

>>i asked this same question last week and did not get all these answers! :???:
>>i called Eric @ Helix on it and he said they have a new pulley now that is all carbon steel, he no longer uses the aluminum/steel combination pulley.
Eric told me the same thign today when I called. He was very friendly and helpful. He recommended the 19% pulley actually for my driving habits (no racing, autocross, typically highway driving around 65-75 MPH with some stop and go, hardly ever above 5k RPM).

He also mentioned that their pulleys are capped like the Alta one, and it is self centering as well.
_________________
Torrun Dearg
'04 CR/B MCS, T/B interior, Premium, Sport, Cold
5 Brake Lights... more mods to come.

 

>>>>i asked this same question last week and did not get all these answers! :???:
>>>>i called Eric @ Helix on it and he said they have a new pulley now that is all carbon steel, he no longer uses the aluminum/steel combination pulley.
>>Eric told me the same thign today when I called. He was very friendly and helpful. He recommended the 19% pulley actually for my driving habits (no racing, autocross, typically highway driving around 65-75 MPH with some stop and go, hardly ever above 5k RPM).
>>
>>He also mentioned that their pulleys are capped like the Alta one, and it is self centering as well.

In Hawaii we have a bunch of Helix pulleys in various sizes from 15% to 17% and 19% installed in January by Eric.
I got to see each one up close and they were all steel, similar in weight to the stock pulley but much smaller.
The biggest difference is size is going from stock to 15%. Your pet fish can tell the difference. But once you get to 17% and 19% the change is much smaller and easiest to see side by side on end.

All of these pulleys are doing quite well for street driving with no problems at all. No overheating, no high intake temps, no cavitation problems. Several have been taken to autocross and to driving school on the track with no problems. If you are not pushing the car up to 6000 rpm much then any size pulley will work including the 19% which for the same/nearly same install cost (except for the smaller belt) is the best bang per buck upgrade.

One added benefit right now of the 19% pulley is that while none of the pulleys really needs an ECU upgrade, the 15% pulley might do better with an ECU upgrade while the 19% pulley isn't going to see as much gain (seems to work OK with the stock v.36 or .v37 software) from present ECU upgrades so for now you can sit and wait for further developement while you enjoy the added power from the 19% now.

 

Thanks minihune! Just what I wanted to hear!

Though I am concerned about having a new belt. I'm not extremely engine savvy, and Flow MINI of Winston Salem flat out told me that they would not install any part not from MINI (i.e., after market parts). I asked cause apparently some dealers are cool with doing it.

So, where does that leave me? I've seen recommendations that the belt needs replaced every 30k miles. Can't do it myself... dealer won't do it.... some auto shops might...

 

I ran 30 consecutive 1/4 mile runs with a 19% the other night. No problems. Redlined every shift.

On a side note: I had a MiniMania 15% prior to the Alta 19%. The steel hub of the first one was a pain to remove because of some rusting after 9k miles or so.

 

Belt replacements are pretty easy. I put on a Goodyear GatorGrip belt (Terry Sayther Automotive) which is pretty narly.

 

>>Belt replacements are pretty easy. I put on a Goodyear GatorGrip belt (Terry Sayther Automotive) which is pretty narly.
As I said, I am not very engine savvy. Was the new belt install easy? By that I mean no engine lifting or jacking or whatever. And I assume you have your own belt tensioner?

 

> I ran 30 consecutive 1/4 mile runs with a 19% the other
> night. No problems. Redlined every shift.

Bless you, Bisch.

Randy's installing an Alta 19% pulley for me at his upcoming "New Shop Open House". Absolutely cannot wait!!!

 

>>i asked this same question last week and did not get all these answers! :???:
>>i called Eric @ Helix on it and he said they have a new pulley now that is all carbon steel, he no longer uses the aluminum/steel combination pulley.


Disco:

I was stone wrong when i said carbon steel. The pulleys are stainless. Sorry for the brain fade. We still do use the Interference fit (aluminum/steel) pullies occasionally, for those people who want to have a smaller pulley for the street, but compete in G-stock, STX, or Stock class for club racing. The Interference fit hub style pullies are easier to swap sizes (no motor lifting, etc.). Otherwise, we put in the easy-to-install taper fit.