Help identifying this component

[homegoods2u]

Anyone recognize this piece of equipment and/or what applications it might be used for?  There are no manufacturer’s marks of any kind but you can easily tell it is a quality component of exceptionally high quality.  It measures 9” in length and has a solid heavy machined flywheel that is set up for a belt drive.  Any ideas?  Thanks, Gary

[itsjustasprain]

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@homegoods2u wrote:

Anyone recognize this piece of equipment and/or what applications it might be used for?  There are no manufacturer’s marks of any kind but you can easily tell it is a quality component of exceptionally high quality.  It measures 9” in length and has a solid heavy machined flywheel that is set up for a belt drive.  Any ideas?  Thanks, Gary

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That would be a rather over-engineered squirrel-cage fan. No makers marks on it anywhere? Might be a one-off prototype. How did you come across it?

[chapeau-noir · Accepted solution]

@homegoods2u  Looks like the flywheel for a bicycle wind trainer, or wind load simulator - the rear wheel rides on the center portion, a long belt runs on the one side, the other side creates wind resistance.  Look up Racer-Mate for instance.

[chapeau-noir]

Oh, I should say also that there was a wind-load adapter that used (maybe still is) to be fitted onto rollers in order to provide wind resistance - that may be what that is - it would clamp onto the side rail of the rollers and you set it up with a belt to run to the front roller - it would add load to made pedal resistance harder.

[stephenmorgan]

As chapeau_noir said.

Very similar.

foldable indoor bicycle bike turbo trainer fan fly wind wheel

[chapeau-noir]

Yes - now they're often water resistance (usually look like the setup above) and don't need a belt. I actually liked the older belt-driven ones better, but you didn't see them a lot. 

Of course, I guess it could be for any kind of resistance device, I guess.

[chapeau-noir]

LOL I guess...I guess.

[homegoods2u]

Thanks Black-Cap!  I think you nailed it!

[chapeau-noir]

@homegoods2u  You are welcome.  I would say that if the mechanism turns smoothly, it hasn't had a lot of use - mine has a black band along the middle that's hard to remove from thousands of miles of tire rubber, though I guess a good scrub might get it off, but it looks in good shape.

[wrong66]

You guys are good!

[homegoods2u]

It’s brand new in the original box.  Care to   hazard a guess on value?