This has been bothering me.
All this talk about these fast Bombs and not one word about clutch plates going south. Why?
Did you solve your clutch problems Scooby? If not, why are the other people not having problems?

 

??????

 

We have a turbo still not running 100% and fried our clutch after 3 weekends, with 60% springs!! Running 80% now!
Why I haven't complained.......... Just the nature and price of HP.

 

Cape Windy said something about a lockout clutch for the DS coming soon... sounded like it was in development now. Clutch problems may be a thing of the past if that comes out.

 

I have tried a few different things, The only thing that ended up working for around 100 hp launches all day long and months after is:

I used the biggest springs available. (Pami) at the time In my case.

The barnett 9 disc.

I used to do a light cross hatch sanding on the friction plates with 400grit. That didnt work as well as the circular sanding I do now (on a flat surface of course). Then I wipe the plates clean and soak the stuff for 25 mins in oil. Thats what has worked for me. This last clutch lasted 6 months of hard nitrous abuse and still hasnt slipped. The crank did though.lol...



Scooby should know best, He is putting some rapid Hp to the ground pulling a decent amount of weight.

 

Sorry about the CJG. Ha ha ha I must have thought my enter button was a tranny brake button. I red lighted!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

So what are these people doing with juice that are laying down the big numbers? Do they change out the plates as much as a top fuel team? Or do they know something the turbo people don't know?
Are the juice people that much lighter than the turbo people? Are the turbo people running THAT much of a taller gear because of the torque they put out and are tearing up the plates?

Well last time I heard Scooby was putting out something like 150 ponies with the snail. Maybe I'm wrong, but to see a 3 out of a DS your going to have to put out somewhere around 125 to 150HP. Sound about right for a mid-weight quad? These people are turning 3's and not one clutch failure? What gives? I find it hard to believe a bottle is easier on a clutch than a turbo?

ANNIHILATER do you think if you put out around 130 to 140HP you would be having clutch problems?

Fatholly: I agree with ya if a lock-up comes out watch out!!! People will really be putting the juice and boost to these things. BIG problem solved!!!

Sorry for all the questions but for some reason this is bugging me tonight. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

one bad thing about a lock up clutch is its a centrifigul unit and rpm activated . when the clutch spins fast centrifigul force make weights basicly sqeeze your clutch tighter together. when your motor is even at 30% rpm your clutch is almost impossible to pull in. I used to run one on a drag bike and at anything above idle you could feel it in the lever. if you are going to drag race only and plan to run an electric shifter or air shifter or have your tranny set up as an automatic this wouldnt be a problem but it wont be to much fun to dune ride anymore as you would have to let the motor come back down to idle before you can pull in the clutch easy. try sand blasting your steels and the heaviest springs you can find. dont focus on one area to long though .use brand new sand and just blast it long enough to make the disc all the same texture with no shiny spots left. it will grab like crazy at take off and with blasted steels it will take alot more power to make it slip

 

my DS is very high torque and very heavy.

the turbo requires very tall gearing to load it properly.

i still go through clutches but not as fast as i used to.

more later, getting ready for trip.

 

Thanks Scoob. I'm curious to hear about some of the tricks that you tried and what worked and what didn't work for you. I know this was a thorn in your side, and the weak link for a long time.

 

The fast DS's spoken of may or may not have clutch problems due to the fact that most are at or around 300lbs. and have very light pilots, and I doubt they are putting 150 horse to the ground to achieve the high 3 runs, it's a basic big-block in a light package, no secrets, a good solid 85 horse or so motor with a shot of juice and take the wins vs. tuning abiltiy is what it comes down to.