Center force clutch problems
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
As I said I still have the clutch so I checked and the crap is grease. Plus if you do the math, at say 6000 RPM for a maybe 1 oz. weight, there is a HUGE amount of force on each weight. A couple of 100 pounds if I got all my units right. They weren't stuck because of the crud. I'm still leaning toward the idea that once they get past a certain offset there is no self centering because the weights stuck at the end of the retaining wire are overpowering everything else.
If you look at the new clutch, CF has added another feature. Look carefully, after every three weights there is a sliding stop on each lever arm. Look at 6 o'clock for instance. I assume that is to keep the weights from getting out too far. Probably another band aid to prevent what happened in the first version.
If you look at the new clutch, CF has added another feature. Look carefully, after every three weights there is a sliding stop on each lever arm. Look at 6 o'clock for instance. I assume that is to keep the weights from getting out too far. Probably another band aid to prevent what happened in the first version.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 1,588
From: los altos hills california
Damn, I wish I still had the weights. But, no I would not agree with your assessment at all. That is a very sloppy sliding fit. If you do the math you will find a huge force on each weight. I would suggest yet another mechanism for things sticking. As the weight slides outward, the clearance for the weights diminishes. Possibly there's not enough clearance for a big excursion and the weight gets grabbed at the circumference permanently. Here's another picture to show that possibility. Look where the wear has occurred.
I am not sure where you are going with this. Those weights were mechanically stuck with enough force for the throwout bearing to groove them. It wasn't crud that did that. This is a design problem and again please note that CF changed the design considerably.
It would be ridiculous for the average purchaser to have to delve into things to the depth we are at in this discussion. To me it is a bit of a puzzle that has piqued my curiosity because so many people have complained about the weights that something must have been going on.
I am not sure where you are going with this. Those weights were mechanically stuck with enough force for the throwout bearing to groove them. It wasn't crud that did that. This is a design problem and again please note that CF changed the design considerably.
It would be ridiculous for the average purchaser to have to delve into things to the depth we are at in this discussion. To me it is a bit of a puzzle that has piqued my curiosity because so many people have complained about the weights that something must have been going on.
