Can I place a centrifugal clutch on the axle instead of on the engine ?

[numscul]

Can I place a centrifugal clutch on the axle and a sprocket on the engine ?? Basically reverse the system

Now let me tell you why I ask
I just made a really tiny tricycle ( Like really really small tricycle that only a midget or a toddler is able to fit on ) and used an 80cc motorized bike engine that seemed to have some type of clutch system but when I told my friend to take it out for ride all it did was end up yanking the pull start string so hard that it broke off and sucked up into the pull start housing so it seems to me that I might need an actual clutch but there is no possible way for me to add a clutch to the engine itself, that's why I was wondering if I could reverse the system and place the clutch on the1' rear axle and use the original sprocket that's on the 80cc motorized bike engine??

Here is the micro trike i built our of an engine guard /foot rest from a Harley Davidson fatboy I placed a drill next to it to give you all an idea of it tiny size
and those aren't the actual rear tires i plan on using I plan on getting rear rims and tires for a go kart

Any advise would help.. Thanks in advance

 

[Master Hack]

Can I place a centrifugal clutch on the axle

The short answer Is no it wont work. Centrifugal rely on lotsa RPM to engage.
the axle is stationary until the other hardware makes it go.
A CC engages somewhere above 1500-1800 RPM.
if yer axle is turning 1800 you would be going fast to drive the interstate.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Do you ride that with your knees over the bars?

You can move the clutch off the engine but you will need a jackshaft.

You spin the inside of the clutch to throw the shoes outwards and grab the bell.

Technically you could sprocket off the crankshaft and have a super high speed chain drive a jackshaft. Then a chain off the CC to the axle sprocket.

You can't run a CC backwards.

 

[numscul]

Do you ride that with your knees over the bars?

You can move the clutch off the engine but you will need a jackshaft.

You spin the inside of the clutch to throw the shoes outwards and grab the bell.

Technically you could sprocket off the crankshaft and have a super high speed chain drive a jackshaft. Then a chain off the CC to the axle sprocket.

You can't run a CC backwards.

ha ha ! no I'm 230lbs... If i sat in that thing i might need to see a doctor afterwards to have it dislodged from my 'hooha"
okay so I need to install a jack shaft somehow to make it go

I really don't know what I was thinking when I decided to build it... oh yeah.... I wasn't thinking like usual

 

[numscul]

The short answer Is no it wont work. Centrifugal rely on lotsa RPM to engage.
the axle is stationary until the other hardware makes it go.
A CC engages somewhere above 1500-1800 RPM.
if yer axle is turning 1800 you would be going fast to drive the interstate.

So I need to install a jack shaft somehow ....
Thanks for the info

 

[JimD]

Here is an example of a jackshaft with a clutch on it. The reason it was done is that little Honda 50 goes 7,200rpm and idles at 2,900. Those kind of rpms scare me plus the engine makes it damn difficult for a clutch because the crankshaft is only 1.250 long and the drilled and tapped hole is a 1/4-28 which is really too small to support an extension. Went with a 12 tooth #41 sprocket on the engine going to the jackshaft with a 24 tooth sprocket which now makes the jackshaft turn 1/2 what the crankshaft is turning which gets everything manageable.

Another option for you is to get a Honda with a built in wet clutch that has a 2:1 reduction built into it. You would have to do some redesign but you have shown some of your skills already in what you have built. This site has a lot of good advisers and people that have done some of these builds already and they can tell you what to avoid.

That is a neat looking trike and if you are going to do a redesign I would think torque converter. The biggest advantage of a t/c is you get to drive it slow with no damage to the unit. A centrifugal clutch will not make it one block in a parade. It will anneal the spring, dry up the bushing and fry itself. There is one speed for a clutch and that is pedal to the metal so the clutch can lock up as quick as possible so it can start to cool down.

 

[Master Hack]

So I need to install a jack shaft somehow ....
Thanks for the info

JimD is the guy to advise ya on this stuff. I actaully don't know any of this stuff.
l only play "smart guy" on the internet. Now the truth is out!

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

l only play "smart guy" on the internet. Now the truth is out!

User name checks out.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

It's possible to put a clutch on the axle, although probably not a $15 centrifugal. Axle clutches used to be available for racing karts, but they're big money when you can find them. Years ago I bought a sprint kart roller that had one and sold the clutch for what the kart cost me.

 

[Hellion]

Super cool trike, numscul. I like the concept of a tiny trike and the proportions you have devised for it; it just looks aesthetic. Now I want to see a grown 6 ft man on it.

It's possible to put a clutch on the axle, although probably not a $15 centrifugal. Axle clutches used to be available for racing karts…

Hory shet, that changes everything. Here we are thinking that it just isn’t done and you provide an example.

Edit: every time Jim Torque writes something, I marvel at the zero technical information.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

The one I had was a gold SMC axle clutch. They made two different versions; a narrower gold one for shorter races and a wider red one for endurance racing. They're both physically pretty large.

SMC Axle Clutch Parts

SMC Axle Clutch Parts, (1) 2021 SMC Axle Clutch Bearing Snap Ring, (2) 2013 SMC Axle Clutch Large Seal, (4) 2019-3 SMC Axle Clutch Stud, (6) 2020 SMC Axle Clutch "R" Shaped Hairpin, (7) 2022 SMC Axle Clutch Shaft Snap Ring, (8) 2011 SMC Axle Clutch Housing Bearing, (8) 2031 SMC Axle Clutch Speed...

cometkartsales.com

Burco and Horstman also made axle clutches.