Clutch Bushing

[Bighomedog11]

Hey i broke another clutch bushing Well i thought i was doing a good job keep it lube but i guess i wasn't. I was using lithium grease that i bought at Autozone to keep it lube. I guess that was not good enough because the bushing broke again. So i put in another bushing, this time i am going to try to use Motor Oil some 10 30w and see if that does any better..

I notice that it burns off fast but and i am not overloading the kart.

 

[Blazkowiez]

By what standard do you believe it burns off quickly, overloading the clutch is not always the only problem. Do you have the idle on the kart's engine higher than 1800? Do you ride pressing the gas and brake very often? Do you spend time going up hills or spend a great deal of time stopping and starting?

 

[Bighomedog11]

Well i think it burns off fast because i see that that the clutch is smoking and it stops sounding smooth.
My idle is set low
I ride sometimes on trails and some on the street. I do not press the brake sometimes when i need too.

 

[Blazkowiez]

The clutch shouldn't be smoking unless your gear ratio is not clutch friendly.

Haven't you ever heard the phrase smoke a clutch?

 

[Bighomedog11]

It only smokes when i put oil on it. Because I guess its burning off..
But i no i never heard of that phrase.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Do you oil the clutch while it is running? Is it a fresh clutch?

 

[Bighomedog11]

Oil the clutch? I only oil the bushing part.
No its is not a fresh clutch but the pads look to be fine though.

 

[Russ2251]

SAE 30 is what is called for and NOT a multi-grade oil or grease.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

blaz, is your avitar from band of brothers?


the clutch shouldnt smoke or, in your case become so hot te oil burns right off.

when did this start happening?

if it was recent i say replace the clutch.

 

[fowler]

it is band of brothers or the pacific
HBO have made 3 of the best war tv shows ever in my opioion

 

[redsox985]

3? BoB and The Pacific (I love episode 9) and what else? Dumb question I'm most likely overlooking.

 

[Blazkowiez]

Rome..

 

[redsox985]

Aah...yes. The Pacific is still my favorite.

 

[DsmEclipse]

band of brothers is my all time favorite. my 3 months of free hbo ended on episode three of the pacific=(

 

[Blazkowiez]

Something may be worn in your bushing from lack of initial lubrication. Keep lubricating this clutch, it'll die eventually, when that happens get a new one and lubricate that one.

I believe you have some sort of a problem that is causing unneeded stress on the clutch. Typically under normal wear clutches just don't start smoking unless it had been run half engaged, driven up hills, driven with the gas and brake pushed at the same time, idled too fast, etc.

 

[fowler]

3? BoB and The Pacific (I love episode 9) and what else? Dumb question I'm most likely overlooking.

band of brothers about ww2 in europe
the pacific about ww2 in the pacific
generation kill about iraq its a mockumentary

back on topic

would a chain that is too tight cause wear due to the fact it is pulling across on one side of the clutch
also do u drive it around at a slow pace alot

last of all pics may help

 

[Bighomedog11]

It is not my chain because my chain is not tight.
And i look at this other clutch i have and the pads look about the same wear as the clutch i am using now.

But i do have washers on the screw that holds the clutch onto the motor. I am going to remove the washers and just use the screw to screw it onto the shaft.

 

[Blazkowiez]

The pads have nothing to do with this, we're talking about the bushing that the clutch rides on during operation.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

if they are worn they could be overheating it though right? then the lube burns off.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Unless I missed something, nobody has adressed gear ratio and tire size. Bighomedog, please give us the number of teeth on your clutch, drive sprocket, and jackshaft, if you have one. How large are your rear tires, and how heavy is your kart?

Too steep a final drive ratio/ too large a tire, too heavy a kart, will smoke clutch after clutch, no matter your lube or driving conditions.