Clutch on this shaft?

[Falsepleasure]

Is it possible to install a clutch on this Honda gx120 shaft without a keyway? Ive seen some clutches with 2 set screws on the engine side of the clutch, will this work? Thoughts?

 

[itsid]

no, the set screw will not be enough friction to keep it from spinning...

BUT you might be able to lock the clutch with the nut that the shaft is designed for.
a spacer or two (to align the clutch and prevent it from touching the crankcase)
and a nicely fastened nut should create enough friction for a cent clutch

Is that a P or a T shaft btw?
(or to make it simpler.. is it 3/4" or 5/8" in diameter?)

'sid

 

[karl]

Most clutches have the keyway built in, no good.

You might as well cut a keyway by hand. Much better solution.

The sprocket area on most clutches is really thin, and that nut provides alot of clamp load. Bound up bushing No fun, clutch no clutch well after that.

 

[itsid]

key, not keyway.. but no..
maxtorque 3/4 has no built in key.. soooo that's void.

Clamping on the bushing is also not possible;
since the shaft the bushing rides on is NOT the crankshaft but the stem of the clutch baseplate itself.
the bushing is proected by the snapring of said Maxtorque clutch for example.
you're unable to lock against the snapring (stem is still longer) and the snapring itself allows enough play for the bushing of course

In fact it's never possible to clamp on the bushing or bearing at all,
since all clutches are fixed by a bolt or nut on the Sprocket side (or at least can be fixed that way)
it's always a stem the bolt(with washer) or nut is resting against...
the part of the clutch that must be rotationally fixed to the crankshaft anyways (usually via the key)

'sid

PS yes, there might be clutches with built in keys.. and you will have to avoid those of course.. but if it's the P shaft (3/4" diameter) the maxtorque SS clutch is certainly not one of those.

 

[karl]

I am saying you crush the 1 or 2mm (idk I dont metric) thin metal that the bushing rides on. That increases the diameter , and then your bushing does not turn. Nothing to do with pressing on the c-clip directly or anything. I never mentioned that.

Then if you dont torque the nut down, the clutch slips or the nut falls off, no fun.

All the cheap clutches have the keys built in, like what you would want to use on a budget project.

Its not difficult and a much more professional solution to cut a keyway (even crude).

Not saying you idea cant work.

 

[itsid]

I doubt you'd crush the stem (or hub as maxtorque calls it in their partslist)

I haven't tried of course, but it's at least highly unlikely ...
I mean sure with a -what 16UNF?- thread you can add a metric ton of force and theoretically crush everything..
BUT if you're not getting a 3ft lever on the wrench locking the piston BTDC
I'd say you'd have a hard time trying to do so

Maxtorque SS clutches are no racing priced clutches (I paid 25 bucks)
and DO NOT have a built in key..
funny enough, I have it on my desk (since I lost the dang snapring )
litteraly within arm's reach at this very moment...
trust me.. no built in key, and it's certainly cheap (as in low price, not as in bad quality!!)

You're right.. ideal way of rotational locking is a cut keyway, no doubt about it!
but Honda Cranks I've seen have been hardened..
cutting a keyway will be quite a task in the homeshop.

slipping with the angle grinder and cutting into the crank case cover would be
way more hassle and way harder to fix than a slipping clutch stem because of a improper tightened nut, don't you think?
(especially since the key sit's inboard on an outboard mounted clutch.. close to the crankcase)

And if you remove the crankshaft to cut the keyway...
you could as well just replace it with a keyed 3/4" shaft replacing an hour of labour with ten bucks of monetary units

'sid

 

[Tpdingo]

Probably going to get some nasty comments for suggesting this but.....

Welding it on?

 

[Falsepleasure]

5/8 T type im assuming since its the only shaft honda shows without a keyway.

 

[itsid]

No that's why I'm asking.. the GX120 came with a T or a P type shaft..
just measure it

'sid

 

[Falsepleasure]

Ill measure it today after the yard dries up some. Going to try and fit the red fiberglass body to the frame today.

 

[Falsepleasure]

I doubt you'd crush the stem (or hub as maxtorque calls it in their partslist)

I haven't tried of course, but it's at least highly unlikely ...
I mean sure with a -what 16UNF?- thread you can add a metric ton of force and theoretically crush everything..
BUT if you're not getting a 3ft lever on the wrench locking the piston BTDC
I'd say you'd have a hard time trying to do so

Maxtorque SS clutches are no racing priced clutches (I paid 25 bucks)
and DO NOT have a built in key..
funny enough, I have it on my desk (since I lost the dang snapring )
litteraly within arm's reach at this very moment...
trust me.. no built in key, and it's certainly cheap (as in low price, not as in bad quality!!)

You're right.. ideal way of rotational locking is a cut keyway, no doubt about it!
but Honda Cranks I've seen have been hardened..
cutting a keyway will be quite a task in the homeshop.

slipping with the angle grinder and cutting into the crank case cover would be
way more hassle and way harder to fix than a slipping clutch stem because of a improper tightened nut, don't you think?
(especially since the key sit's inboard on an outboard mounted clutch.. close to the crankcase)

And if you remove the crankshaft to cut the keyway...
you could as well just replace it with a keyed 3/4" shaft replacing an hour of labour with ten bucks of monetary units

'sid

I considered replacing the crankshaft but for $140 i could just buy a new predator with more HP than the Honda.

 

[anickode]

I would cut a keyway in it. A small rotary tool with cutoff wheels, a scribe, and some patience would have it done before everyone was done debating it in this thread.

 

[itsid]

I considered replacing the crankshaft but for $140 i could just buy a new predator with more HP than the Honda.

You can find a (likely oem replacement) crankshaft for as little as 20 bucks on ebay at times...
walmart sells them for 35 or so IIRC.

'sid