Clutch shaft issue

[ChuckChapman]

Hey I’m just new to forum stuff and I have been following along a bit. I have a 14hp engine with a 1 1/8 output shaft and can’t locate a clutch. Is it possible to put a centrifugal clutch on the driveshaft rather than the output shaft?

 

[mckutzy]

Hello and welcome.. I see you new thread... cool

As per your question... Are you referring to the clutch on the rear axle???
Having a hard time understanding what your saying???

Pics of you machine/ride??
What motor??

 

[ChuckChapman]

14hp kohler has a 1.125 output shaft and I can’t find a clutch to fit it. So I was wondering if I could I put a centrifugal clutch on the wheel/axle shaft and a sprocket on the engine. Nothing built yet gonna get the engine clutch part figured out first.

 

[anickode]

14hp kohler has a 1.125 output shaft and I can’t find a clutch to fit it. So I was wondering if I could I put a centrifugal clutch on the wheel/axle shaft and a sprocket on the engine. Nothing built yet gonna get the engine clutch part figured out first.

Nope. The clutch engages as a result of the clutch hub spinning. When it reaches a certain speed, the centrifugal force induced on the shoes overcomes the spring tension, letting them engage with the drum, to which the sprocket is connected. You could spin the sprocket as fast as you want, but if the hub isn't spinning, the clutch will never engage.

Even if you could come up with a backwards clutch where the sprocket is attached to the hub and the drum is attached to the shaft (like the second gear clutch on the old comet 2 speeds), and mount it to your axle, you still wouldn't be able to spin it fast enough to engage, since your gear reduction would have to be before or integral to the clutch.

Now you COULD run a fixed sprocket and chain in a 1:1 ratio to a 1" jackshaft and put the clutch on that, then a second chain to your axle.

At 14hp, you'd do much better with a torque converter, but finding one that's 1⅛" ID will be a trick.

By the time you bought the parts, jackshaft, pillow blocks, extra sprockets, etc, you would probably come out ahead by tearing the engine apart and taking the crankshaft to a machine shop. They can Chuck it in a lathe and turn it into a 1" shaft in fairly short order.

 

[ChuckChapman]

Torque converter? I’m not familiar with small engine, I’ve used them in vehicles but not go karts. Where would I look to find something I can salvage one out of.

 

[Kartorbust]

Torque converter or Torq-A-Verter (Comet Industries name) is just a CVT for small engines. The Comet 44c Magnum can be had in a 1 1/8 http://www.bmikarts.com/Comet-44-Se...7jLgl0RyR-FLJRMDohkDvPJLS2VUa2CBoCYqYQAvD_BwE

 

[ChuckChapman]

I found the same thing, not to sound like a jerk but is there anything cheaper? Is this better than I sprocket and centrifugal clutch? If it’s a lot better I’ll spend the money otherwise I’ll turn down the shaft.

---------- Post added at 04:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:10 PM ----------

What would I need on the drive axle? Opposite of the clutch?

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Go with the cvt!

Clutches are good for full throttle only. They don't like stop and go or half throttle riding.

A cvt will soak up a little power but if you have a 14hp engine you won't notice.

If I was in your shoes I'd just forget about a cent clutch.

 

[ChuckChapman]

Anything out there I can find and salvage the parts out of? Would it be a belt pulley on the axle or something else like a snowmobile has?

 

[anickode]

Most snowmobile/ATV stuff will be splined, not round with a keyway.

 

[Kartorbust]

I found the same thing, not to sound like a jerk but is there anything cheaper? Is this better than I sprocket and centrifugal clutch? If it’s a lot better I’ll spend the money otherwise I’ll turn down the shaft.

---------- Post added at 04:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:10 PM ----------

What would I need on the drive axle? Opposite of the clutch?

Not really, not unless you can find Chinese made stuff. Comet Industries has been out of business for 9 years, so the prices will only go up. You could try to find a beaten up John Deere Gator for a CVT (Comet had a contract for years to make them for John Deere). Those should not be splined at all.

 

[anickode]

Not really, not unless you can find Chinese made stuff. Comet Industries has been out of business for 9 years, so the prices will only go up. You could try to find a beaten up John Deere Gator for a CVT (Comet had a contract for years to make them for John Deere). Those should not be splined at all.

Having worked on some Gators, I can say that the drivers (at least the old ones we have - 4x2 with the 10hp) are 1" and the driven is splined.

 

[Whitetrashrocker]

Golf cart stuff?

 

[ChuckChapman]

Gonna try making an output shaft reduction to 1” so I can use cheaper more readily available parts. Or a jaw coupler on a separate shaft. Thanks for all the great advice and links. Hopefully I’ll be posting pics as things start coming together. Still in the planning and parts acquiring stage.

 

[Kartorbust]

Hmmm is it possible Kholer made 1" crank for this engine?

 

[mckutzy]

So what's this going to be?... What do you have to start with??

 

[landuse]

Comet 40 series and be done with it. You will get a lot better performance than if you use a CC

 

[ChuckChapman]

This is going to be a two seater go kart for my kids to play around the farm and do chores with. I have the engine and misc motorcycle parts. Motorcycle is shaft driven otherwise I would use more drive train stuff from there. Hopefully I can sell the motorcycle for go kart parts. Wife has a tight budget for this.

 

[anickode]

This is going to be a two seater go kart for my kids to play around the farm and do chores with. I have the engine and misc motorcycle parts. Motorcycle is shaft driven otherwise I would use more drive train stuff from there. Hopefully I can sell the motorcycle for go kart parts. Wife has a tight budget for this.

Your wife allotted you a budget?

Must be nice.

I usually have to go with the old "easier to ask forgiveness than permission" adage

 

[ChuckChapman]

It’s much worse that way in my house. If I can get her excited about a project it helps increase my budget. Took a little trial and error to learn that.