Hilliard clutch clunking and shuddering??‏

[Howitzer]

Here are some pics of my go kart:

I purchased a 10-tooth Hilliard #40 chain driven clutch (from Princess Auto locally: http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/3-4-in-10t-centrifugal-chain-clutch/A-p8300600e) for my go-kart but I'm not happy with it. My kart is powered by a 8 hp Briggs & Stratton engine. When I am accelerating from rest, the clutch shudders and clunks considerably at lower rpm's but as you get to higher rpm's the clunking and shudder dissipates. The rear sprocket on the axle has 36 teeth.

Is my clutch defective? Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. I installed a chain idler to keep the chain tight, but the clunking and shudder prevail...?

Do I have too much power? It does zip along pretty quick. The clutch is rated up to 13 HP...

 

[KartFab]

There is no problem with the clutch. The problem is your gear ratio. You need to have a rear axle/drive wheel sprocket that has like 60 or 72 teeth for that clutch to engage and not burn up.

The longer you drive your kart with your current ratio, the faster you will burn up your clutch (that shuddering is the weights trying to engage, and rubbing, creating excessive amounts of heat, which is bad because it will wear out the weights and overheat the clutch causing the lubrication to burn up, and the spring to lose its 'springiness'

 

[Howitzer]

There is no problem with the clutch. The problem is your gear ratio. You need to have a rear axle/drive wheel sprocket that has like 60 or 72 teeth for that clutch to engage and not burn up.

The longer you drive your kart with your current ratio, the faster you will burn up your clutch (that shuddering is the weights trying to engage, and rubbing, creating excessive amounts of heat, which is bad because it will wear out the weights and overheat the clutch causing the lubrication to burn up, and the spring to lose its 'springiness'

Can one install a 60-72 tooth sprocket? Sounds quite large... this would slow the cart down a fair bit eh?

 

[landuse]

It may slow the kart down, but a gear reduction is the only thing that will allow you to ride this kart.

 

[porsche930dude]

Wow im surprized it moves at all with that ratio. You might better install a jackshaft to get the ratio you want. It depends on the weight and tire size and speed you want.

 

[chancer]

I have a Hilliard clutch on one of my Karts. 15x6x6 rear tires. 12tooth clutch and 72 tooth axle sprocket. That clutch is noisy too. Clatters and clunks at take off then quiets up. It has been like a year with no ill effects. I even read some reviews on this clutch where other people complained about the noise.
But you gear ratio does sound a bit odd too. and your pics are not showing up.

 

[porsche930dude]

yes the hillard clutches are very noisy unfortunately. otherwize a good clutch though

 

[Cbreiter]

I run them on my karts, I find the biggest thing that makes them clunk and clatter is cheap stretched out chain. When mine start to make noises, if I replace the chain, usually that fixes it.


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[chancer]

I run them on my karts, I find the biggest thing that makes them clunk and clatter is cheap stretched out chain. When mine start to make noises, if I replace the chain, usually that fixes it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks I have got to try that. Especially cause I use cheap chain