How much should a clutch grab?

[napalmfire]

My friend has a go kart which he just got running. It runs a 7.5hp Vanguard briggs engine and it seems a bit hard for him to lock the clutch and go, especially on grass or when he's turning. He has 22" rear wheels, 5.5 ratio, live axle, and the kart weighs somewhere around 150-180lbs I'd guess.

How quick does a kart usually grab a clutch? It seems to grind its way until it hits about 15-20mph and then its perfect. He also has a problem with it grabbing at idle speeds but we can not get the idle any lower.

Help?

 

[brendonv]

Yer they do that. Mine sorta clicks in and out until i get to about 10km/h or something. Thats where torque converters come in, they stop that. But with a straight cent clutch they always do that. Mine takes ages to fully engage when on grass. Dw about it, as long as it goes its all good XD.

 

[napalmfire]

lol my friend says "Should there be worry about the clutch having turned white and burnt once or twice?"

rofl.

 

[brendonv]

haha, then u worry haha. After riding on grass for a while my clutch sorta steamed a bit for a sec after, that wasnt to good. Never ridden that long on it ever again.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

My clutch always does that, i dont care about it. My idle is a bit high so its always a little engaged and its always slipping, i do a lot of off road and drifts so it gets insanely hot.

 

[mike75925]

my clutch engages properly and stays engaged. check for rust on the spring, or it may be the spring is to tight. also check the shoes slide area, there may be rust on it.

 

[napalmfire]

its a brand new clutch, but we'll be taking it apart in the next few days to see whats what and how it works so we have a better understanding if things start to go all weird. Checked out some videos and they all seem to grab the same as the one we have. I'm not too worried about it being a faulty clutch..

Its a Comet brand clutch, 1" bore, 10t #41 chain from BMIkarts.com. Anyone know if this is a good quality clutch? I'll be needing a new clutch myself when I get my go kart axle and hubs.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Gear ratio is too high with the massive tires.