Smoking Clutch

[Ltcjc]

Happy Easter! Just took my rebuilt "Streaker" cart for it's 1st test run: New 212 Predator, new clutch and 420 chain, 22" rear wheels, 8" front wheels. Drove it around the yard for about 5 - 10 minutes. When I stopped, the clutch was smoking (and of course hot). I'm new at this, should I be concerned? No odd noises or apparent issues. (Have to adjust the dual disk brakes). Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mckutzy]

Whats the gear ratio?
Did you oil the clutch bushing?
Pics??

 

[Ltcjc]

Didn't oil the bushing. 60 tooth sprocket; 10T at the clutch. Due to the shaft and sprocket difference, I reversed the clutch (clutch sprocket is inboard rather than outboard)

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Hmm, 22" tires in the rear with 6/1.... that gear ratio is too high!
It sounds like you were slipping your clutch. clutch engagement rpm is typically ~1800 rpm, if the engine is running right around or just below engagement rpm, you slip the clutch, oftentimes making it smoke. What terrain? Total weight?

 

[mckutzy]

In/out doesnt matter... still need to oil the clutch every 2hr of use... a few drops on the snap ring.. that'll do...( on my bike I built, I run inboard... need a long neck oil can to lubricate) ...

Might need to up the tooth count on the rear to maybe a 72 or bigger if space permits, or a jackshaft......
Id also look into doing a few upgrades to help the ratio...
https://affordablegokarts.com/pages/performance-basics

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

A 72T axle sprocket and a 10T clutch should be adequate.

 

[Kartorbust]

Might need something a bit steeper in ratio than 7.2:1 (doing a 10/72) unless you want to buy a 30 series cvt. Otherwise with the 10 tooth on the engine, jackshaft with an 18 tooth input, 10 output to the 72 tooth on the axle. Or drop down in tire size to 16 or 18 inch.

 

[Ltcjc]

Thanks for the input. Being new to this, I've been given a lot of choices. Great forum.

 

[Ltcjc]

Just bought a 30 series torque converter kit. Hopefully it'll improve the performance. The cart is about 150lbs, I'm 185lbs. perhaps too much weight for the Predator 212?

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

More than anything, it's the tall tires. A 212 should do fine for that weight range with the correct gearing.

 

[Kartorbust]

Engine will be fine with that much weight (~335lbs), but you should get either a 9 tooth sprocket for the 30 series or jump up to maybe a 65 or 72 tooth on the axle, might still run into issues with burning the belt.

 

[J.S.@SMS]

It it has a centrifugal clutch, I doubt that it'll work. My streaker is very similar, (dual disk brake, 22" rear tires, 16x7-8 fronts). I'll put a pic of mine at the end of the post. Mine still has just acceptable acceleration with a predator 212, a 30 series with a 7" driven, and a 9t TC sprocket driving the 60 tooth axle sprocket. And the reason that you had to run the clutch inboard, is because these originally came with a torque converter.



And I swapped the tecumseh for a predator 212.

I'll get a more recent photo.

 

[landuse]

You cannot just swap the CC for the TC without maybe getting a 9T or a bigger axle sprocket (maybe 72T). Don't try use your current 6:1 ratio

 

[J.S.@SMS]

Yeah, a 9t is about the biggest I would go. I am actually thinking of getting an 8t for the TC to make it a bit more off road friendly.

 

[Ltcjc]

Hello, I replaced the clutch with a 30 series torque converter. The kit came with No installation instructions, but thanks to DYI, I was able to figure out how to install. The belt had no slack at all. I had to start it up, jump in and it drove well for 10 - 15 minutes, then stalled out and I had to push it back to the garage. Obviously, I've done something wrong. I found a manco belt (that came with the cart) it was just a bit larger and I installed it. It idled well (cart didn't move on its own), but when I gassed it, it barely moved. Again, I must have done something wrong. Any suggestions or observations? Thanks.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Well, the pic shows how a TC belt is supposed to look at idle.
Should be loose, just sitting on top of the driven sheaves.

 

[landuse]

Hello, I replaced the clutch with a 30 series torque converter. The kit came with No installation instructions, but thanks to DYI, I was able to figure out how to install. The belt had no slack at all. I had to start it up, jump in and it drove well for 10 - 15 minutes, then stalled out and I had to push it back to the garage. Obviously, I've done something wrong. I found a manco belt (that came with the cart) it was just a bit larger and I installed it. It idled well (cart didn't move on its own), but when I gassed it, it barely moved. Again, I must have done something wrong. Any suggestions or observations? Thanks.

Are you sure you have the correct belt for the center to center distance between your driver and driven? There are different belts for different distance setups.

Look here
https://www.gokartsupply.com/tcbelts.htm

 

[Ltcjc]

Well, I switched belts and put the rear end up on jack stands. Started up, idled just fine (belt sat as expected), powered up, the 22" rear wheels spun up to speed, looked pretty good. Shut it down, turned it around - started it up and went about 15' and stopped. Motor ran, belt disengaged from the driven and idled. The cart is a Ken-Bar with a differential axle, as a rookie cart guy, could the problem be with the differential? Can't find too much on line regarding this type of axle.

 

[landuse]

Well, I switched belts and put the rear end up on jack stands. Started up, idled just fine (belt sat as expected), powered up, the 22" rear wheels spun up to speed, looked pretty good. Shut it down, turned it around - started it up and went about 15' and stopped. Motor ran, belt disengaged from the driven and idled. The cart is a Ken-Bar with a differential axle, as a rookie cart guy, could the problem be with the differential? Can't find too much on line regarding this type of axle.

What is your gearing like. Post tooth counts

 

[Ltcjc]

T/C 6" rear pulley - 10 tooth, Axle sprocket is 60 tooth. Any thoughts? Thanks.