Some silly questions

[hacksign23]

Hey guys, I have a couple of questions.
- I'm not to familiar with gokarts, but the project I'm doing is most likely going to implement gokart parts.
anyways

My friend told me about the honda fl250 clutch or torque converter, done by a brand called "Comet". (is it a clutch or torque converter or both?)

and i was wondering:
1. Part of it is a centrifugal clutch, yes?
2. Does the Comet torque converter act as a transmission? (I heard it does by stretching or something... not sure.)
3. what exactly is the POINT of having the clutch there if there is no "transmission" (i would really like an answer to this please)

i seem to have forgotten the rest of my questions. will post later...
Thanks everyone

 

[fowler]

the torque converter does use centrifugal force to work and it is a transmision of sorts

it is basically 2 sliding pulleys

as u open the throttle weights in the driven half (the bit on the engine) spread out and closes the pully which forces the belt to ride higher
this obviously tightens the belt and makes u go

but at a certain piont the belt will get too tight and snap
so as the belt rides up the driven it is pulled into the driver opening it up

as the belt changes position on the pullies it changes the gear ratio

i hope this helps

do u or your freind have an fl250?

EDIT

oh yeah and every land vehical needs a clutch reguardless if it has a transmission or not

think u dont only use the clutch to change gear u use it to get going as well
it would be really annoying if the engine was connected straight to the engine
so as soon as u turn the key u are off and u would have to turn the vehical off every time u wanted to stop
some gokarts dont have clutches but they are fairly rare

 

[redsox985]

Hey guys, I have a couple of questions.
- I'm not to familiar with gokarts, but the project I'm doing is most likely going to implement gokart parts.
anyways

My friend told me about the honda fl250 clutch or torque converter, done by a brand called "Comet". (is it a clutch or torque converter or both?)

and i was wondering:
1. Part of it is a centrifugal clutch, yes?
2. Does the Comet torque converter act as a transmission? (I heard it does by stretching or something... not sure.)
3. what exactly is the POINT of having the clutch there if there is no "transmission" (i would really like an answer to this please)

i seem to have forgotten the rest of my questions. will post later...
Thanks everyone

Comet makes both clutches (usually referred to as centrifugal clutches on basic karts) and torque converters "TC" (a type of CVT).

1. A cent. clutch is different from a TC in that it uses internally expanding shoes to grab the outer drum and spin the drive sprocket.
2. A TC does use centrifugal force, but it expands a weight pack inside the driver half (on the PTO) that causes it to close in on and spin the belt. This closure increases the tension on the belt and causes it to grip the driven (on a secondary jackshaft) and then spin the chain.
3. Both a centrifugal clutch and a CVT are a form of a transmission. They just aren't a transmission in the same sense as most people think of in a car.

You probably don't want a FL250 CVT for an average 5HP or so engine, as it may hog too much power just getting it to engage. Comet, as well as Chinese companies (knock offs), make smaller TCs designed for smaller kart engines (<8HP) as well as another line for (<25HP). Be warned though, the Chinese companies say their "TAV2" (a Comet product) can handle up to 13HP, which is a blatant lie. It's an exact copy of the Comet TAV2, which is rated at <8HP.

 

[hacksign23]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies.
- I don't have a fl250 but my friend told me about the clutch in the fl250, which led me to research it.

so I have a couple of more questions...
1. as redsox said, the centrifugal clutch and the cvt are a form of transmission. Does this mean they are seperate? (if so, mind pointing me out to an aftermarket producer of them?)

2. the motor i'm using is probably max 8 hp (but it won't be going that high as it'll probably never be at max hp)
could i use:
this
as a cvt/centrifugal clutch for that motor?

3. what exactly are the gear ratio ranges for ^ or in general?

4. If I were to replace the springs in the clutch, what exactly is the difference between engaging at high / low rpms?

Thanks again, guys!

 

[sexyvicta]

oh yeah and every land vehical needs a clutch reguardless if it has a transmission or not

some gokarts dont have clutches but they are fairly rare

100% wrong.

 

[fowler]

what vehicals dont?

 

[sexyvicta]

a large percentange of motorcycles built up until the 1920s

a lot of racing karts.

Land yachts

 

[karl]

what vehicals dont?

Explain this.

 

[fowler]

ok im talking modern vehicals

yes plenty of old motorbikes/ cars didnt beause they were primitive
like karls picture that is a two person job just to get going

land yachts have clutches
as a sailor i can tell u all they have to do is let go of the main sheet (depending on the situation)
and the hand brake is turn into the wind

i did mention some karts dont have clutches

 

[sexyvicta]

you said that all vehicles require a clutch and that direct drive karts were rare. Both statements was wrongz

 

[hacksign23]

...

hey guys... want to answer the questions?

and my speculation is that
most internal combustion engines have clutches
electric motors don't require clutches, but can have them (unless hooked up with trans.)

bikes aren't automobiles, so... yea. your legs do all the work on that one.

 

[karl]

hey guys... want to answer the questions?

and my speculation is that
most internal combustion engines have clutches
electric motors don't require clutches, but can have them (unless hooked up with trans.)

bikes aren't automobiles, so... yea. your legs do all the work on that one.

Right, except you can have a clutch on a electric motor hooked up to a tranny. Electric motors have all there torque at 0rpm, so takeoff can be jerky , strain on the driveline, and spining the tires, so a clutch on a electric motor helps all these.

 

[fowler]

you said that all vehicles require a clutch and that direct drive karts were rare. Both statements was wrongz

i have never seen a direct drive kart on this site (im sure there has been some) and iv never seen one in real life
that makes them rare to me

can u name a modern vehical that doesnt have a clutch of some sort