What is this part for? (TC Related)

[jonbenderr]

Hi guys, been awhile since I have posted but I'm back with another weird question.

In 30 series torque converter kits...what is this part?:

Was actually installing a torque converter on a predator engine. I have a tecumseh with a TC that doesn't have anything like this.

Obviously it's some sort of washer. It's to go between the bolt and the outside of the driver unit. Is it to help make up for the shaft being so short on a predator?

Probably a really dumb question but I'm curious.

Thanks!

 

[Brianator]

It's a "spacer washer" (I don't know what else to call it) and it adds alot of stability to the driver clutch.

 

[jonbenderr]

Ok. That makes sense and was kind of what I was thinking.

So now the question is, if you already have a good amount of the crankshaft to place the driver on, there would be no need for that piece or extra stabilization, and this is why the Tecumseh (with much longer crankshaft) doesn't have this spacer/washer?

 

[Brianator]

No, I suppose not BUT you would still want a good thick washer on the end so you can tighten the bolt down to the proper torque spec. If it happens to fit even with the longer PTO then I'd personally use it.

 

[jonbenderr]

Thanks for the insight!

Just to explain why I am asking all this...

I acquired a mini bike with a predator 212 decked out with a performance kit. Also running a centrifugal clutch.

I have a yerf dog go-kart with tecumseh and torque converter.

I felt like the predator was a little too much for the mini bike so I wanted to put the predator on the yerf dog with the torque converter.

For the mini bike, I purchased a TC kit and adapter plate for the tecumseh to give clearance. This actually worked out beautifully. Mini bike runs great.

Yerf dog on the other hand, the driver pulley on the TC actually blew up after a short time running with the predator. I'm thinking it's because I didn't have that special washer pictured in my first post and because the shaft is so much shorter. The original yerf dog TC setup with the tecumseh didn't have that special washer.

So now I'm wondering if I can take the washer from the mini bike TC setup to use on the yerf dog/predator with the new driver pulley I received.

Then on the mini bike run the tecumseh/TC without that special washer since the shaft has more room to stabilize anyway.

I have a hardware kit on order that has one of the special washers, but it's gonna be awhile before I get it and I have buddies coming over this weekend and was hoping to goof around and do some riding and driving.

 

[Brianator]

So now I'm wondering if I can take the washer from the mini bike TC setup to use on the yerf dog/predator with the new driver pulley I received.

Then on the mini bike run the tecumseh/TC without that special washer since the shaft has more room to stabilize anyway.

Sounds like that would work just fine, just remember to use a really thick washer (or 2 regular ones) on the Tec and be sure to clean the threads and use blue threadlocker on both so the bolt(s) doesn't loosen off with vibration!

 

[Joe-405]

If I’m not mistaken that spacer has to be used or else you’ll have flying shrapnel everywhere.

 

[jonbenderr]

Yeah, that makes sense, but even the original TAV 30 prints and diagrams don't have that part called out or specified. Just a simple flat washer.

Just wondering if it is to help with shorter shaft engines or when you use the backing plate with jackshaft setups (where the back plate is mounted to the engine thus taking some more room on the crankshaft).

Like I said, on the yerf dog setup there was no piece like this when setup with the tecumseh. The jackshaft is actually on a plate that gets sandwiched between the engine and "swing arm". So there's no extra material taking up room on the crankshaft aside from some simple spacers.