RC Clutches 101
These stickies are to serve as reference pics for any clutch related problems. Just to keep the thread clean for any additional information, please post questions in the appropriate forums. Additional photos, info and advise will be posted in this thread as needed.
Savage 3 shoe clutch assembly:
A defective clutch can cause starting problems. The engine will start and run when you hold the car up, but it stalls when you apply the brakes or when you put it on the ground. Fortunately, you can quickly diagnose a faulty clutch. The most obvious sign of a clutch problem is that the vehicle’s wheels spin continuously, even when you’ve set the engine to low idle speed. A properly functioning clutch should disengage at low idle speeds and should allow the engine to run without its wheels turning. Some damage to the clutch shoe or springs is usually the culprit. A dirty or seized bearing(s) on the clutch bell can also create the same problem.
Installing a 3-shoe clutch isn't easy the first time around, but it does get easier after you assemble a few.
Step 1. First things first, we need to insert the springs into each of the clutch shoes. The curve of the spring should match the curve of the shoe, with the long side of the spring on the outside.
Step 2. Just slide it in until the hole in the shoe lines up with the loop in the spring. Repeat this step with the other two shoes to save some time.
Step 3. With the first shoe in the correct direction, slide it over the post on the flywheel. Don’t worry; it shouldn’t be able to slide all the way down yet.
Step 4. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, pull back the short side of the spring while pushing the shoe down. The spring will snap into the groove on the clutch nut. Take your time; at this point, nothing could be worse than a damaged clutch shoe.
Step 5. Repeat Step 4 to get the second shoe on, and be sure it’s all the way down.
Step 6. Now for the tricky one. Use a regular screwdriver to push back the first shoe so that you can get in there with the pliers. Now that you have some room to work, install the last shoe just as you did in Step 4.
Step 7. It’s also possible to flip the spring tab over the clutch nut by pushing on the tab with a screwdriver and pushing down on the clutch shoe at the same time.
You're done!
These stickies are to serve as reference pics for any clutch related problems. Just to keep the thread clean for any additional information, please post questions in the appropriate forums. Additional photos, info and advise will be posted in this thread as needed.
Savage 3 shoe clutch assembly:
A defective clutch can cause starting problems. The engine will start and run when you hold the car up, but it stalls when you apply the brakes or when you put it on the ground. Fortunately, you can quickly diagnose a faulty clutch. The most obvious sign of a clutch problem is that the vehicle’s wheels spin continuously, even when you’ve set the engine to low idle speed. A properly functioning clutch should disengage at low idle speeds and should allow the engine to run without its wheels turning. Some damage to the clutch shoe or springs is usually the culprit. A dirty or seized bearing(s) on the clutch bell can also create the same problem.
Installing a 3-shoe clutch isn't easy the first time around, but it does get easier after you assemble a few.
Step 1. First things first, we need to insert the springs into each of the clutch shoes. The curve of the spring should match the curve of the shoe, with the long side of the spring on the outside.
Step 2. Just slide it in until the hole in the shoe lines up with the loop in the spring. Repeat this step with the other two shoes to save some time.
Step 3. With the first shoe in the correct direction, slide it over the post on the flywheel. Don’t worry; it shouldn’t be able to slide all the way down yet.
Step 4. Using a pair of needle nose pliers, pull back the short side of the spring while pushing the shoe down. The spring will snap into the groove on the clutch nut. Take your time; at this point, nothing could be worse than a damaged clutch shoe.
Step 5. Repeat Step 4 to get the second shoe on, and be sure it’s all the way down.
Step 6. Now for the tricky one. Use a regular screwdriver to push back the first shoe so that you can get in there with the pliers. Now that you have some room to work, install the last shoe just as you did in Step 4.
Step 7. It’s also possible to flip the spring tab over the clutch nut by pushing on the tab with a screwdriver and pushing down on the clutch shoe at the same time.
You're done!