Clutch problem?

[chrisexv6]

Well, took my engine off today to Loctite all the important bolts and begin troubleshooting a possible air leak. Before reinstalling, I figured Id take a look at the clutch just to make sure its OK.

Attached is link to a pic of what I see. I'm posting because I was under the impression I would see a "perfect circle" around the clutch nut, but rather I'm seeing whats in the pic.

Also, where the clutch spring wraps around one of the flywheel pins, it looks like the flywheel pin makes the spring go outside the diameter of the pads. I dont know how destructive that might be on the clutch bell, and I do feel a little ridge on the inside of the clutch bell.

So please take a look at the pic and tell me what you think.

http://67.86.142.118:8081/images/tmaxx/clutch1.jpg

Thanks!!!
-Chris

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

Looks fine in the pic.

Get us a closeup so we can see what the spring is doing.

 

[FastEddy]

I can't see what you are talking about.
Use a picture editing program and highlight the trouble aria.

 

[chrisexv6]

OK, here is a new image (would have gotten it last night but my camera battery died on me).

As for the first image, what I was trying to point out (it was late, I should have just explained it better) was that the gaps between the clutch shoes are not flat, rather the shoes are touching on the outside but not on the inside. I guess this is normal (it is a centrifugal force clutch).

The second pic has a circle around the spring area that I was speaking of. I'm not sure if thats normal or not.............I dont know if when the clutch "flings" outward does it actually stretch beyond the spring and cover it up.

http://67.86.142.118:8081/images/tmaxx/clutch2.jpg

Thanks!!
-Chris

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

That should be fine. If you closely look at the clutch you will see that only the trailing edge is contacting the clutch bell when it engages. This will be shown by the wear pattern.

It always seems to me that the spring will recess and seat properly once the mill has been fired up. Yours looks fine though.

 

[chrisexv6]

Cool, thanks. I figured it was, but since this is my first nitro, I wanted to check so now I know what it looks like normally.

Looking back, maybe I should have disassembled the whole truck so I could get an idea of how it was when it was new. Who needs ready to run!!!

Thanks again!!
-Chris

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

No problem!

One thing you might always want to do whenever you take your clutchbell off is to lightly sand the inside. Then, clean it with denatured alcohol (you need to have a gallon of this stuff around at all time). What happens is the fuel and oil get in there and 'glaze' over time. This can cause clutch slippage. You will usually be cleaning off some of the plastic that has transferred from the clutch to the bell as well.

Clean those bearrings too if you have them on the bell.