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Clutch Problems

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nitrostoned

nitrostoned

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Location
Wausau, Wisconsin
RC Driving Style
  1. Bashing
  2. Racing
Well these Traxxas clutches arent the best. Mint keep either breaking the aluminium/stock plastic shoes I have bought or breaking the spring. Then I baught an integy 3 shoe with aluminum shoes and the shoes got all ground up and broke the spring. Why does Traxxas use these "gooffy" clutch shoes and springs!?! So.... what should I do? I'm sick of rebuilding my clutch every couple of days.:angry::angry:
 
Something must be wrong or your running somewhere that is putting excessive drag/stress on the clutch. Check your driveline for binding and be sure your mesh is set correctly. If your running in places with a lot of rolling resistance, gearing down would take some stress off of the clutch. I've never had a problem with TRX clutches and many others have great success with the Integy 3 shoe. This is pretty basic information that any guru should know.
 
I agree. There is something else at play here. I have not had any problems with my clutch on my TMaxx at all. If you have rebuilt the clutch then along with checking the drive line, make sure everything is tight and that the bearings are not seized. The tmaxx clutch is usually pretty tough. Let us know.

Tom
 
+1. Bearing condition, as well as proper shimming are important to clutch life. Scuff the bell and shoes with fine-grit sandpaper to remove glazing. Glazed components cause excessive slippage, resulting in more heat build up and shorter life.
 
Well, I always check the mesh befor I start it. I replaced the bearings every time I rebuilt it. I have rebuilt many other traxxas clutches and other brands and have not had a problem like this anywhere. The driveline is all in check. I am stumped. I have not sanded the inside of the bell or the shoes so I will try that on my next clutch and also witch flywheel should I use the integy or traxxas for the next rebuild of the clutch?
 
I would stay away from the integy flywheel. If your not going to use the traxxas flywheel I would use the robinson racing flywheel. I have had no luck with integy anything.
 
nitrostoned said:
Well, I always check the mesh befor I start it. I replaced the bearings every time I rebuilt it. I have rebuilt many other traxxas clutches and other brands and have not had a problem like this anywhere. The driveline is all in check. I am stumped. I have not sanded the inside of the bell or the shoes so I will try that on my next clutch and also witch flywheel should I use the integy or traxxas for the next rebuild of the clutch?
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If you are going to use the stock Traxxas clutch you can not use the Integy 3 shoe flywheel. One question for you as I am confused you said that with the 3 shoe clutch you broke the spring, did you break just one or all 3 springs? My oponion is the Integy 3 shoe is way better than the stock Traxxas clutch, I have it on my Revo and saw great improvement off the line.
 
I have both fly wheels, stock/integy and my integy still used the traxxas spring all the way around the shoes not 3 individual springs. -I dont think that would fit, an integy clutch with 3 traxxas shoes...... I'm hopeing that was a joke :)
 
are u running high or low rev shoes and springs and hows tight is ur slipgear. u say ur drive angle r good so these might be issue.
 
I never thought about the slipper clutch. And here are 2 Pictures of broken shoes. The Traxxas ones always break at the pin and the integy grind up.
 

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But the slipper seems to be tuned right. This is making me sound like an idiot, I work on real cars for a living and I can alway get a diagnosis for problems but with this I am just stumped. I went to the local rc guru for a second opinion and he went over everything, it was all set up right he said. Again dont think I am an Idiot I know a lot about nitro's and worked for the lhs as a summer job fixing nitro's. But I have never had any clutch problems.
 
yeah I'm a mechinc here in mi. the last thing to ask are installing them right. the side closest to pin should be the leading side. and u might want to use vented bell
 
You never did state what tires and gearing your running. Over size tires and over gearing can cause issues like this. Unless you work on 1:1 cars with 2 stroke engines and centrifugal clutches, there isn't much there that applies.:)
 
nitrostoned said:
I have both fly wheels, stock/integy and my integy still used the traxxas spring all the way around the shoes not 3 individual springs. -I dont think that would fit, an integy clutch with 3 traxxas shoes...... I'm hopeing that was a joke :)
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The Integy clutch I use has 3 shoes and 3 springs. I think you are assembling it wronk if you are useng the stock Traxxas spring.
 
jcjhl69 said:
The Integy clutch I use has 3 shoes and 3 springs. I think you are assembling it wronk if you are useng the stock Traxxas spring.
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No mix and match on the parts make sure every thing is put in the right. Even the stock clutch should not self destruct that easy double check that everything in the drivetrain is turning freely and even check that the brake is not draging.Hope you get it straightened out.:whhooo:
 
The gearing is 18t bell/ 58t spur if I am remembering correctly. I am not in a posistion to look at my nitros at the moment. I am not sure of the exact wheel size at the moment either but they are bigger than the hurricane wheels. My integy flywheel came with a traxxas type spring not 1 spring per shoe.

If I was building it wrong I think all my nitros and half of the city would have the problem---:whhooo:
 

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