Clutch

[alhope34]

It seems like there is something wrong with the clutch in my Nitrage 5.2 and I'm wondering what it could be. I'm just about done my 3rd gallon of fuel, so the truck really isn't all that old.

Well, when I start it cold, if I don't let the wheels spin the engine will stall. This just started happening one day out of nowhere. When the engine is fully warmed, I can stop it without stalling but I can hear the motor struggling to keep an idle. Also, the brakes barely stop it now because of this issue too. The brakes are tuned and set up properly, but they hardly hold the truck from moving while it's idling. It basically seems like the clutch is always fully engaged now, as it grips much, much more than usual. Does anyone now what might cause this problem?

 

[robmob]

Check your clutch.

You may have a broken spring.

Your clutch should be inspected around every gallon for bashers. If you race, it should be inspected after every race day.

 

[Scrogg]

You definitely wore out the clutch and broke a spring. New bearings, springs, shoes and a good cleaning are in order.

 

[alhope34]

Yea, I've never taken the clutch out or motor or anything. I don't normally "bash" it around, I mostly use it on flat grass, baseball fields, or large flat parking lots.

When I take it all apart, do I have to put fresh thread locker on everything?

Thanks for the advise!

 

[olds97_lss]

Yes to the fresh threadlock. I suggest the gel kind. Works really well on these small screws.

3 gallons is a fairly long time for a clutch to go unserviced. Just order up some new shoes, bearings and shoe springs (if the shoes don't come with them) as I'm pretty sure that's your problem.

 

[alhope34]

Well, I took it all apart. There are no springs at all in the clutch, and the pads that grip against the bell housing are actually aluminum and barely worn at all. What happened is the clip holding the shoes on popped off, causing one of the shoes to come loose. The shoe was a bit bent in one spot, but it all fit back together fine. Now I'll have have to wait for it to stop raining to try it out again!

 

[Scrogg]

You need to sand/dremel or file the bent edges of those aluminum shoes. They should be smooth on the sides. There has to be some type of spring in there otherwise it will still spin the wheels at idle.

 

[alhope34]

There's absolutely no spring, and no place to even put a spring. When it idles it does creep a couple km/h normally unless it's in tall-ish grass.

 

[MotoGod]

The springs typically go over the posts on the flywheel and in the center of each clutch shoe on the INNER side. All Nitro engines that use a clutch require a spring....or they wouldn't go anywhere. The whole idea behind it is as the crankshaft spins, at some RPM point the springs force the shoes out and they grab hold of the clutch bell and make the rig move. Without springs, the clutch bell would be engaged at all RPMS and you wouldn't be able to put the car on the ground without it stalling.

The springs are typically sort of L shaped. See this link for what they look like: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/1798/n/Mugen-Clutch-Spring-10mm-3

If you don't see anything like this...send us a picture of your clutch setup with the clutch bell off and we'll take a look.

 

[alhope34]

Like I said, no springs at all anywhere. There were not even any fragments of springs in the clutch when I took the bell off. And like I said in my other post, it always did move a BIT before this happened, but not much.

 

[robmob]

It does use a spring. All clutch shoes must use some sort of spring in order to function properly. Yours just uses a different type since it's a Tamiya.

If yours is missing, get another one.

Take a look at your exploded view in your manual.

Part number MM2.

 

[olds97_lss]

Wow, that is one weird friggen setup:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=51032&search=Go&sourceid=Mozilla-search

Manual:
http://www.tamiyausa.com/pdf/exp/43532e.pdf

 

[alhope34]

Hmmm. I dont know much about clutches and the 'normal' layout of the parts, but I didnt find any reminents at all of that spring, MM2.

 

[dt7676]

well that makes sense, that was the prob to start.....no spring it was engaging all the time.