NRS4 Type 3 SS Problem

[LarryA]

I have a relatively new HPI SS type 3. The first couple times running it after the breakin all was fine. The last several times when I took it out I have the following problem. The car starts up easily and runs perfect for about 15 minutes of hard driving with little brake use (very large parking lot oval). After about 15 minutes it will suddenly act like the cltuch is slipping then just like that it slows to a stop and just sits there like the clutch went out. About a week or so ago this happened for the second or third time, I pulled the engine and clutch bell and the clutch shoes look fine. No apparent wear and/or residue in the bell, no melted plastic or anything indicating a problem. I have the brakes set so there is no drag at zero throttle. This has just happened again and I'm at a lose. When it does this I can put it away and the next day it will run good again until after it run awhile and I'm assuming gets heated up. Could it be that when the clutch gets hot it slips to the point of not being able to drive the spur gear? I've had off road R/Cs that went on the same factory clutch they came with and they lasted several years. Ideas?

 

[Nitroaddict]

Larry - first, an on-road clutch will usually go through shoes about every 2 gallons of fuel. I race, so mine wear out about once a gallon.

TRY THIS: take the shoes off, and sand them with sand paper, so they are scuffed. Then shoot the inside of the clutch bell with soe nitro cleaner, get all the residue off, and scuff the inside up too.

Now try driving it again. If the problem still exists, then u know it cannot possible be the clutch parts, and must be something else.

- Anthony

 

[007kel]

Larry I would also check the spur gears. Is there any wear on the gears? Are they meshing tight with the pinion gears? I gear my Type SS for top speed. Sometimes, I'll run like a 37 tooth for second and 41 for first. When I do run these, my car will occasionally stay still and it will look like the clutch went out. The engine will rev high, then it catches on another gear. Would this sound like what's going on with your Type SS?

 

[Somers Racing]

Hey, when the motor fully heats up, it has more power.
I had this happen to me.
The problem you probably have is the gears are shot (not meshed or stripped) and the motor heats up to its max, and it over powers the gear mesh.
I had this happen to me, it looks like the gears are meshed, but they really aren't/
Check this problem out on your car.
Peter
Regards...
This happened to me long ago to.

 

[LarryA]

Bingo! Found why the car stopped this time. Found a real tiny stone wedged in one of the pinion gears. It was only big enuogh to get caught at the very botton of the gear teeth. It wasn't too easy to get out but all should be fine now. We wouldn't have these kind of problems if places would keep their parking lots clean Thanks for the replies, they could still come in handy.