CLUTCH

I’ve spent lots of time trying to chase away a nasty bog in the engine as it came off the line or out of a corner, only to find later that the problem was the clutch. Some clutches are built properly at the factory, but in my experience, most engage too early, which hobbles the engine coming out of every corner. Tuning the clutch to engage at the proper rpm puts more power to the ground than most could imagine.

Variables like the clutch setting, gearing, traction, atmospheric conditions and even the car's weight will have an effect on this last 5% of tuning performance, and the optimum setting can only be reached by careful on-track tuning.

Over 99% of all engine complaints are usually related to the tuning of the engine or clutch.

Faulty clutch
If you look closely at the end of this clutch bell, you can see that the bearing has blown up and only has one ball left in the inner race. This caused the engine to shut down several times. As the bearing self-destructed, the crankshaft wasn’t able to spin.


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. These tips describe some of the barriers to starting your engine. This might seem to be a long checklist, but when your engine is giving you trouble, these checks actually take very little time to do. The problem areas will become even easier to recognize as you gain experience, so keep at it, and it won’t be long before you’ll be able to solve your engine troubles like a pro!

Clutch Tuning

"When the clutch engages too soon it bogs the motor, which hurts acceleration. The motor needs to reach it's power band at the same time the clutch fully engages. A good rule of thumb for clutch adjustment is: if the car moves before you see smoke from the exhaust, your clutch is engaging too soon." - (www.teamtrinity.com)
Hope these tips help you out.

Top Page

Return to main Index