Pistonheads' Baja has now got a new owner...

[Pistonhead]

Just gave a good blast on the beach and after about half an hour the engine died with a rattle and rear wheels locked up. Closer inspection led me to the clutch which had locked up, so i removed the clutch bell and found the shoes slightly melted/delaminated. Just before removing the clutch bell it was free to turn from the engine but hot to touch. I'm thinking this is a cheap set of shoes at fault and could anyone point me toward a decent quality set of stock shoes.

Edited August 18, 2013 by Pistonhead

[walters]

there you gohttp://www.innovative-rc.com/high-response-clutch-spring-p-514.html

[bill79]

You inspected any further than clutch ??

[sean-vrs]

You inspected any further than clutch ??

I was thinking the same, the clutch dosnt look that bad. With the clutch out does the engine start?

[bill79]

I was thinking the same, the clutch dosnt look that bad. With the clutch out does the engine start?

That's what I thought aswell I've ran with baldy shoes there must be a problem elsewhere

[Pistonhead]

It fires up and runs fine without the clutch installed.

There's alot of dust in the clutch housing (put less than 2 gallons through her so far) and the cluch bell has some burr marks that line up with the pitting on the shoes.

Have ordered the shoes in the link to be safe anyway.

Edited August 18, 2013 by Pistonhead

[bill79]

Maybe an enclosed clutch carrier could help out for beach running to keep out the sand

[Pistonhead]

There wasn't any sand in/around the clutch, brakes or pinion/spur areas.

[sean-vrs]

There wasn't any sand in/around the clutch, brakes or pinion/spur areas.

I saw your sandy fingers and thought the worse for your engine!

[Pistonhead]

I saw your sandy fingers and thought the worse for your engine!

They were sandy from stripping the rest of the thing to get it off lol

[bill79]

So what's caused the problem out of interest ?

[Pistonhead]

I suspect cheap shoes overheating and delaminating, with fragments of material jamming into the clutch bell were the cause.

[Sharkfat78]

This is going to sound stupid but I had the same thing happen to my Losi XXL when running in snow. Burned the clutch out with the same findings on opening it up. Might be worth sticking some sand paddles on the back for the next beach run and see if that makes any difference.

 

It wont hurt, and it'll look awesome lol

[Thunderwolf]

i hope you guys realize that sand getting into gears and clutches end up as a very fine dust that mixes with the clutch dust or bits of gear making it hard to know for sure if there was sand in there.

the heat of the clutch will also not help finding out if sand was in there.

[Pistonhead]

Right, fitted the new clutch. Clutch bell rotated nice and freely before running. After running for a few seconds the clutch seemed to bind up again as if it wasn't returning properly.

I had the flat washers inside the clutch with the wavey spring washers against the bolt head. This is the way they were when i stripped it. Is this the correct way?

[rytis]

Bearings ?

[Pistonhead]

Found out on tha Baja forum that i was doing them up way to tight, pinching the shoes tight enough for the spring not to disengage them. Added a bit more thread lock to the thread and a tiny smear of graphite grease to both sides of both washers.

All working again

[Sharkfat78]

Well I've certainly learned from this thread Piston. I haven't even seen the clutch on mine yet lol

[Pistonhead]

That makes two of us lol. Will not let these problems put me off lol

[Sharkfat78]

Not heard of graphite grease. What's the score with that?

[Pistonhead]

It's a heavy duty high, temperature grease that's impregnated with graphite powder (graphite being self lubricating) normally used in car drive shafts.

[Pistonhead]

Did a bit more tinkering today after reading on the Baja Forum about flipping the clutch.

So i gave it a go and the difference in throttle response is obvious.

The clutch now engages at the slightest sniff of throttle and will lift the front wheels off the deck briefly without bogging or struggling.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Pistonhead

[Sharkfat78]

Do you have a link to that thread please mate?

Just placing an order with Innovative and have been looking at the clutches. Got some Turtle racing bits coming so figured I'd maybe swap the clutch out while I'm at it. Did you use any fancy tools to remove your clutch?

[Pistonhead]

I don't have a link to that thread, and seeing as i didn't have a piston stopper, i improvised lol.

I removed the pull starter and held the flywheel nut to remove the clutch bolts, and replacing them i wound two bolts into the screw holes in the flywheel and held with a screw driver. Don't over tighten the clutch bolts as the shoes won't release.

[Sharkfat78]

Ahhh cool. I've got a piston stopper so its all good in the hood. When you said you flipped the clutch do you mean you stuck the front at the back? Not seen one of  these in person yet so have no idea