Lets talk clutch shoes

[richardmid1]

Which is best nylon or aluminium? Im told the ali ones will grab sooner and stay engaged for longer where as nylon ones will tend to slip constantly, is that correct?

I have nylon ones and the engine increases rpm quite a bit before it engages, I actually thought it was quite normal till I saw a friends buggy go, his clutch engages quickly and his buggy sets off with only a slight increase in rpm, not sure what clutch he has in it though.

[Neil Skull]

It is also due to clutch springs.

Sorry to say but you will have to try different shoe and spring combinations to find what suits you and the track.

I would say dont use nylon use a composite shoe.

If you are racing as a begginer to average club racer use composite shoes with a medium spring.

For bashing Alu shoes with a soft spring will give you quick acceleration. but at times you will get a lot of wheespin if traction is low.

[richardmid1]

Thanks for that. I may try drilling a small hole in the side of the shoes and screwing a 3mm grub screw in them to add a little weight.

[chalky]

if its a three shoe clutch 2 alloy and 1 carbon or black shoe with 1mm springs that should be good just about anywhere


the black shoe will help stop the alloy ones wearing too quickley and give a small amount of slip as it engages

try it

[Neil Skull]

Originally Posted by richardmid1

Thanks for that. I may try drilling a small hole in the side of the shoes and screwing a 3mm grub screw in them to add a little weight.

I would definetly not do that

[Chris Doughty]

Originally Posted by richardmid1

Thanks for that. I may try drilling a small hole in the side of the shoes and screwing a 3mm grub screw in them to add a little weight.

its not really to do with the weight, its more to do with the material of the shoe in contact with the clutch bell, alu on the metal clutch bell will have more bite than a plastic/carbon/composite shoe on the metal clutch bell.

the spring will delay the engagement of the clutch (heavier will enage later) and a later engaging clutch will be more 'snappy' to drive.

[justleanitupabit]

Originally Posted by Neil Skull

I would definetly not do that

I seem to remember HPI clutch shoes for the Savage having exactly that set-up to make them engage earlier.

Edit

They still do

http://www.hpieurope.com/piw.php?lang=en&partNo=87196

[j.m.]

That's 3 aluminum shoes.


You put one shoe that's lighter than the others on there and your going to kill somebody.

[Chris Doughty]

there are a lot of people that mix and match 'plastic' and alu clutch shoes, even on 3 shoe clutches.

[j.m.]

And you don't get massive vibrations?

[justleanitupabit]

Originally Posted by j.m.

And you don't get massive vibrations?

No. Not noticably.

[Chris Doughty]

I don't think there is a great deal of differance in weight between the 2 types, if there was we would need to be using different springs to make them engage at the same time as each other when switching between all plastic or all alu

[Lee]

Originally Posted by DoughtyUK.net

its not really to do with the weight, its more to do with the material of the shoe in contact with the clutch bell, alu on the metal clutch bell will have more bite than a plastic/carbon/composite shoe on the metal clutch bell.

the spring will delay the engagement of the clutch (heavier will enage later) and a later engaging clutch will be more 'snappy' to drive.

Chris said bell

[Chris Doughty]

if we were talking about old school brushed electric motors I could have said bell end and got away with it

[richardmid1]

I did the grub screw mod and its much better! I too dont agree with using different weight shoes, its only a tiny weight difference but at 30,000+ rpm that tiny weight difference becomes a huge difference! Your engine and clutch bearings will wear out quicker as a result.

I knew I wouldn't be the only one to think of adjustable weight shoes, its alot easier then changing shoes or springs.