Do go karts have a clutch?
Most off-road and racing go-karts use a transmission, unless they have a direct drive configuration. You’ll most likely come across go-karts that use a torque converter or a clutch, as a transmission. When it comes to transmissions, there is a long-standing battle between torque converters and clutches.
How does a Go Kart belt clutch work?
How does it work? The drive clutch is activated by centrifugal force from the engine crankshaft. The moveable sheave of the clutch is forced in (as shown above) as the rpm of the engine is increased. This contacts the drive belt.
Does a go kart need a torque converter?
In summary, a go kart torque converter is ideal for rough and off-road terrain where there are obstacles to be avoided or crossed and uphill driving may be required. But if your goal is to achieve the maximum speed to race in the pavement, a clutch is the better choice.
Why is my go kart eating belts?
From what I can see from your pictures, your drive pulley (small) is out of alignment with the driven pulley (large) this will cause it to chew up belts quickly. Also there is too much slack in the belt. the belt should be snug (not tight) between the two pulleys in order for the variable speed to work correctly.
How do I know if my clutch is bad on my go kart?
When heat damage occurs, the clutch will never disengage and the machine will start taking off by itself as soon as you start the engine. You can see heat damage inside the clutch drum, the metal turns from black to a blue color. The clutch must be replaced if it has heat damage and won’t disengage.
Why is my go kart clutch smoking?
The smoking aspect occurs when the clutch is engaging but is not fully grabbing. If the prolonged engagement occurs for too long, the clutch will start to smoke and eventually damage it to where the weights will only slip and perhaps even crack and break apart.
Can you adjust a centrifugal clutch?
But centrifugal clutches are touchy things by nature; the smallest maladjustment can drastically change their performance and engagement rpm. Periodic adjustment to account for wear on the springs and clutch material is fairly simple in most cases.
How does a centrifugal clutch work on a go kart?
How Does A Centrifugal Clutch Work? When the crank shaft rotates the shaft of the clutch rotates at the same speed as the engine. The rotation of the hub forces the shoes or flyweights outwards until they come into contact with the clutch drum, the friction material transmits the torque from the flyweights to the drum.
What are the advantages of centrifugal clutch?
Advantages and disadvantages of centrifugal clutch
- Simple and inexpensive and need little maintenance.
- The centrifugal clutch is automatic any kind of control mechanism is not necessary.
- They help to prevent the engine from stalling.
- The engagement speed can precisely control by selecting spring.
Why is my go kart clutch not engaging?
Most of the time, it’s due to worn out friction material of the flyweights/shoes, which need to be replaced. Occasionally, it can also occur if the clutch was incorrectly lubricated and some of the oil entered into the clutch drum, which will lead to a lack of friction between the flyweights and the drum.