Engineering Shop
New Clutch Trials
date added: -0-07-20AP clutch gets a straightcut makeover to bring it into the 21st century!
We've been working on a new clutch for the No1 Motor. The new design does away with the helical drive between the crankshaft and the clutch and the troublesome plain bearing in the centre of the clutch spur gear. We have had bespoke straight cut primary drive pinion and clutch spur gear manufactured and incorporated needle roller bearing units in the clutch gear to reduce wear and increase reliablility when slipping the clutch for fast take offs. The new design retains the Suzuki clutch plates and basket, which is rivetted to the new spur gear with new OE cushion rubbers. Unfortuantely we missed the chance for back to back tests on the Dyno between the two clutch designs, which was a real shame. The straight cut gears should be more efficient (i.e reducing internal losses giving higher power to the wheels), and improve gear changing due to eliminating shaft axial thrust created by the helical gears. The expense of these gains will be increased noise (but we like it - if you have ever heard a Mini with a striaght cut gearbox you'll know what i mean)