Graham
We have had this discussion for the past two years ever since the new clutch came out.
Can someone be specific here and make this regulation crystal clear so that there can be no misinterpretation by over zealous scrutineers who are trying to interpret a badly worded regulation open to interpretation.
We have a clutch assembly consisting of two parts the outer drum and the inner disc. So which part is classed as the internal running surface, is it the whole of the inner surface of the drum or is it just the area on the drum which the inner disc contacts. A diagram would answer this quite nicely and leave no doubt open to interpretation. Or are we saying nothing allowed anywhere on any surface inside the drum or the inner disc.
Again, how are we going to measure that clutches are fully engaged, I know that at Super 1 the unilogger measures it, but clubs dont have them, so how are they suppose to check that. Its not just grease that is the problem.
At 4000 rpm the engine has to move the kart and the driver forward, you can feel the clutch start to bite at about 2500 - 3000 but to make it move, how are we suppose to measure that, any guidance would be appreciated.
At Clay this year we tried an experiment with a block of wood and invited drivers to try it, most results were ok, but there were a few where the kart would hardly move. One team declined because they did not want to put their engine under any unnecessary strain, it was under enough stress during a race.
At the moment the only way to check a clutch at a club meeting is to take it apart. It gets a bit boring after about the third time on a race day. But the big point here is that every time you retorque the nut onto the end of the crank, you do minute damage to the threads, I am sure it was never meant to be on and off more often than a 'ladies' drawers.
Wouldn't it be nice if this was all sorted before the gold book is published. I suppose we are too late for 2011.
|
|