New Rotax Clutch!!!Photo

Chad Landers · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

The leopard clutch slides over the crank shaft and it sits on a woodruff key. The clutch pads and hub are all one piece. The shoes flex on a piece of metal that is connected to the clutch hub and ring gear. That acts like the springs on the current clutch. So there aren't any springs or shoe posts to break.

But the leopard clutch shoes will break where it flexes to make the shoes engage on the drum.

The picture looks like the shoes might still sit on some kind of post.
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Michael Boone · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 4:32 am Post subject:

I was told it's closer to the KF clutch and they have had good succsess with it.

Sorry Rob won't be able to get the photos. I'm going in for heart valve sugery in couple of weeks Shocked

and don't thing there going to let me go to the kart shop for awhile. Razz

I might ask them to take a couple of photos for me though Wink

MB
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Dave Davies · Advertiser Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Posts: 53

The new clutch will be available after the first of the year. As a matter of fact Rotax is going to be shipping a very generous amount of these directly to the 1st Florida Winter Tour Race in Homestead. They will be available for purchase from several of the Authorized Rotax Dealers and Service Centers that will be at this event. The new clutch will come in 2 versons one for the FR125 and one for the DD2. The first units that will be available will be for the FR125 and will come packaged as a Retrofit clutch kit that will include the starter gear, clutch drum and steel balance gears. The existing FR125 drive gears will fit the new clutch drum. The only exception to this will be on the DD2 clutch due to the fact that the drive gear and clutch drum will be a one piece unit. One of the best things about the new clutch is the fact that the clutch hub will be a separate piece from the starter gear and will be able to be replaced by itself at a much lower cost. As far as performance goes it is my understanding that when comparing the current clutch to the new clutch the performance between the 2 is the same but the new clutch offers an big increase in reliability. Rotax is going to offer an additional 25% discount on the Retrofit Kit until April 30th, 2009. A ballpark price for the retrofit kit including the discount will be around $340.00. This is a fair price when you take into consideration that you are getting the starter gear assembly, clutch drum and balance gears. Rotax also told us that the volume of gearbox oil will increase from 50cc to 100cc after the new balance gears are installed. All of this information is based on my latest correspondence with Rotax and could be subject to change.

Dave Davies
SSC East

Lewis Cronis · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:02 am Post subject:

Thank you Dave.
Quick question.

If we go to 100cc vs 50cc, how can we verify the oil level in the engine?
IIRC, with 50cc, when you remove the bolt on the side, oil should just be at that level.
It will be difficult to tell how much over 50cc (or how close to 100cc) you are using this same method.

Are they planning on modifying/offering a new side cover it the future to cover this, with new markings for 'oil level'?

Good luck at the Worlds.
Lewis

Keith Buffo · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:43 am Post subject:

Great Dave... Thanks!

Rodney Ebersole · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:47 am Post subject:

Lewis, maybe the balance gears are smaller in the area of oil displacement and the check hole wont over flow until it has 100cc's in it.

Then again draining 50cc to fill back up with 100cc could be done many times before it replaced the cost of a new side cover.

Just thoughts from an old dipstick.
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Mark Spikes · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:52 pm Post subject:

Real or perceived without doubt one clutch (old or new) will be seen as the clutch to have to shave time on the track:

1. The new clutch will be seen as faster and everyone will buy it as quickly as possible. There will be shortages.

-or-

2. The old clutch will be seen as faster causing buying and hording of same.

-or- God Forbid

3. At some tracks the old will be faster - some tracks the new will be faster. Each race you will have to choose. Then change it again when you see the fast guys run what you ain't got. I can see this getting messy.

mark

Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

Lewis Cronis · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:21 am Post subject:

Jordon Musser · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:23 am Post subject:

Mark-
so let all the idiots spend their money Wink

Shannon Schmidt · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:18 am Post subject:

A-

Little league? Try Hockey eh!
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Andy Seesemann · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:32 am Post subject:

Hockey? Nah, he's not a fighter.

Okay, maybe.

I have a feeling that this kid is going to try everything at least once. He has a MicroMax that we go and play with sometimes, although he told me that he "may" race sometime next year.

He wants to try basketball next year, because the city league requires them to be in at least 3rd grade. He has also mentioned soccer, football and swimming.

I have no problem with any of it, except soccer......

Good luck in Vegas. I will be flying to Italy for the Worlds this weekend.

A
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Really Good Guy.

Nick Weil · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:59 am Post subject:

Andy Seesemann · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

I hate soccer.

I'll let him do it if he really, really wants to.

I'll be in Orlando for Thursday and half of Friday for PRI. I'll let you buy me several drinks if you come by.

A
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Rotax Challenge of the Americas
www.rotaxchallenge.com
WKA District 10 Trustee
www.worldkarting.com
Really Good Guy.

Michael Boone · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 3:44 am Post subject:

Chad Stapleton wrote:
I didn't know Rotax had a KF motor program ? Wink

...and i heard clutches were a BIG issue with the KF motors ?

Hey Chad

After looking at the Fireball clutch I would say it's pretty close to that !!!

Sodi used the KF as an example because the Fire ball dosen't exist in France no class for it !! well maybe Open Confused

but where you going to get parts Rolling Eyes

MB
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