This is sort of a vague post i suppose, but maybe its not... i don't feel this should be an opinionated answer, this really seems like there should be a definite answer to this question... the specific answer may vary by machine, tune, tires, etc etc.... but there should be definite answer that applies to all scenarios I feel... so lets hear it.... newbies, veterans, weekend warriors, those with clutch problems, those without, clutch gurus ( calling out @Hunterworks @AIRDAM @AftermarketAs @Joey Strub Bmp and any other vendor who markets clutch kits or tuning on this forum ), anyone and everyone.
I've spent the better part of the last year tuning and chasing problems with my clutching... some of you may have seen it on my build thread, some of you have helped (thank you for your time), I've learned a ton about the ins and outs of clutches and they're functionality, but I still by no means consider myself an expert, and all along the way, I don't think I've ever discovered the answer... we see/hear a lot about tuning for a specific RPM, we hear/see about guys "dialing in their clutches", we see problems arise, problems get solved, problems get ignored. We've seen "this cured that" a hundred times... we've heard "Airdam in the solution" countless times, we've seen "Ask Todd" or "Ask Mike"... but the bulk of all the questions come from the search for "Proper Clutching"...because as we've all heard more than anything "You have to have your clutches tuned properly" or "Proper clutching will fix that" or "Proper clutching reduces belt heat,extends belt life, and increases performance".. There's dozens of "clutch kits" out there, all share similarities, some are exactly the same as another, some are unique to themselves, all have ways to "tune" them in the search for proper performance... but there's a different approach from every angle.... so lets try and make some headway with this post.
Is proper clutching purely based on the WOT shift RPM? why do some say it's x RPM and some say its y RPM?
Is a showroom floor machine "properly clutched?
Are upshift, backshift, engagement rpm, helix angle part of "proper clutching" or are those just the tune able aspects for the users specific application?
If my clutch kit says "make a WOT run from a roll at 15-20 mph to 55-60 mph and get you RPM at 8300-8500 RPM" and i do that, is that the only defining factor if my machine is "properly clutched"?
I feel my machine has been "properly clutched" according to instructions 3 times now.... but all 3 times it's had different weights / springs / helixes.... and behaved differently all 3 times....were/are all 3 correct? Or is one correct? Or are none of them actually correct?
There you have it... that's my rant and plea for the answer...
I've spent the better part of the last year tuning and chasing problems with my clutching... some of you may have seen it on my build thread, some of you have helped (thank you for your time), I've learned a ton about the ins and outs of clutches and they're functionality, but I still by no means consider myself an expert, and all along the way, I don't think I've ever discovered the answer... we see/hear a lot about tuning for a specific RPM, we hear/see about guys "dialing in their clutches", we see problems arise, problems get solved, problems get ignored. We've seen "this cured that" a hundred times... we've heard "Airdam in the solution" countless times, we've seen "Ask Todd" or "Ask Mike"... but the bulk of all the questions come from the search for "Proper Clutching"...because as we've all heard more than anything "You have to have your clutches tuned properly" or "Proper clutching will fix that" or "Proper clutching reduces belt heat,extends belt life, and increases performance".. There's dozens of "clutch kits" out there, all share similarities, some are exactly the same as another, some are unique to themselves, all have ways to "tune" them in the search for proper performance... but there's a different approach from every angle.... so lets try and make some headway with this post.
Is proper clutching purely based on the WOT shift RPM? why do some say it's x RPM and some say its y RPM?
Is a showroom floor machine "properly clutched?
Are upshift, backshift, engagement rpm, helix angle part of "proper clutching" or are those just the tune able aspects for the users specific application?
If my clutch kit says "make a WOT run from a roll at 15-20 mph to 55-60 mph and get you RPM at 8300-8500 RPM" and i do that, is that the only defining factor if my machine is "properly clutched"?
I feel my machine has been "properly clutched" according to instructions 3 times now.... but all 3 times it's had different weights / springs / helixes.... and behaved differently all 3 times....were/are all 3 correct? Or is one correct? Or are none of them actually correct?
There you have it... that's my rant and plea for the answer...
WHAT IS PROPER CLUTCHING?