firelite_marine

Ive been working on a 57 apache for the last couple months. I'm running a stock zen 260, bonzi sports clutch and an mh$ s6 drive. problem is the clutch always seems to be engaged and spinning my prop just enough to the point where my boat wanders when the boat is at idle. any thoughts of why this is?

simonmiller

The idle on the engine is to high

02f350psd

My Feedback: (3)

check for broken clutch spring.

Justaddwata

My Feedback: (3)

When the motor is not running - does the prop shaft spin freely or is there some drag between the clutch bell and the motor. Sometimes the bell can be a little close to the shoes and cause a little drag. It is something to consider along with the above good points.

dicko

also check the bearings. if they're starting to seize they're no good.

sandydr

I have a similar problem on my Aeromarine XXX. At the lowest point of idle before the engine cuts out, the prop is still spinning and at acceleration it just wanders around slowly. When the engine is off, the prop shaft spins freely. Never taken apart a clutch, so don't really know what I should be looking for. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Sandy

madphil

get some "red" 8000 rpm clutch springs most of the car racers use them .

phil.

PEERPSI

This happens with mine as well. Two things I did was loosen the mounting bolts for the clutch and center the clutch bell in the middle of it's free play in both the vertical and horizontal. Then I used my Fluke meter set on hertz to set the idle to the manufacturers’ specifications. This was done by measuring between the kill switch wire and the engine block. In my case the RPM is 3500 so I set it as close to 58.5 Hz as possible.

I did find that there was a cheap Chinese bearing in the clutch system which I replaced with an industrial standard bearing.

sandydr

Phil,
so you think it is a springs problem? If I can get back at a decent hour today, I will take the clutch apart and post pics, as I have no idea of what it should look like

Thanks

Sandy

sandydr

Peerpsi - I'm not sure I understand the technical side of the solution. The clutch was working fine for the last 4 months and then in a middle of a run last week, the boat just stopped moving while out on the water. I thought it was maybe snagged on a fishing wire or something so called it a day. Took it back out yesterday and have the reported problem. Got to be something with the clutch, but I have never re-adjusted anything on it previously.

Regards

Sandy

madphil

I would think its a broken spring .
it only needs 1 to break for the clutch to drag this was common in car racing , if the clutch cover bearing had gone the engine would stall once the clutch engaged

phil

PEERPSI

You didn't mention that it didn't move, you mentioned that it moved when idling. If you have a broken spring it will engage when ever the motor is running. To test this as Justaddwada stated, try turning the prop with the engine off. If it moves freely then it's not likely the clutch spring but idle speed. Another possibility is the drive end of the shaft. It is soldered in place. Given that the boat stopped moving all together it may have failed at that joint.

Try Justaddwada's test first, then start disassembling looking for the problem.

stuch

broken clutch spring or broken clutch arbor /the thing the clutch is mounted to. either way you're going to have to take the clutch apart.

quickdraw

Another thing that could happen also is the casting hole for the spring broke through and would act the same as a broken spring. We had this happen sometimes on the 1/4 scale cars.

sandydr

Thanks for your repsonses guys. I am going to see if I can get to taking it apart tonight. It started raining here in the 'tropics' yesterday and I guess I have a good month to go before it stops again [&o]

Maybe I didn't explain my problem to well. So, I'll re-cap.

On idle - the prop is spinning (no prior issues and I have tried to set the idle lower, but it keeps spinning)
On accelration - the engine is reving nicely, but the prop is just spinning at the same idle rate
With engine off - The propshaft is moving freely
Solderless ferule which I have checked and all seems strong

Will come back with photos, once I have taken the thing apart.

Regards

Sandy

stuch

like i said broken clutch spring or arbor...

sandydr

You guys are geniuses! I was worried that I would not know what to look for once I took the clutch bell off, however it was plainly obvious...
Does anyone happen to know what brand of clutch this is, so that I can get a replacement spring, or is it a one size fits all type of thing?

Thanks again

Sandy

madphil

Theres only 2 types of springs , stock or high rpm ( the high rpm ones are sometimes painted red) they will both fit
the car ones are the same , just go to your local hobby shop with the old spring

phil

stuch

i've seen 5 different size of springs over the yrs of being around 2 stroke car and boat motors make sure you replace both springs so ther the same size.

sandydr

Thanks Phil & Stuch,
I guess I am going to have to email the photos to some on-line stores to see if they can recognise / match the springs. My LHS is a 1.5hr flight away in Miami []

Sandy

quickdraw

Looks like Marine Specialties clutch. I can't think of another style clutch like that one, but them. Try to get ahold of them.

stuch

just replace them with sikk springs O'neil brothers has them for like 3 bucks a piece. wearhouse hobbies has them also. there the same size as those springs. you can have them at you're door in a week.

sandydr

Thanks Guys,
Figures, the engine is Marine Specialities mod, but I didn't realise that they made their own clutches as well. Will give the on-line retailers a go.

Regards

Sandy

Thefarside

Sandy, Marine Specialities clutches have a life time guarantee, give them a call.

John

sandydr

Hi John,
Thanks for the tip. I did call them, but as I purchased the boat used and am not the original owner, it is not under guarantee. $US14.75 for the springs and a est $US15.00 for shipping sounded a lot, so I will try some other retailers.

Regards

Sandy