Anyone see this before on a Comet Clutch?

BrewCityMusic · 07-14-2017, 05:45 PM

Customer brought in a Club Car with a Vanny 18hp swap, said it wasn't shifting right, etc ... Turns out the clutch rollers had blasted through the bell and were hung up so the drive belt was always engaged to both clutches, so it would only start in neutral and refuse to shift into gear with the rear end spinning along at 1200rpm, LOL.

20170714_172859.jpg

Luckily, I had another busted up Comet laying around so I freed up the clutch and swapped the bell, all is good now but I guess the million dollar question is WHAT THE *** happened? Is this normal? Best i can figure is the 1" belt was causing the drive clutch to "slam" a bit on holeshots (and this particular customer is the EPIC candidate for that sort of driving habit, LOL) - Should I talk him into going to a new belt and clutch at 1 3/8" or does anyone have an opinion as to prevent this from happening again?

AaronW · 07-14-2017, 06:14 PM

It almost looks like the clutch failed from inside and took out the bell housing with it (Dents). Is there a date of manufacture on the clutch? Although it appears to look like a Comet, maybe it is some copy. Is it flat grey by age/use or is that how it appears to be manufactured?

BrewCityMusic · 07-15-2017, 10:55 AM

it's marked 'Salsbury-Comet" - and the clutch turned out to be fine, springs, rollers, etc all good - just holes worn straight through the "bell" where the rollers ride. The color is definitely from age, when I get to the shop in a bit I'll snap and upload more pics, maybe that will help.

BTW, I'm planning on having him give You guys a call RE upgrading his belt and driven clutch when he picks up the cart. I moved the engine forward a bit to take up some of the slack he had in the belt after fixing the clutch, but I'm sure the setup could be a lot more efficient with a 1 3/8" belt and DC.

BrewCityMusic · 07-15-2017, 12:17 PM

Here's a couple of pics of the 'innards and the wear marks/holes in the "bell" or cover - the weird thing is that the rollers in the other clutch (the one that the bad cover was on) were free and working just fine ... Oh well, at least the cart is back on the road

20170715_120702.jpg

20170715_120807.jpg

sho305 · 07-23-2017, 02:59 PM

Is the broken area fully shifted out? Maybe its really old clutch, or has a lot of miles on it.

07-14-2017, 05:45 PM	#1
BrewCityMusic Hammer Down !!!! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lake Geneva, WI Posts: 2,681	Anyone see this before on a Comet Clutch? Customer brought in a Club Car with a Vanny 18hp swap, said it wasn't shifting right, etc ... Turns out the clutch rollers had blasted through the bell and were hung up so the drive belt was always engaged to both clutches, so it would only start in neutral and refuse to shift into gear with the rear end spinning along at 1200rpm, LOL. 20170714_172859.jpg Luckily, I had another busted up Comet laying around so I freed up the clutch and swapped the bell, all is good now but I guess the million dollar question is WHAT THE *** happened? Is this normal? Best i can figure is the 1" belt was causing the drive clutch to "slam" a bit on holeshots (and this particular customer is the EPIC candidate for that sort of driving habit, LOL) - Should I talk him into going to a new belt and clutch at 1 3/8" or does anyone have an opinion as to prevent this from happening again?

07-14-2017, 06:14 PM	#2
AaronW Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 281	Re: Anyone see this before on a Comet Clutch? It almost looks like the clutch failed from inside and took out the bell housing with it (Dents). Is there a date of manufacture on the clutch? Although it appears to look like a Comet, maybe it is some copy. Is it flat grey by age/use or is that how it appears to be manufactured?

07-15-2017, 10:55 AM	#3
BrewCityMusic Hammer Down !!!! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lake Geneva, WI Posts: 2,681	Re: Anyone see this before on a Comet Clutch? it's marked 'Salsbury-Comet" - and the clutch turned out to be fine, springs, rollers, etc all good - just holes worn straight through the "bell" where the rollers ride. The color is definitely from age, when I get to the shop in a bit I'll snap and upload more pics, maybe that will help. BTW, I'm planning on having him give You guys a call RE upgrading his belt and driven clutch when he picks up the cart. I moved the engine forward a bit to take up some of the slack he had in the belt after fixing the clutch, but I'm sure the setup could be a lot more efficient with a 1 3/8" belt and DC.

07-15-2017, 12:17 PM	#4
BrewCityMusic Hammer Down !!!! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Lake Geneva, WI Posts: 2,681	Re: Anyone see this before on a Comet Clutch? Here's a couple of pics of the 'innards and the wear marks/holes in the "bell" or cover - the weird thing is that the rollers in the other clutch (the one that the bad cover was on) were free and working just fine ... Oh well, at least the cart is back on the road 20170715_120702.jpg 20170715_120807.jpg

07-23-2017, 02:59 PM	#5
sho305 Vegas modded 420 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West MI Posts: 15,443	Re: Anyone see this before on a Comet Clutch? Is the broken area fully shifted out? Maybe its really old clutch, or has a lot of miles on it.

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