Vegas Carts 440 Driven Clutch

SimonTurnock

Hi just waiting for my Vegas 440 Clone and stripped axle and clutch. Driven Clutch seems very worn no ramp buttons exist and body of the cam is damaged. Would the 28 degree power kit from Jakes suit this set up best or a standard clutch. I do have a very steep hill where I am using the cart aand would prefer torque to top end speed. Any thoughts?

BGW

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slonomo

I would never discourage anyone from getting a performance secondary clutch. You might loose a tiny amount of top end speed, but what you gain on the low end will be huge. Not only does the performance driven clutch give you more hill climbing power, but it gives you a snappier take off and better acceleration as well.

SimonTurnock

Is the Jakes one the best to buy or is there another option?

slonomo

What kind of cart is this going on?

SimonTurnock

EZGO TXT with clone 440. Not lifted and 18" wheels from vegas carts

slonomo

If you aren't lifting it and using bigger tires, you shouldn't need a performance clutch to do what you need it to. What you might want to try is a stiffer secondary spring, also called a "torque spring" for your stock clutch. The clone engine will have tons of power to get you up that hill, you won't "need" the performance clutch. It's pretty expensive. Save the bucks and try it without. You might be surprised. You can always get it later.

Another thing that sometimes causes issues is worn components. Inspect your primary clutch, belt, and secondary clutch for signs of wear. The clutch faces will be "dished in" if it's heavily worn. Also, dirt, rust, gunk will cause your clutches to not work properly. Clean them very thoroughly, and use grease very lightly only on metal to metal sliding surfaces, very lightly, that stuff will fling all over your belt and cause big probs.

If you're clutches are clean and in good condition, you will find that the clone will give your the punch you need to get up that hill!!

SimonTurnock

I have ordered a comet clutch to attach to the engine but my driven clutch seems damaged as if the wear buttons have worn out and it's just been driving against the aluminium. I would need at least the cam side of the clutch as long as I can get the screws out where the buttons were. The also seem radial,cracks on the casting.
Is there a huge difference if I need to buy a replacement clutch versus the high performance clutch.

slonomo

Yes. The performance clutches are typically machined down to have a "steeper angle" than a stock one. But if you have the cash, go for it. Sounds like you need a new one regardless. Price out stock vs. performance and do what you think is best. If the price is close, go performance.

sho305

Slonomo is right you don't need a performance secondary with a clone, it can help some if you offroad a lot with big tires but without a lift I would not want it. I have a cut sheave on my yamaha clone it goes in more so the belt comes out the top, its a lower gear to start out in. This helps takeoff and towing/climbing then does nothing once it shifts a little. I put a utility spring in from yamaha that is stronger than stock (sort of like half an aftermarket spring) and I might take it out, reason is it will not lower rpm down if you go say 10mph steady it runs 2500 all the time or more with throttle. I go by homes it would be quieter to shift out more. The new stock one I'll buy may not work well I don't know but going to try. My old stock spring is really old so it can't be in stock spec. With a stock engine the performance secondary springs are nicer it keeps them in the powerband better and stock power is so weak, so it helps. With a clone it will run more rpm with the stock setup just because it has that much more power, they don't bog like stock engines, the tire spins instead.

You need to have the clutches working well to start with, if you can replace all the damaged stuff odds are you will never have to do it again. I just put a whole new secondary on mine it was original '92. A 1/16 wider belt may also get you more out of the hole on stock setup, but again with stock tires/gearing you don't need to worry about that stuff at all, worry about it working properly. I'd put a stock one on a clone, you can change the spring later if you need to. On top of that an aftermarket primary clutch is going to work way better than stock, it will take off harder if you tune it that way. The secondary mostly controls rpm at part throttle. Changing the ramp will make it rev more on the gas compared to stock, but even lifted you have more power from the clone many take the ramps back out with a larger engine.

geoffw

Im going to agree and say that there is no need to change secondary clutches. I havent done much R&D with the secondaries other than changing springs and machining them, in this case I would leave it alone unless you plan on some serious hill climbs. In that case add a torque spring.

-Geoff