97 Carryall Clutch Trouble

[Cart Tinkerer]

My 97 Carryall runs well, but controlling forward motion at slow speed is frustrating. I was trying to thread my way through a lot of pedestrian traffic and brake-throttle-brake transtions were very jerky and scared the foot traffic. Is this symptomatic of a clutch problem or should I be looking elsewhere for something to adjust, replace, or rebuild?

[DOOmsman]

I would start with the engine, does it run smooth at low speeds?
If so then its clutches.
I can inch my cart along on just the starter.

[Cart Tinkerer]

Thanks for the ideas. Engine is fine at slow speeds. It's the transition from slow-stop-slow-stop, etc that is jerky and agravates near-by pedestrians. Inching with starter sounds like a short cut to a new starter.

[DOOmsman]

These starters are far away better than auto starters and if the engine is just trying to start it is not that much load.

[tpg]

Sounds like you have the cable adjusted to get top speed. When you press down on the gas pedal and the micro switch engages, the carb butterfly is partialy open and gives you a jerk. You should be able to run the engine at like 1000 rpm. The clutch engages at about 1200 rpm. Sounds like when your micro engages you are above this.

[KillerCC]

Could have a torque spring installed in the primary clutch. Causes clutch to engage much faster for quicker torque band.

[Cart Tinkerer]

I appreciate all of you taking the time to get me pointed in the right direction. I'll check these items and see if that gets it done.

[ckiguy]

have you tried lockmans idle fix... it adjustes the idle up, and disconnects the micro switch to kill it at idle....

[KillerCC]

Originally Posted by KillerCC

Could have a torque spring installed in the primary clutch. Causes clutch to engage much faster for quicker torque band.

Im such an idiot sometimes.....ok all the time I ment that the spring allows the engine to rev higher before engaging the clutch. Also allows the cart to idle and not move so you can have key start/stop.

[SickPup404]

I am in (I think) the same boat. Did you happen to be at a Ducks Unlimited sporting clays event in southern DE over the weekend? I got some of the same reactions with mine when I was there!

Symptom: When I press the gas pedal down, it has to go down so far before engaging the solenoid that the cart takes off.
Solution: I'm going to be adjusting the throttle linkage arm (the rod from the pedal that terminates just under the electrics box) on my 98 CC DS so the micro switches engage earlier. They should engage just after the brake pawl releases and I have to press hte pedal down another inch or two.