'84 DS gass - clutch engages while starting

OhioDS · 10-25-2017, 01:54 PM

OK, I've got a 1984 Club Car DS gas. It sat for three years, and I acquired it for free from a friend. I replaced the battery, fuel lines, fuel filter, fuel pump, carb, air filter, and spark plug. Drained old gas, cleaned out the tank, filled with fresh fuel, and it fired right up. Now my one remaining issue is that the clutch engages as soon as the starter turns the engine over. On flat ground our facing downhill, this is not really an issue, and it starts just fine, but facing uphill, loaded, or pulling a small wagon, I'm worried about putting undue strain on the starting system, if it will even start under any of those other conditions. Not sure what I need to do here.

Springbok · 10-25-2017, 02:23 PM

The clutches that Club Car used from 1984-1987.5 were terrible. They came out with a much better design halfway through the 1987 model year. If I were you I'd upgrade both if they're the original clutches. The original 1984-1987.5 drive clutch did not have a bearing in-between the two sheaves for the belt to ride on, which is likely contributing to your cart's wanting to start moving before the engine fires up.

The other thing you could do is make sure that you have the correct drive belt. The older clutches used a narrower belt than the newer ones, so if someone put a newer, wider belt on that older clutch...that could also cause it to try and move as soon as the starter/gen begins turning (as the wide belt is already in contact with the sheaves on the drive clutch prematurely).

One thing to note if you decide to go the replacement route; the drive belt center lines between the two clutch styles are different, this is why I say that you should upgrade both.

OhioDS · 10-25-2017, 02:37 PM

Thanks for the info. Do you know if the newer style clutches will install directly with no modification needed? I'll definitely check the belt before I spend money on the clutches!

Springbok · 10-25-2017, 03:52 PM

Yes the newer style clutches are direct replacement with no modifications necessary. However you will want to order a driven clutch oriented to run counter-clockwise. So you'll want to look for a driven clutch that's fits 1988-1996 gas Club Cars (in 1997 Club Car motors switched to run counter-clockwise).

Springbok · 10-26-2017, 09:32 AM

*EDIT to my above post: In 1997 Club Car motors switched to run CLOCKWISE)

10-25-2017, 01:54 PM	#1
OhioDS Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Ohio Posts: 2	'84 DS gass - clutch engages while starting OK, I've got a 1984 Club Car DS gas. It sat for three years, and I acquired it for free from a friend. I replaced the battery, fuel lines, fuel filter, fuel pump, carb, air filter, and spark plug. Drained old gas, cleaned out the tank, filled with fresh fuel, and it fired right up. Now my one remaining issue is that the clutch engages as soon as the starter turns the engine over. On flat ground our facing downhill, this is not really an issue, and it starts just fine, but facing uphill, loaded, or pulling a small wagon, I'm worried about putting undue strain on the starting system, if it will even start under any of those other conditions. Not sure what I need to do here.

10-25-2017, 02:23 PM	#2
Springbok Photoshop Guy Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Canal Fulton, OH Posts: 3,845	Re: '84 DS gass - clutch engages while starting The clutches that Club Car used from 1984-1987.5 were terrible. They came out with a much better design halfway through the 1987 model year. If I were you I'd upgrade both if they're the original clutches. The original 1984-1987.5 drive clutch did not have a bearing in-between the two sheaves for the belt to ride on, which is likely contributing to your cart's wanting to start moving before the engine fires up. The other thing you could do is make sure that you have the correct drive belt. The older clutches used a narrower belt than the newer ones, so if someone put a newer, wider belt on that older clutch...that could also cause it to try and move as soon as the starter/gen begins turning (as the wide belt is already in contact with the sheaves on the drive clutch prematurely). One thing to note if you decide to go the replacement route; the drive belt center lines between the two clutch styles are different, this is why I say that you should upgrade both.

10-25-2017, 02:37 PM	#3
OhioDS Not Yet Wild Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Ohio Posts: 2	Re: '84 DS gass - clutch engages while starting Thanks for the info. Do you know if the newer style clutches will install directly with no modification needed? I'll definitely check the belt before I spend money on the clutches!

10-25-2017, 03:52 PM	#4
Springbok Photoshop Guy Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Canal Fulton, OH Posts: 3,845	Re: '84 DS gass - clutch engages while starting Yes the newer style clutches are direct replacement with no modifications necessary. However you will want to order a driven clutch oriented to run counter-clockwise. So you'll want to look for a driven clutch that's fits 1988-1996 gas Club Cars (in 1997 Club Car motors switched to run counter-clockwise).

10-26-2017, 09:32 AM	#5
Springbok Photoshop Guy Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Canal Fulton, OH Posts: 3,845	Re: '84 DS gass - clutch engages while starting *EDIT to my above post: In 1997 Club Car motors switched to run CLOCKWISE)

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