Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

philrock · Post by **philrock** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 11:56 pm

I have a couple of Mc101s with DXL clutches. Sometimes I run duals, sometimes a single.

I'm thinking about replacing the DXLs with Max-Torques. The DXLs work great, of course, but I'm tired of changing clutch oil, and would like to use a legitimate vintage clutch.

I would get the Max-Torque model with 3 shoes, 3 springs per shoe, and 10-tooth inboard sprocket. Jim Donovan says that with orange springs, it will engage around 6,000 rpm. If he grinds flats onto the shoes, add another 600 rpm. Questions:

1. Would this clutch be considered a legitimate vintage component?

2. Is 6,000 - 6,600 rpm a reasonable engagement speed for Mc101s?

3. I would like to hear any comments (positive or negative) and/or suggestions from anyone who has used this clutch.

Phil Rockwell

Gary Wlodarsky · Post by **Gary Wlodarsky** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 12:05 am

Phil...

thats what we run on our twin 101 Chaparral...I guess it's about as close to vintage as you can get today.,,,set up up by Jim, and yes, they work great and are trouble free......only dif is we run outboards .....

Gary

steveohara · Post by **steveohara** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:13 am

Let's see, the Max Torque currently offered for sale was designed and manufactured sometime in the last 5 years and it bears no resemblance to the Max Torque clutch of the 60s, and the DXL first came out in 1976 and folks run them just as originally designed but the modern Max Torque is "vintage" and the DXL isn't????

So if Horstman makes a complete new clutch and calls it a Rev Grip does that make it "vintage" too just because it has the same name as the 60s version?

Mind you, I am not criticizing the efforts of Jim and Max Torque to support vintage karting, they are making a fine product that has a place in the vintage karting world... I just have a tough time understanding the logic of calling a NEW clutch "vintage" while an old 1976 clutch is frowned on or outright banned by some groups even though it can be bought for half the price of the NEW clutch.
WHY?
Steve O'Hara

Gary Wlodarsky · Post by **Gary Wlodarsky** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:36 am

Steve...

I'd love to run DXLs, but I'm told by the rules of VKA (and thats what we run in the Midwest),""no DXLs""......so why fight it, just like the new tire rules....thats what rules are for...or do we just start making our own???????

Jim has done a fantastic job of filling a hole.....a good quality dry clutch without having to searh, pay premium prices(""rare ,vintage, hard to find"" ) and rebuild old pieces......

and the key was ..""it came out in 1976""...way to late for use on any rear kart????

this vintage karting sure is fun, but complicated sometimes.......

gw

ted johnson · Post by **ted johnson** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:21 am

I've been running the latest Max Torque for some time on my single 101. It's a good unit. It's set at about 6500 engagement. Except for the stronger components, it's pretty vintage in design; very simple, no oil, and a beast to change springs, unless you build one of Jim D.'s changeout tools!

louie figone · Post by **louie figone** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 11:46 am

Phil,

The new Max-Torque clutch is allowed as a vintage clutch at VKA events in the rear engine classes, it is a shoe clutch. Oil clutches with shoes are allowed in the rear engine classes also. Disc clutches are not allowed in the rear engine classes but are allowed in the sidewinder classes. The drums for the new Max-Torque clutch are interchangable with the old two shoe Max-Torque. The Max-Torque clutch is a good strong reliable clutch. Jim has worked hard to bring a vintage type clutch to the market that works and he is usually at all major events to support the karters. You won't go wrong with that clutch.

Louie

Danny Morris · Post by **Danny Morris** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:06 pm

The Max-Torque is a shoe clutch which is vintage in design and appearance. It's not quite the leap to a disc clutch. Shoe clutch=vintage in my opinion. I have Max Torques on my 101s and they work great so far. I think it's a great improvement of a vintage part by a company that has been there from the beginning of karting. Aside from that, Jim really supports us and will take time out to help. Great customer service you don't see every day.

Post by **Jeff Campbell** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:54 pm

Phil,
I ran my dual rear Chaparral with MC101s most of last year and this year with the new Max-Torque clutches. They were set up with the orange springs and flats ground on the shoes. I run the outboard clutches since I can not run outboard clutches with my setup, look at how close you can move your sprocket hub in before assuming an inboard clutch will work. Also, you can make a choice between a 9T or 10T drum. I run the 9T drum so I can run a small rear sprocket ... for extra ground clearance (I have never lost a sprocket/chain, even with off-road excursions, lol!!!) .. the 9T drum has a very thin bushing, but it does seem to hold up decent. The springs will eventually break from fatigue, but should last 5-7 events based on my experience alone. Jim might have a different opinion, but I would suggest replacing the springs after so many events as preventative maintenance. I ran 6-7 events on my clutches with ZERO maintenance, didn't touch them, no messing with clutch oil or adjusting it ... with duals this is a big reduction in at track wrenching. The engagement speed was a huge improvement over a Rev-Grip which is basically direct drive after leaving the start grid. The engagement speed is a tad below ideal for a MC101, but that is based on running Dunlop SL4 tires, with the hard vintage tire rules for next year on rear engine karts it will be much easier to get wheel spin out of the turns and the engines will pull up to power band much quicker. Jim's clutch is a high quality product, with a CNC machined hub, it really is worth every penny.

In response to the side discussion here....DXL's are vintage correct for karts in the same production era, but rear engine karts were predominate prior to the arrival of the DXL disc clutch. Oil bath shoe clutches were routinely run on rear engine karts during the later years of rear engine kart popularity. Also before those oil bath shoe clutches showed up, there were many dry shoe clutch conversion systems available for converting to an oil bath. IMO, defining "rules" for vintage karting always requires accepting a compromise of history in order to have a sensible number of running classes at events .. the kart shows of course do not have to bend to such compromise.

Jeff

Tom Smith · Post by **Tom Smith** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 11:30 pm

Quote Jeff Campbell,
I run the outboard clutches since I can not run outboard clutches with my setup, look at how close you can move your sprocket hub in before assuming an inboard clutch will work.
Most of us know you meant you can't run inboard clutches.
Phil said he runs DXL clutches now so he is already running inboard clutches.
As far as the new Max-Torque 3 shoe clutch being vintage, it isn't. The 2 shoe and quad-shoe Max-Torque clutches are the vintage ones.
I know Jim also makes his new clutches with 11 and 12 tooth sprockets because he sent me some to try.
They are a tad larger on the OD than the original drums were because they are made out of slightly thicker steel, and in my case just enough larger to rub on underside of the chain-guards. It's always something.
Phil, if you decide to use the new style Max-Torque clutches (I would unless it was one of the Hartman's own karts, that would be like putting Hartman clutches on a Max-Torque Special kart!) be sure and get a puller Jim makes for them.

Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Re: Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Re: Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Re: Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Re: Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Re: Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Re: Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Re: Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque

Re: Replace DXL clutch with Max-Torque