2 Stroke Clutch Engagement Speed

[Ilya Leontovich]

Short and simple - what is the desired clutch engagement speed for a Clinton A-400?

Thanks,
Ilya

[Terry Sullivan]

Ilya,
I suspect you might get some crude/rude responses for your question that are making fun of the Clinton's relative lack of RPM. I happen to be fond of the little buggers because we ran them back in the late 50's and I have restored a bunch of them lately.

With a maximum RPM around 3800, you don't have much room to play with. The A400 should idle around 1500, so I would shoot for a minimum of 2000 RPM for an engagement speed. I usually buy the standard MaxTorque clutch for 5/8" shaft. You don't have a choice of enagagement speeds, but it works fine and will last forever.

If you need parts to keep that A400 running, shoot me an email.
terryas@att.net

Clintons forever!

[Ilya Leontovich]

Terry,

My skin is too thick for crude/rude so bring it on
I recently picked up a Simplex Mk II and a friends grandpa graciously parted with a NOS A400 because he didn't have any use for it. The Simplex is old and beat, and I just wanted to throw the little Clinton on there to play before the snow flies and the kart gets blown apart for surgery and paint. I currently have a Clinton D65 chainsaw engine that's getting retrofitted for kart duty, much thanks to Mark Havery. Unfortunately I haven't beat the snow, as it snowed here in Fargo last night, but it all melted - so I still have time!
Thanks for the advice, looks like I'll be picking up a NOS Mercury clutch with 2000 engagement

Ilya

[Terry Sullivan]

I haven't tried a Mercury for many years. Don't spend too much as a new Maxtorque is less than $30

http://www.mfgsupply.com/GoMiniClutchCentMax.html

[Rob Voska]

A400 has a 5/8" shaft. Get a 11 tooth clutch.

[Chris Hamm]

Ilya,
I suspect you might get some crude/rude responses for your question that are making fun of the Clinton's relative lack of RPM. I happen to be fond of the little buggers because we ran them back in the late 50's and I have restored a bunch of them lately.

With a maximum RPM around 3800, you don't have much room to play with. The A400 should idle around 1500, so I would shoot for a minimum of 2000 RPM for an engagement speed. I usually buy the standard MaxTorque clutch for 5/8" shaft. You don't have a choice of enagagement speeds, but it works fine and will last forever.

If you need parts to keep that A400 running, shoot me an email.
terryas@att.net

Clintons forever!

I agree totally with this post. I also started with a Clinton in the late 50's. Great little engine!