centrifugal clutch bearing has died

[iron_monkey]

Just a heads up for anybody thinking of buying a centrifugal clutch kit, the one way bearing of my centrifugal clutch has died. The "one wayness" of it is mostly gone, sometimes it kicks in but most of the time it doesnt.

Whenever engine is idling the bearing would jam abit and stall it, and then trying to start the engine again is a pain as the bearing hardly latches on.

Disassembled it and can find nothing out of the ordinary though. Perhaps we should have reinstalled the spring holding the bearing casing when I somehow found it outside the clutch doing an inspection. Clutch was still working as normal though, then it slowly eroded itself.

Bottom line, a bad design? Should have a normal roller bearing where the casing is permanently encasing the bearings instead of this primitive pseudo bearing.

 

[Mountainman]

iron monkey

how long did that thing last ??

local bearing store should have replacement -- or Napa Auto possibly ??

ride that thing

 

[iron_monkey]

lasted for six months.

local bearing store should have replacement -- or Napa Auto possibly ??

I highly doubt I can find a normal one-way roller bearing out there that has a suitable outer diameter, inner diameter, and width.

The thing with this primitive bearing is that it uses grooves in the clutch casing, as well as the bearing casing, to position the rollers. (The bearing casing also serves to keep the rollers spaced apart). The bearing casing is only held on to the clutch casing by a spring (which spun out).
Im guessing the (really small/subtle)grooves were worn out, as theres nothing wrong with the bearing casing or the rollers I can see.

Im still not sure from examining it, what makes these bearing "one way". Somewhat magic to me.

 

[Mountainman]

I could be wrong
but I am thinking that most use a common found bearing
it's amazing what those bearning stores have !!
or can order fast
MM

 

[fetor56]

I could be wrong
but I am thinking that most use a common found bearing
it's amazing what those bearning stores have !!
or can order fast
MM

Absolutely....it surprised me just how many bearing & the diversity of bearing this store i tried had.
Not only bearings but other neat stuff too..........it's worth a try.

 

[Mountainman]

if fetor56 and I were to build our own engines

Absolutely....it surprised me just how many bearing & the diversity of bearing this store i tried had.
Not only bearings but other neat stuff too..........it's worth a try.

if fetor and I were to build our own engines
before getting started
we would find already on hand ((common in stock)) bearings that will fit our needs
not wanting anything under sized
but at least up to our specs or larger

this is way - way - way less expensive that having someone make special to size bearnings

engineers when developing a product try their very best to use easy to find parts
so as to hold the cost down

thinking that even the Space Shuttle -- has ((not many)) custom made bearnings

MM

 

[lordoflightaz]

About that spring. Thread elsewhere on it. http://motorbicycling.com/f4/help-centrifugal-clutch-7111-3.html#post74983

 

[Mountainman]

Absolutely....it surprised me just how many bearing & the diversity of bearing this store i tried had.
Not only bearings but other neat stuff too..........it's worth a try.

in the old days the City would send me to pick up parts at these places
seems Winn's Bearning was a very large store in San Diego
wow -- that place had everyTHING
one THING that I noticed while in there
many large boats are docked in San Diego
the one's repairing these boat THINGS
have to repair some pretty complicated THINGS at times
making their own new parts at times
some of these boats are very old -- new THINGS often not available
they seemed to find what they wanted at Winn's....

ride that (((large boat))) THING ----- slide it sideways !!!

 

[iron_monkey]

About that spring. Thread elsewhere on it. http://motorbicycling.com/f4/help-centrifugal-clutch-7111-3.html#post74983

Thats quite interesting, so the spring is important to ensure its one way. But the clutch would work without the spring in my experience, and even one poster in that thread confirms this.

Maybe I should try reinstall the spring back on and see if something magical happens.


Also, anybody who has trouble understanding my description of the bearing can look at the large and comprehensive piccies of the clutch parts on that thread as well.

 

[lordoflightaz]

I can't tell you if the clutch worked without the spring, I just can't pull start the engine. I have to assume it would though.