Reliability of 4 cycle clutch and gearboxes

JL Hoot clutch

Does any one know were I could find a new or used JL hoot clutch and clutch cover.
because my clutch cover broke and my clutch has less grip, it has ground down so need to replace them both.

I got the old style JL Hoot last summer. This has the straight cut gears and the plugs to fill and drain the box. I have been looking for a replacement clutch and bell also, but I have not been able to locate any. My original clutch still works great. I decided to get a new clutch the only way I could find by buying the replacement Hoot gearbox complete for a backup. The clutch from this box does not fit the old style box because all the gears in the replacement box are angle cut. The new box also does not have drain and fill plugs. The gearbox casings otherwise look identical. Here is a shot of the clutch and main gear from the new box...

66
 

Attachments

  • P6120040.jpg
    P6120040.jpg
    126.7 KB · Views: 213
JL hoot gearbox

thanks for the info
one thing
were did you get the JL box at?
And how much?
 
Hi Helldog,

I bought the replacement gearbox from BGF through eBay for $69. He still has them listed. 3 days shipping from California to Massachusetts. Very well packed. I bought the full kit from him last summer. So far, no complaints...

66
 
My Five Flags bike has the DAX style gearbox. Large is right... it's tiny. That's why I didn't even realize I had one until after it was broken; none of the gearboxes I had seen on this site were that compact. Apparently it was supposed to come with gear oil, but it didn't. Thankfully, it was covered under warranty (Shoulda been since there was no mention of the gearbox in the owner's manual, it was all about the engine).

How do I know when to change / top-off the gear oil?? Is it timed, or should I just wait to hear some noise?
 
So, how do you lube it? Take it apart and use grease?

It comes disassembled without any lube. Here's a quote from a vendor on how to lube the box. I am going to install fill and drain plugs on my box and use gearoil for the lube. I will also vent the fill plug like the old style gearbox.

"3 Pack the gearbox with grease and press the centrifugal clutch driven unit spring side down onto the engine's output shaft. Then place the bell over the clutch and fasten with the hardware provided.
4 Press the center gear onto the jackshaft. then place the thinner washer over the center gear.
5 Add engine oil or automatic transmission fluid to the grease and seal the cover with permatex"

66
 
Help! Grubee GB running very hot

Since I sealed my Grubee GB and put a drain plug in and filled it with 50/50 gear lube & engine honey it has started slipping badly. It also gets very hot - like too hot to touch which must be heat from the friction of the slipping clutch. HoughMade says that the suppliers website says that it's normal for the clutch to slip for a while but it should stop after a while. It has been slipping for 20 kms now and I'm about to do a high speed 20 km run down the highway. I noticed it wasn't quite as bad this evening as this morning but I'll know tonight how bad the problem is. My max speed with a 44T sprocket should be 30mph but this afternoon it was only 24 mph so that means the clutch is slipping quite a bit at peak revs. I'll take it slowly and see what happens and I've had to push it up hills it used to handle cos I can't bear the slipping. Has anyone got any experience of this or any recommendations? I'd hate to go back to lithium grease cos I did such a good job of the sealed GB and drain plug but I'm scared of wrecking my clutch.
 
Irish, I was not happy running a 50/50 mix the gear box runs hotter, slips and is noisy.
I use lithium grease and drill a lube hole. I have one gear box with close to 5,000 mi running a grease/oil mix that I like.

Irish, are you running the stock pipe? If so they are very restrictive drill a hole about 5/16" in the end of the pipe and you will notice a power differance.
 
Irish, I was not happy running a 50/50 mix the gear box runs hotter, slips and is noisy.
I use lithium grease and drill a lube hole. I have one gear box with close to 5,000 mi running a grease/oil mix that I like.

Irish, are you running the stock pipe? If so they are very restrictive drill a hole about 5/16" in the end of the pipe and you will notice a power differance.

Thanks Nsideous, that is my experience too but I'm easily swayed by the other 4-stroke guys on the forum and switched to wet GB from lithium grease. Someone said it probably runs hotter cos oil is a better transferer of heat than lithium grease which is true but I suspect the very hot GB is caused by slipping clutch. My new drain hole is at the bottom and going back to grease is looking more likely - just done 20 kms down the freeway after doing 20 kms last night and although less slipping it is still slipping and top speed is down from 50 km\hr to 45 km\hr so it's still slipping. Friction = Heat I reckon. All that lovely silicon sealant and drain plug which I'm thinking was a waste of time. Wonder how stuffed my clutch is and if I can ever get a new one. Huangsheng almost certainly can't take a Honda clutch - anyone know about this? there are no Huangsheng after parts here. Nsideous please tell me what is your exact grease/oil mix & type of grease & oil and could you ever attach a picture of your lube hole?
I'm running a full length motorcycle exhaust pipe - see attached picture - the vent hole is that small nipple you see at the end of the silencer. I have the shorther pipe that came with the kit as well but haven't used it. Is that what you mean by stock pipe? To me a stock pipe is something you hit cattle with. Thanks for your valuable experience and advice - it confirms my own experience and I find it really helpfull.
 

Attachments

  • Fosscati FG4-48.jpg
    Fosscati FG4-48.jpg
    186.6 KB · Views: 196
Last edited by a moderator:
Irish, I was talking about the pipe that came with the kit but if your long pipe has the little exit hole I would think it might be just as restrictive as the stock pipe. The hole is just something you might consider I find it makes a big difference.

The grease/oil mix is packing the gear box with grease and adding a few squirts of oil through my lube hole. The first mix was synthetic grease and oil.

I don't have time now but will try and post some pictures tonight.
 
Back
Top