Tony Schumann
New Member
I think I will return mine so you can check it out. Would you please send me the correct mailing address. Only has about 5 miles on it.The thin shoes aren't the problem. The clutch was designed to work with metal to metal contact and the material on the shoes is to help "seat" the clutch shoes into the hub.
My Whizzer that pulls "wheelies" only has a very thin layer of material on the shoes.
In order for the clutch to work correctly, 2 items need to be in order, first the bearing sleeve must be replaced with a Rockwell rated 58 sleeve, and the shoes must be made to conture the inside of the hub.
The sleeve can be replaced for approx. $115.00 [my rate], or you can order a sleeve and have a machine shop install it. The sleeve is 38.5 MM long, I.D. of 25 MM, and the O.D. of 30 MM, and must be rated at Rockwell 58.
Best way to mate the shoes inside the hub is to place front wheel against a barrier [tree, house, etc] and open the throttle untill the clutch gets hot. Take clutch apart and sand the glazed spots on each shoe [use a Dremel with a sanding drum]. Do this about 3 times and the shoes will contact the hub more and slip less.
Have fun,
Tony SchumannHi Everyone,
I received 51 emails and a couple of personal messages while I was at Dawson Springs, KY, and 39 of them were about the automatic clutch. It is much easier for me to simply write a post to answer all the questions.
My NE powered Whizzer out ran EVERY Whizzer [except one] entered in the drag races. Let me say that again, almost EVERY Whizzer entered, and the only one I didn't out run was Kenny Thomas's because I also rode his modified Whizzer during the event. It wasn't possible to run the 2 bikes against each other because I rode both of them in the races [hard to race myself].
MY NE powered Whizzer just rewrote the history books, because it easily out paced the OHV Whizzers during the event. Let me mention this once again, the OHV Whizzers entered could not beat my "flat head" motor.
My Whizzer was using the STOCK Whizzer automatic clutch, while others used, manual, comet torque converters, go cart clutches, and vintage automatic clutches. My Whizzer managed to "spin" the rear tire and throw dirt several feet behind me, and started to lift the front wheel as the tire found traction.
Having said all that, remember the Whizzer automatic clutch is only guaranteed if using on a completely stock Whizzer motorbike [guess I voided my warranty].
I will now attempt to answer all the questions sent my way. The clutch should have several washers included to mount the clutch to the arm. It should have a large washer to hold the two sections of the clutch together. For a short time Whizzer used a large [rubber type] flexable washer to hold the halves together, and was not a spacer to hold the belt guard away from the clutch as one owner suggested. And if the large washer isn't used the clutch halves can drift apart. The spacers are used to align the clutch & belts. The spacers must be used, or the bearings will rub against the clutch arm or the large washer will spin with the clutch [not a good plan]. Use the correct amount of spacers[washers] between the large washer and the small outer bearing, so that the clutch doesn't touch the large washer, use a washerbetween the clutch and the arm to space the clutch away from the raised section of the arm. If the belts are not running straight, it is sometimes necessary to grind a small portion of the raised section of the clutch mounting arm to move the clutch slightly inward. Don't get carried away grinding the raised area on the arm so that it weakens it. I usually grind approx 1/8" [no more] from the arm to aid belt alignment.
When the clutch is enguaged only the two smaller bearings are in use, and the clutch spins as one unit. When running slow the clutch uses the inner bearing race and the needle bearings. As long as the needle bearings have grease [I use hi speed wheel bearing grease] the clutch should last a long time.
Many of the emails expressed concern about the way the clutch enguages, I just don't know what to say about that anymore. I have tried every known version of the automatic clutch, made by several different companies, and I like the Whizzer version best of all. Some of the clutches I have tested, "lock" all of a sudden, and tend to drag the motor down, but it appears many expect that type of enguagement. The Whizzer clutch "slides" into lock, and allows the motor to maintain its RPM level, but it does lock completely [ask all who lost at the drag races against the stock Whizzer clutch].
Many asked if it is normal for the clutch to slip during the break-in period.
The answer is "yes", and I will gladly explain how to speed up the break-in process. When the clutch is new, and the shoes & drum are getting to know each other, only 15% of the shoe surface is touching the drum. As the break-in process continues more of the shoe surface will contact the hub, but I don't like to wait [approx. 50 miles]. I am going to tell you how I do it, but check with your dealer to make sure my method doesn't void your warranty. After the first 10 to 15 miles, I apply the brakes, rev the motor for a few moments. I then remove the clutch, and using a Dremel grinder, I remove all the "glazed" areas on the shoes. I install the clutch and repeat the process several times untill 90 to 95% of the shoes are contacting the drum. The end result is a clutch that "locks" completely at approx 2200 RPMs.
Because of my mis-understanding of the Whizzer clutch warranty, I will no longer offer the clutch for sale with a warranty. If used on a non-stock Whizzer motor the warranty is void, and I have no way of knowing if used on a stock Whizzer or not. I am convinced the clutch is a great unit and works better on a modified motor, but at $236.00 I can't afford to cover the warranty. I will also state "I have never had a Whizzer clutch fail on any of my bikes, ever".
I have developed a special modification for the Whizzer clutch [after it is out of warranty], and hope to offer it soon to enhance the low speed operation of the clutch.
I hope I answered every question, if not, simply ask again.
Have fun,
Quenton
I think I will return mine to have it checked out. Would you please send me the correct mailing address.I only have about miles on mine.Took it apart to sand the shoes but was afraid I would of getting dirt in the bearings.
I think I will return my auto clutch for you to check out, only have about 5 miles on it. I took it apart to sand the shoes but was afraid of getting dirt in the bearings. Would you send me the correct mailing address? I am not sure of the reassembly.Hi Everyone,
I received 51 emails and a couple of personal messages while I was at Dawson Springs, KY, and 39 of them were about the automatic clutch. It is much easier for me to simply write a post to answer all the questions.
My NE powered Whizzer out ran EVERY Whizzer [except one] entered in the drag races. Let me say that again, almost EVERY Whizzer entered, and the only one I didn't out run was Kenny Thomas's because I also rode his modified Whizzer during the event. It wasn't possible to run the 2 bikes against each other because I rode both of them in the races [hard to race myself].
MY NE powered Whizzer just rewrote the history books, because it easily out paced the OHV Whizzers during the event. Let me mention this once again, the OHV Whizzers entered could not beat my "flat head" motor.
My Whizzer was using the STOCK Whizzer automatic clutch, while others used, manual, comet torque converters, go cart clutches, and vintage automatic clutches. My Whizzer managed to "spin" the rear tire and throw dirt several feet behind me, and started to lift the front wheel as the tire found traction.
Having said all that, remember the Whizzer automatic clutch is only guaranteed if using on a completely stock Whizzer motorbike [guess I voided my warranty].
I will now attempt to answer all the questions sent my way. The clutch should have several washers included to mount the clutch to the arm. It should have a large washer to hold the two sections of the clutch together. For a short time Whizzer used a large [rubber type] flexable washer to hold the halves together, and was not a spacer to hold the belt guard away from the clutch as one owner suggested. And if the large washer isn't used the clutch halves can drift apart. The spacers are used to align the clutch & belts. The spacers must be used, or the bearings will rub against the clutch arm or the large washer will spin with the clutch [not a good plan]. Use the correct amount of spacers[washers] between the large washer and the small outer bearing, so that the clutch doesn't touch the large washer, use a washerbetween the clutch and the arm to space the clutch away from the raised section of the arm. If the belts are not running straight, it is sometimes necessary to grind a small portion of the raised section of the clutch mounting arm to move the clutch slightly inward. Don't get carried away grinding the raised area on the arm so that it weakens it. I usually grind approx 1/8" [no more] from the arm to aid belt alignment.
When the clutch is enguaged only the two smaller bearings are in use, and the clutch spins as one unit. When running slow the clutch uses the inner bearing race and the needle bearings. As long as the needle bearings have grease [I use hi speed wheel bearing grease] the clutch should last a long time.
Many of the emails expressed concern about the way the clutch enguages, I just don't know what to say about that anymore. I have tried every known version of the automatic clutch, made by several different companies, and I like the Whizzer version best of all. Some of the clutches I have tested, "lock" all of a sudden, and tend to drag the motor down, but it appears many expect that type of enguagement. The Whizzer clutch "slides" into lock, and allows the motor to maintain its RPM level, but it does lock completely [ask all who lost at the drag races against the stock Whizzer clutch].
Many asked if it is normal for the clutch to slip during the break-in period.
The answer is "yes", and I will gladly explain how to speed up the break-in process. When the clutch is new, and the shoes & drum are getting to know each other, only 15% of the shoe surface is touching the drum. As the break-in process continues more of the shoe surface will contact the hub, but I don't like to wait [approx. 50 miles]. I am going to tell you how I do it, but check with your dealer to make sure my method doesn't void your warranty. After the first 10 to 15 miles, I apply the brakes, rev the motor for a few moments. I then remove the clutch, and using a Dremel grinder, I remove all the "glazed" areas on the shoes. I install the clutch and repeat the process several times untill 90 to 95% of the shoes are contacting the drum. The end result is a clutch that "locks" completely at approx 2200 RPMs.
Because of my mis-understanding of the Whizzer clutch warranty, I will no longer offer the clutch for sale with a warranty. If used on a non-stock Whizzer motor the warranty is void, and I have no way of knowing if used on a stock Whizzer or not. I am convinced the clutch is a great unit and works better on a modified motor, but at $236.00 I can't afford to cover the warranty. I will also state "I have never had a Whizzer clutch fail on any of my bikes, ever".
I have developed a special modification for the Whizzer clutch [after it is out of warranty], and hope to offer it soon to enhance the low speed operation of the clutch.
I hope I answered every question, if not, simply ask again.
Have fun,
Quenton
