Clutch Slippage


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Posted by Will (in IL) on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 12:06:58 :

OK, I’m looking for some clutch advice. It seems I managed to slip the new (fresh rebuilt) clutch I just put in the M when I went through the drivetrain.

I went to the MIJC annual cleanup weekend at Duke's Offroad Ranch, although we ended up cold and wet we got a little wheeling in. I’ve got to tell you, the poor turning radius of the front axle with the tracta joint makes for some frustrating short turning attempts in sloppy slick mud. One attempt to be the first up an off shoot trail ended up in me giving up the short turn attempt, but even the one Jeep that did make the turn didn’t make it up the trail. The other short turn ended in me winching my front end around a tree to make the corner.

Now once I winched myself around the corner it was time to attach the hill. After the first attempt sent me sliding off towards some trees, I went for it a second time. Made it, but not after a lot or RPMs (5 to 6K) and steering wheel work to keep forward momentum. Once at the top, I realized my cooling problem still exists even after last year’s attempt to fix it by speeding the water pump back up to stock speed, so I left her running to cool down and headed to watch the Jeeps make it up.

Well when we climbed back in the truck, I noticed a little smoke in the air and the tell tell odor of the clutch. I never noticed any slippage, and had no problems, although with the onset of heavier rain this was the end of the trail riding. At the end of the day I ended up pulling out several of the tow vehicles and noticed nothing unusual.

So, I’m sure I have a problem. Why is my clutch slipping at these high RPMs? It seems the wheels are getting plenty of slippage. I know I hit the rev limiter a time or two and let off the throttle a little, but Jon said he thought I bogged down a little. At these high RPM speeds, the truck in 2nd gear and Low Range, the 5.83’s and the Huge heave 39.5” IROKs and MRW wheels, am I just overloading the clutch? Oh, and yes when I put her back together, the clutch fork was allowing the throughout bearing to completely let the clutch engage.

The clutch is an 11”, and was a “performance” built version by the guys at Brake & Clutch Exchange in Springfield IL.

Any suggestions?
Will



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