 |
|
|
| General Questions
Rekluse General
Questions |
What is an automatic Clutch?
An automatic clutch is "automatically" disengaged when
the engine is at idle or off. When the throttle is
applied and engine speed increases, the clutch becomes
engaged automatically. An automatic clutch does
not change the way you shift gears; it simply prevents
the engine from stalling by automatically disengaging.
How does it work?
A traditional manual clutch uses springs to push a
pressure plate into the clutch disks to keep the clutch
always engaged until the rider pulls in the clutch
lever, pushing the pressure plate away from the clutch
disks to manually disengage the clutch.
An automatic clutch keeps the pressure plate away from
the clutch disks when the engine is off or at idle. When
the throttle is applied and the engine speed increases,
a centrifugal device within the clutch expands, engaging
the clutch disks.
How will it affect my riding?
For the motocross rider/racer, the bottom line is that
you will shorten your lap times. You will put down
better traction, leading to more efficient and
ultimately faster cornering. By decreasing wheelspin and
increasing traction, your launches off the line will
improve substantially--putting you at or near the front
of the pack.
For the EXP rider and/or offroad racer, you will be able
to navigate technical sections much easier than before.
The Rekluse Clutch will eliminate the necessity of
modulating the clutch in tight terrain, which will allow
you to concentrate on the terrain in front of you; this
will enable you to get better traction and develop
better throttle control. Plus--because the Rekluse
Clutch will disengage when your engine speed drops to
idle--stalling will be a thing of the past. You'll be
able to ride longer, faster, and with less fatigue than
ever before.
Do I have to use the clutch
lever?
You have the option of using the clutch lever at any
time, but it is not necessary.
Can I still use my clutch lever
like normal?
Yes. The manual override characteristics of the Rekluse
Clutches differ by product. The Core EXP Clutch offers
manual override identical to a conventional clutch. The
z-Start Pro Clutch has a lighter pull at low RPM, then
offers override comparable to a conventional clutch as
RPM increases. The Trail Clutch offers manual override
with a lever effort that is heavier than the stock
clutch pull due to the use of heavy duty clutch springs.
Can I bump-start with an auto
clutch?
All Rekluse automatic clutches can be configured to
bump-start the engine in the event your normal starting
system fails. None of the Rekluse automatic clutches can
be configured for bump-starting quickly and easily
enough to use bump-starting as a regular method for
starting the engine, rather bump-starting can be used to
get you home in the event your normal starting system
fails.
Do I have to modify my existing
clutch parts?
No modification of your existing clutch parts is
necessary with any Rekluse Clutch.
Can I go back to a stock setup?
Yes, due to the fact that no modification to your
existing clutch parts is necessary. Generally, you can
return a bike to stock manual set-up in about 30
minutes. With the addition of a manual mode pressure
plate, the Rekluse Core EXP can be converted from auto
to manual mode and back to auto mode in 5 to 10 minutes
to allow a set-up to best meet your immediate riding
conditions. |
|
|
Comparison of
REKLUSE Clutches |
 |
|
|
|
Comparison of Rekluse
Clutches |
What is the technical
difference between Core EXP and z-Start Pro?
A
z-Start Pro clutch differs from a
Core EXP clutch in
two significant ways: how centrifugal force is generated
and how the clutch lever disengages the clutch.
Centrifugal Force – Balls vs Wedges
A
z-Start Pro clutch uses 24 to 30 ball bearings
(depending on model and configuration) to create
centrifugal force to engage the clutch. The advantages
of ball bearings is that you can add or subtract balls
or even change from a lighter to heavier ball material
to easily change the engagement characteristics of the
clutch. The disadvantage to balls is that they are small
and can be easily dropped when installing or maintaining
the clutch.
A
Core EXP clutch uses 6 "wedges" to create centrifugal
force to engage the clutch. A set of "heavy" wedges is
included in the kit and a set of "light" wedges is
available as an option to change the engagement
characteristics of the clutch.
Disengaging the Clutch – Overcoming Centrifugal Force
vs Overcoming Springs
The
z-Start Pro clutch uses a centrifugal pressure plate
that moves towards the clutch friction disks for
engagement. To manually override the clutch, the clutch
lever pushes against the centrifugal force to disengage
the clutch. At low RPM, the centrifugal force is lower
so the clutch lever pull is light. At higher RPM the
centrifugal forces engage a spring and the clutch lever
pull is similar to a stock clutch.
The
Core EXP clutch uses centrifugal friction disk that
moves towards a spring-loaded pressure plate, similar to
the stock pressure plate, to engage the clutch. With the
Core EXP clutch, there is no centrifugal force device
between the clutch lever and the pressure plate, so
clutch lever feel is just like a stock clutch whether RPMs are low or high. With Core EXP, precise manual
modulation of clutch engagement using the clutch lever
is possible at any RPM.
What is different in a Rekluse
EXP Clutch?
The
Rekluse EXP Clutch is designed to work with
most of your stock clutch components. A single
centrifugal friction disk replaces 3 of the stock
friction plates, converting most clutches from an 8
friction plate clutch to a 6 friction plate clutch.
Heavy-duty clutch springs are included to maintain
adequate clutch clamping force using fewer friction
plates. A Rekluse EXP Clutch can be manually disengaged
with the clutch lever, but the clutch pull is heavier
than the stock clutch.
Why would I need billet
components?
Hard-anodized billet clutch components offer superior
wear characteristics as well as enhanced clutch
performance. For the serious racer or clutch abuser,
hard-anodized billet components will significantly
outlast the stock clutch components. Rekluse billet
clutch components not only provide higher durability but
incorporate improved oil flow which cools the clutch,
reduces clutch fade, and further reduces wear on all
clutch components. |
|
|
Installation, Maintenance,
and Wear |
How hard is it to install?
The rule of thumb is that if you can change
out your clutch plates, you can install any of our
Rekluse Clutches. Detailed instructions are provided
with each kit and are available on our Web site, and
Technical Support is available Monday-Friday from 8-5
Mountain Time.
Will an auto clutch wear my parts faster?
No. Because Rekluse Clutches are more
efficient at clutching than the human hand, your clutch
parts will last as long or longer than with a
conventional clutch.
What maintenance is required?
Periodic check of your Installed Gap is
necessary with your Rekluse Clutch. This is a simple
process that differs by model, but does not take more
than 10 minutes with any Rekluse Clutch.
How much weight does it add?
Depending on the model, between 4 ounces and
12 ounces. Because clutch components spin much slower
than the flywheel, there is little or no "flywheel"
effect created with a Rekluse clutch.
What oil do you recommend?
Let's start with oils we do not recommend. Any oil
formulated for automotive use is not recommended for use
with the z-Start Pro Clutch, Core EXP Clutch, or Rekluse
EXP Clutch, and in general, should not be used in
motorcycle applications. This includes conventional and
synthetic oils formulated for automotive use. Modern
automotive oils do not contain the anti-wear additives
necessary for proper lubrication in a motorcycle engine
and may contain high quantities of friction inhibitors
that can cause excessive clutch slip.
That said, all Rekluse Clutches should work just fine
with the oil you are using in most cases. However, some
riders may find they experience clutch squeal or clutch
chatter or have problems with clutch slip. If you
experience these problems, we recommend trying Shell
Rotella T, a heavy-duty, conventional diesel engine oil.
At Rekluse, we have found Shell Rotella T provides
excellent clutch performance and often eliminates
customer complaints of clutch problems.
Why do we recommend conventional diesel engine oil over
synthetic? In general, we have found conventional oils
perform slightly better at reducing clutch noise vs.
synthetic oils. However, many Rekluse customers get
excellent performance with synthetic oils.
The bottom line: if
your current oil is working fine, keep using it. If
you're hearing some clutch noise or your clutch feels
soft or slips, give the Shell Rotella T a try. |
|
|
