Clutch disc with spring center

[old skool]

Hello,

I am rebuilding my trans, flywheel and engine. I was going to buy a new clutch disc. What are the advantages of a "spring center type disc"? All the ones I have seen are plain. What do the springs do?

Marty

[columbiA]

The compression springs in the hub & the wafer springs behind the clutch facings make for a smoother engaging clutch.I always throw away the old style solid centre discs no mater how good they look.

[CWPASADENA]

Originally Posted by columbiA

The compression springs in the hub & the wafer springs behind the clutch facings make for a smoother engaging clutch.I always throw away the old style solid centre discs no mater how good they look.

I AGREE!!!!!!!

I have been using the later style clutch discs for more then 50 years. They work much better then the old style solid discs.

CW

[ScottNW/Ohio]

"Solid" clutch discs are usually cheaper, but you will "pay" in the end with things like chatter when engaging, vibration, and extra wear on the input shaft.
Buy the spring loaded disc.

[Rowdy]

With the light weight and low horsepower of the A, the spring center is not much of an advantage. Most use them anyway. I had some solid center clutches relined several years ago and also have one NOS solid center. I likely will not use them, but have them put up for possible use in the future. Rod

[bogdonj]

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Just started using this one and enjoying it. Didn't cost that much more than the original style.

[Jim Brierley]

I run performance engines, OHV, etc. I've had a couple of spring type discs break the springs. Fortunately for me they didn't cause a problem but I have seen them break and cause the clutch to not-release. This may not be a problem with a stock or near stock engine???

[Benson]

I used several solid hub disks 35 or 40 years ago. Problem was that the rebuilders put on new linings but forgot to drill out the holes and use oversize rivets to fasten the hubs .

The holes for the revits are usually "oblong" after so much use. At least the that is how the ones I tried years ago were. The result is the hub moves around, chatters and finally breaks off the rivets.

Clue of pending failure is that after running them a short time, you will see rust "dust" (closely related to "surface rust" I have been told ) around the hub and rivets caused as the hub and disk rub together.

[Tom Endy]

The clutch disk shown in post number 6 by Bogdonj is what most Model A suppliers today are selling. However, I have seen several of these fail due to one of the springs dislodging from a mounting slot and jamming the clutch. The springs are not held in place by much, they look to be held in place only by their own tension. You can easily knock one out with a nominal tap with a small hammer.

Years ago there was a company called Nova that made a superior clutch. However, they are no longer in business. The attached photo here shows one. Note that there is a flange around each spring. There are also flanges on the back side. The flanges will prevent the springs from dislodging. I have picked up several Nova clutch disks at swap meets for a few dollars and bead blasted them and measured the thickness. If they are not soaked in oil and the thickness is within spec they are good to use. One has been in my Victoria for at least 10,000 miles.

Recently I noticed a fellow club member bought a new clutch disk from Bratton and it was made similar to the Nova clutch with the spring retainer flanges. I don't know who the mfg is, but I would certainly go that route if I was in need of a new clutch disk.

Tom Endy

[ford1]

most solid disk clutches used to day are for heavy duty trucks , they break the spring type

[old skool]

Thanks for the info guys!

Marty

[Bob C]

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