Western PA/Eastern OH Semi Pulling

What is the difference between the old and new lipe clutches that allows so much difference in plate load?

 

The new Lipe's use a single row of large diameter springs in the center of the plate with a total of 12 springs, if I remember correctly. The old ones use a double row around the plate with one row inside of the other for 21 springs this allows you to increase pate load easily by changing the springs. The pressure plate and pressure plate cover are also much thicker to handle more load without breaking. The new ones you have to install the extra springs inside of the original springs and do some machining of the plate and cover to keep them from coil binding. The new castings are lighter and will break if you go to far with plate load after doing the machining to fit the double springs.

 

So its better to use an old lipe clutch plate and cover then a new one? Maybe it would last longer then the new ones for what im doing or would it not matter?

 

what exacly are you doing with it? what kinda power are you makin? I have a lipe 6K plate load and abuse it pretty badly (see video in previous post) makin decent power, and havent had any issues

 

Over 1000hp and drag racing bobtail

My 6k lipe that I have in there now needs to come out and only put it in in 2010. Cant fully disengage it with pedal to the floor. Only use the truck for shows and drag racing so it doesn't get any mileage on it, I'd say easy less then 8000 miles on this clutch. Probably about 50 1/4 mile passes maybe a bit more

 

The old style Lipe is very hard to find, then I only know of one company in the USA rebuilding them with any luck. They end up costing an arm and leg if you can find one that is rebuild-able.

They also have the same problems that I think you're encountering. You either warped or cracked the intermediate plate, I'd bet it is warped. This comes from slipping the clutch to launch off the starting line. I've seen the old style clutches do the same thing, because they both use a cast iron plate.

The reason the sled pullers try to use the old style is because they can raise the plate load to 9200Lbs without cracking the pressure plate cover. Also with the 9200 lb plate load they will last longer before they start slipping due to too much steel being transferred to the ceramic pucks from the plates to the drive discs. Heat kills clutches, the Crower's are designed to be slipped with special friction materials designed to take this abuse without losing their coefficient of friction

 

Wow 9200lb plate load!? sounds like the need for a hydraulic linkage setup lol. Wouldn't be able to slip a 9200 it would be so stiff that if you got it to the floor there would be no easing it up it would just be flying back to the top lol.

So I guess my only option is keep replacing the Lipe's every couple years or less.

 

How did you get to the 1000 hp mark? sounds like fun. About to overhaul a 2ws in a W900 and trying to figure out different combo's that would work in this application.
at what point is driveability and workability compromised?
thanks

 

I'll be rebuilding my 2ws in a few more months just to keep it as my working truck still

 

Pretty easily, custom ecm file, injectors, cam, turbo and im also running a pp box but without the box im still easily over 1000hp. My truck is pretty driveable without the box but it surges a lot with the box on if im trying to do steady throttle it feels like your mashing it and letting off constantly.