As I get more into the racing aspect of karting, I’ve tried to understand every part of the go-kart. Even though there’s a lot of technical stuff to learn, I’ve focused more on how to make the kart go faster. That’s where a go-kart clutch comes.
Many go-karts use clutches or torque converters, while others (namely Rotax karts) implement a direct drive system. A go-kart clutch allows the go-kart’s wheels to roll by getting power from the engine and transmitting it to the wheels. Shifter karts have a hand clutch, which you’ll have to use to start the engine. Remember that the clutches used in karting are not like car clutches.
That said, the way the go-kart clutches work isn’t that simple. So, let’s look at how a go-kart clutch works and how you can maintain it.
Why Is a Clutch Needed on a Go-Kart?
Before I tell you about the ins and outs of the clutch, let’s first examine why go-karts need them. For starters, not every kart has a clutch, but most rental and racing go-karts utilize clutches.
While a clutch isn’t necessary for every go-kart, many racers decide to add a centrifugal clutch to their vehicles. That’s because they are the best at transmitting the engine’s power to the wheel at high speeds. And, we all know that you need to be pretty fast to be competitive in go-karting.
There are also direct-drive go-karts that directly connect the engine to the wheels. But, most karts use a centrifugal clutch or a torque converter.
Torque converters are better for lower torque ranges, and they are not damaged as easily. Though, this makes them a bad choice for racing karts. So, if you know that you’ll be running your go-kart on high RPM, make sure to add a centrifugal clutch to it.
That said, let’s see how the clutch works.
How Does a Go Kart Clutch Work?
Go-karts use centrifugal clutches. I won’t get into the technical aspect of these; instead, I’ll explain how these work and how they get the wheels of your kart moving.
As their name suggests, centrifugal clutches utilize centrifuge forces to function. Basically, the clutch is connected to the engine. Once you start the engine, the inner part of the clutch begins spinning around, and it expands. When it reaches the outer part of the clutch, the whole device starts spinning. And, since it’s connected to the wheels, they also spin.
When the engine is idling, the clutch is disengaged; this means that the kart doesn’t move. As you use the gas pedal, the RPM begin increasing until the clutch is engaged. Most clutches will fully engage at 1800 RPM.
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