Helix clutch any problems

[sundance002]

Have any of you big power boys had trouble with these clutches?

I have now had to replace my second one it was worn to the rivets, I'm waiting to find out what my options are, but I had covered less than 2k miles on both so no point in replacing like for like. It seems that the pressure plate area could be to small?. Any ideas of what my options are?

TIA
Sundance

[TuxMan]

as far as i,m aware Craig most have been trouble free with much higher milage than 2k !!! only problem i had was the alloy flywheel where the bolts go through the alloy surface was damaged , in the end my engine builder machind a steel ring to go onto the flywheel for the bolts to press onto .

Tux

[Hollowpockets]

I've done 5k on my fidanza and 6-paddle helix and it's been perfect.

Graham

[GTO600]

Craig, is it a 5 paddle or 6 ?

[andygtt]

I did 5k miles on my paddle and it wasnt heavily worn... i was running 25ftlb less than you though but I did use it hard.

I've put the tripple plate back in though as it is so much lighter and takes a lot more torque... not expecting it to last any longer than the paddle though.

[TuxMan]

i wonder if its slipping ? maybe thats whats causing the premature wear !!

[Hollowpockets]

TuxMan said:

i wonder if its slipping ? maybe thats whats causing the premature wear !!

I'd say so, or the release bearing isn't functioning properly.

[TuxMan]

I hope it is i have done 1000 miles in the last 10 days !!!

[Gadgeroonie]

Is it a organic or cerametallic type clutch. Is the pressure plate the stronger type?

[SwankBaton]

Funny you mention Helix clutches.

Mine lasted 3K miles before slipping, im running 400BHP with similar torque, clutch plate sent back and issues where found. Cant go into details on here.

Fitted last August, was yours a similar build / fit date? Wander if they had a bad batch?

[sundance002]

GTO600 said:

Craig, is it a 5 paddle or 6 ?

It was a 5, by the amount of blue it seems to of got very hot. The pressure plate is nackered.

[sundance002]

swankBaton said:

Funny you mention Helix clutches.

Mine lasted 3K miles before slipping, im running 400BHP with similar torque, clutch plate sent back and issues where found. Cant go into details on here.

Fitted last August, was yours a similar build / fit date? Wander if they had a bad batch?

Hi would be very interested to know what the issues where? Mine was probably around that time, it was fitted at Jetstreem on my last rebuild. Could you mail me the issues .
Thanks

[GTO600]

sundance002 said:

GTO600 said:

Craig, is it a 5 paddle or 6 ?

It was a 5, by the amount of blue it seems to of got very hot. The pressure plate is nackered.

I asked because i've been using a 6-paddle & other than the noise etc have had no wear issues, my understanding is that they are rated the same but....

[GTO600]

sundance002 said:

It was a 5, by the amount of blue it seems to of got very hot. The pressure plate is nackered.

Just a thought also that perhaps yours is getting too hot due to the ambient etc, l have ventilated the bell housing on mine, might be worth trying -

[JBliss]

Do helix always upgrade the friction plate when you send in a standard second hand AP racing clutch? Just sent mine in, but need to phone again about the friction plate. Should i ask for 5 paddle or 6?

Edited by JBliss on Monday 25th June 18:35

[sundance002]

GTO600 said:

Just a thought also that perhaps yours is getting too hot due to the ambient etc, l have ventilated the bell housing on mine, might be worth trying -

It could be? I think more likely due to slipping, Just spoke with Helix and they seem to think that these clutches are not supposed to be driven in traffic as they over heat due to slip, Im never in trafic, He also was saying that an organic plate would result in less slip, It's being sent off to Helix for inspection so maybe they can shed more light on the subject.

Might have to look at venting the bell housing.

[sundance002]

JBliss said:

Do helix always upgrade the friction plate when you send in a standard second hand AP racing clutch? Just sent mine in, but need to phone again about the friction plate. Should i ask for 5 paddle or 6?

Edited by JBliss on Monday 25th June 18:35

Yes I believe they do. 5 or 6. Paddle , the 5 is just a compromise between 4 and 6 the more paddles the hotter it will be, which is why I went with 5 not six.

[TuxMan]

Hi Craig I wonder what torque levels you are running ?? Perhaps you have just reached the limit ?? Cannot remember what they are rated at though ??

Tux

[andygtt]

they are rated for less than we run, I know steve used to get slip when his overboosted which shows how on the limit they are hence I've gone back to the triple.

am i right that craig is running around 555ftlb?.

[Hollowpockets]

There is some confusion here with some of these.

I spoke at length with helix when going through the process of upgrading, swankbaton, I think you are running the organic plate which I upgraded to first time round, it's only rated to 460lb/ft and on my car with 470lb/ft it was slipping from new. It's not a paddle type.

The cerametalic paddle clutch is the top one, rated to 550lb/ft, 4,5 or 6 paddles they are all rated to the same.

They told me the only difference was the 6 paddle would handle slow driving in traffic better and would have a longer life because of more material and was what they recommended to me doing about half road half trackday driving.

My car is at 550lb/ft and has not slipped the clutch once in over 5k miles and i don't tend to hold back.

Hope you get it sorted properly this time Craig.