GTR Vs Can-Am Clutch

[BliarOut]

I am still contemplating Ultima ownership. I was at the factory open day and I found the clutch on the GTR a little heavy (Nasty case of bikers knee!) but that on the Can-Am was alright.

What's the difference, and can you retro fit whatever it is that makes the Can-Am's lighter?

[ultimasimon]

Firstly with this much power you need a very heavy duty clutch plate - its a man's clutch

Also I believe that there are new multiplate clutches available which can handle the power and are much lighter on the foot. I presume this is what is fitted to the Canam you tried. As far as I am aware these are a very recent development.

Some people have changed the master cylinder to a slightly larger one, with uprated capacity to good affect.

Mine is so heavy that you have to keep finding nuetal and taking your foot off when driving, but this is a small price to pay as it constantly reminds you of what is sitting behind

[bluesatin]

The clutch is from a 996 GT3 Porsche. I fouind mine heavy when the car was new but this soon loosened. I have replaced the clutch once and have never found it to be that heavy.

[davefiddes]

Isn't the Ultima Can-Am demonstrator fitted with a Getrag gearbox (central cable gearshift) and the GTR Demonstrator with a G50? Presumably these will have different clutches??

Changing the master cylinder was definitely a good idea for my G50/03. Much lighter pedal, easier to drive and less likely to break the mechanics of the clutch.

[BliarOut]

Thanks, I think that may well be it... Like I said, I have a bit of a dodgy knee due to a big off on a bike. It's alright normally, but a stiff clutch and an extended leg brings muscles into play that I don't have. Getrag's are no bother as I already have one of them in my Porker.

Excellent, I like left hand change anyway

[shithotfast]

I have had a mulitplate clutch since the start. Twin or triple plates. Started with a triple TITON clutch which was fine except it was "on" or "off" so it was a case of two black lines or stall it. Then went to a twin plate which is great. The upside is NO slip regardless or what motor you run, and WONT break. they also have the advantage of minimal travel so you could fit any size cly to make it as light as you would want. Lighter than the load pedal if you wanted! I have to fit a stop behind the clutch pedal to stop overstroking. The 911 bits (engage bar etc) come out and you fit a race bearing.

The man who knows who helped me was:
Bruce Chambers
Grand Prix Racewear
Unit 14, Silverstone Circuit
Towcester
Northants NN12 8TL

Tel. + (44) 1327 855585
Fax + (44) 1327 855685
hope this helps!

[andygtt]

Gardner douglas do a triple plate clutch for the chevy to G50 box already..... its HUGELLY lighter than any single plate clutch in an Ultima that I have come across (inc GT3 one) and has much less travel.

Having done quite a lot of research into this for my new car (I'm using a GT3 box) with clutch specialists I am going to go to Gardner.... you have to buy the lot though as the flywheel, adapter plate and starter are all different.

I'd definatelly recomend sitting in their demo T70.

Andy
BTW it can take 700+ftlb

[davefiddes]

Sounds like an interesting setup. Have you had a drive of a T70 with this clutch? What it reasonably progressive or does it suffer the sharpness that SHF was talking about?

[andygtt]

I havn't driven it but as the travel is so small I suspect it can't fail to seem to be an on/off switch.

Have been driven in it though and Andy B had no problems or judder pulling away slowly... but then he did race the car.