5 speed clutch

[mark030358]

Hi,
Anyone have experience of a heavy duty clutch cover and plate. Are they much heavier on the pedal pressure as opposed to the standard units.

cheers
Mark

[Lyn7]

Hi Mark. If you are referring to the Lotus 5 speed box, I have not found the pedal pressure to be unduly heavy. In fact I cannot recall it feeling any different to the 4 speed clutch! i can't speak for any of the other conversions , though.

[The Veg]

No experience here either but I suppose heaviness is relative. In the very small amount of driving I've done following getting my Plus 2 running recently, I'd say that its four-speed clutch is among the lightest I've ever experienced.

[nmauduit]

I have installed an heavy duty clutch setup (bought from QED - https://qedmotorsport.co.uk/product/clutch-cover-5-speed-heavy-duty-competition-helix/ no affiliation, supposed to take up to 179 ft.lb torque)

I find it on the hard side and a bit quick BUT I run it with a Saab anular slave, without having done any calculation of master/slave volume ratio : I suppose a smaller diameter master would make the pedal less hard and the clutch operation more gradual... though I've more or less got used to it and have not considered tuning that yet.

[Foxie]

I've been using heavy duty AP clutches for many years, both on the Lotus and Voigts 5-speeds. There was never any problem with clutch operation being anyway heavy.

[1owner69Elan]

I've been using heavy duty AP clutches for many years, both on the Lotus and Voigts 5-speeds. There was never any problem with clutch operation being anyway heavy.

I have to agree with Foxie. I have a heavy duty pressure plate (clutch cover) that I used with both a stock 4 speed (standard slave) and with a Voigt 5 speed (annular slave) on a 2 seat Elan. In either case I did not find the clutch heavy at all.

If you have driven an older muscle car or I remember driving a real AC Cobra (289) back in the day - THOSE had a heavy clutch. It took a lot of leg strength - and I was a lot younger. The Lotus Twink is a relatively low torque motor - so heavy duty in this context is still not that "heavy".

[mark030358]

Thanks guys, appreciated.