I know this has probably been beat to death; but, what is the preferred choices of clutch for 1st Gen. trucks.

I use my truck to tow heavy cattle and flat-bed trailers.

I don't play with it.

No drag-racing, no sled-pulling, no tire-burning.

I am quite fond of the original style of clutch.

Are there aftermarket clutches that are even better??

Give me three choices in descending order, in case this little Hooterville town has a limited selection.

Many thanks.

 

I thought this would be an easy one.

I have looked at LUKS and South Bend.

The LUKS kit is $350.

I didn't find a price for the SouthBend.

Of the two, which is the better??

Are there any better than these two??

 

Stick with the stock Sachs clutch. It is a very stout unit, it will stand around 800 foot lbs.

I haven't heard of anybody who has had a Luk for a long time and is happy with it. They do not hold as well as the Sachs clutch, which is good because the center is too weak for heavy towing and a turned up pump.

The SB Con-O is a good play clutch, but you will tear the center out with heavy towing (won't slip, though ).

Unless you go nuts with power the stock clutch is the best for you. There are better (more holding capacity and stronger) aftermarket clutches out there, but you don't have near the power to need one, and they cost better than double what a new Sachs will set you back.

 

Where and how much for a new Sachs??

I just put this thing together and the Sachs that was original on the engine, with only 68,000 miles, will slip bad with anything but light throttle.

We checked it out prior to putting it together; and, it looked good as new.

I do the labor myself, so what are your thoughts on me trying only a new Sachs disc, using the pressure-plate that I currently have??

I wasn't trying to be stingy when I used this clutch; I would have bet good money that it was fine and I liked the looks of it better than any of the parts-house stuff that I have seen.

A neighbor has a Sachs that came out of his 92 with very few miles on it that he wants $100 for.

He was convinced that he had a clutch problem and replaced it; it turns out that his rear-end had a bad pinion bearing, and that was where his grinding was coming from.

What are your thoughts on me trying his $100 used Sachs??

My truck is 2WD and not near the job to replace as a 4X4.

 

I guess my "LUK" has run out. That's a good point Dave about ripping out the center of the LUK. I was looking at the new South bend 12 puck, but I don't have the 1,700 bucks!

The problem for me is I want a clutch that will take "no lift" speed shift without ripping itself apart. Hmmmmmm.

 

you can get a sachs from quad484.com
i am supprised yours is slipping at 68000 miles
before you buy at least call and talk to
south bend clutch that is what i did
i went with a 13.25 con o for my nv4500 conversion
and from everything i have read
they back the product 100%

 

I'd try the $100 clutch. I'm baffled as to why it's slipping, mine held plenty more power than you're making. How are you running the clutch (Dodge slave, Ford Master)? Is it possible that the slave is partially disengaging the clutch?

 

You are correct, Dodge slave, Ford Master.

I have wiggle room at the fork when pedal is not depressed.

The clutch was slipping easily with slightly heavy throttle Saturday, Sunday, and this morning.

This evening, I drove about thirty miles of curvy road and couldn't make it slip once.

Maybe it has fixed itself.

I am not gonna hold my breath.

I think I will get the hundred dollar clutch, regardless; it might come in handy some day.

When the snow clears, I will hang a big trailer to it and put it to a harder test; unless of course, it goes to slipping again; in which case I will swap in another clutch.

Just to know, who carries new SACHS??

I looked at them a while back; but, I can't remember where.

 

http://www.quad4x4.com/Dodge%20Engin...tm#Clutch_Kits

 

I would never install a used clutch. I hate doing a job twice.
I have the con o and it has been worked hard for 3 years.
With recent mods, I dynoed, the con o broke loose at 948 Lb Ft of torque. I was told it was only rated for 700 but its a very good clutch.

 

Yeah definately don't buy a used clutch. Don't wanna have to pay twice or do the job twice. As much I don't like to promote ebay, there is a seller on there selling brand new Sachs stock clutches for cheaper than Quad4x4. Confirmed through some TDR members that bought from the seller, they are the real deal/genuine Sachs stock 13" clutch.

If you plan to tow and keep the power to 350hp, 750ft/lb, you will be fine with a stocker. More important is driving technique and habits.

 

Can the clutch-disc be purchased by itself??

As stout as these SACHS pressure plates are, I can see them outlasting several discs.

It seems a waste to toss a perfectly good (expensive) pressure plate each time a disc wears out.

This engine, transmission, clutch, etc. sat idle in a heated building for years.

The disc may have glazed from long dis-use??

The wreck only had 68,000 miles on it.

It seems like the clutch is harder to make slip the more I drive it.

It is not near as bad as it was the first couple of days.

 

Thank you, they are cheaper to the tune of about $250.

This is getting closer to my price range.

 

We carry the Sach covers and disc. You can buy them together or separate. Just give us a call and we can take care of it. They are not as much money from us as you may have been hearing from others.

Peter
800-988-4345

 

Here is an update on my clutch situation.

I went on a short road-trip this past weekend and put a couple hundred miles on it.

I romped down on it at every hill I came upon.

I purposefully tried to slip the clutch numerous times.

There was no indication of slippage at all.

All I can figure is that the disc possibly needed to get the accumulated glaze from long dis-use worn off; or possibly, it just needed to get itself seated where it wanted to be.

I do think that I will talk the guy down on the $100 SACHS and lay it by for hard times.

He has no need for it; and, nobody else around here can come up with a hundred dollars all at one time.

If I let him get the smell of a fifty, I will probably get it.

Thanks, everyone, for your input on this mystery.