I installed a new SB Con OFE in March. Ever since then when engaging the clutch it will shudder or jerk when engaging. The jerking is most prominent in reverse, but also occurs in 1st and 2nd. When the truck is cooled off (set over night) the problem is not there, it only occurs after driving and heated up. There has never been problem with this clutch holding, it holds great, easy on the leg, no more effort than stock. I currently have 6000 miles on it, just can't get rid of the shudder. I am currently working with SB to try to rectify the problem, but this seems to be a slow process, so let's not get into vendor bashing. Any ideas ?????? would be appreciated.

 

How many miles do you have on the clutch??? Try uping the rpms just a little and slowly let out the pedal..I have found that rpms make a difference when the clutch is warm or hot. The clutch is trying to bite...but with a little higher rpms and slowly letting the clutch out..it should slip a little and be much smoother...
My Con OFE 13" in my 97 has nearly 40k on it and it still does it sometimes..

Rick

 

Due to the DD2 injector install, I have a South Bend Con OFE. It definitely holds the BHP/torque, but it chatters more than the stock clutch. The clutch disk material is noticeably more aggressive than stock. The clutch engagement problem is compounded by the "romp-romp" phenomenon of bigger injectors running on the PCM's idle function when the load hits it when trying to maneuver our 5th wheel trailer in 1st or reverse.

The solution I've found is to bring the engine RPM up to about 900 with the accelerator pedal (i.e., get the injectors off the PCM idle function) and then slip or "feather" the clutch as required to get the 5ver moving. The OFE has never overheated doing this, and the engagement is almost as smooth as the stock clutch. The OFE clutch disk material seems to actually like a higher relative velocity between it and the flywheel/pressure plate when it engages.

Rusty

 

rharveysr

6000 miles on clutch, give or take a couple hundred.

rharveysr & RustyJC

I will try raising the RPM's. Even pulling my 5th wheel, the truck has done so well getting moving it never occured to me to raise the RPM's. I will try this and let you know how it works.
This clutch is an absolute beast in that is does not know what slipping is. The holding power is phenomenal. In any and all situations, this thing "holds the torque" and no chatter whatsoever.

Thanks for the response.

Brad

 

Our trucks are almost identical in mods and mine does the same thing. It took awhile to learn to raise the rpm's a bit and release it. I also found that from a dead stop, release the clutch like you always have to get the truck to start rolling, just before the chatter point, I push in the clutch and release it again to take off like normal. It sounds wierd but it works! I guess because the truck is slightly rolling, it hardly chatters as much. Stop and go traffic is 1st gear and I get no chatter. The more you think about making a clean launch, the more you'll blow it. Just go for it and it will be a clean launch every time.

It's kind of a "beauty of the beast" thing when it comes to this clutch. I wouldn't want anything else for planting the power!

 

My FE did this as well, i believe its part of havings a clutch that will hold the power. My DD aldo did this till last Saturday. Its amazing how much of that chatter is axle wrap that is induced by the clutch! I installed traction bars last Saturday and the shuddering/jerking is almost completely gone even on a bad start.

 

I never thought about axle wrap? I know the old girl can get hopping real good sometimes when the tires are spinning!!

Is there an aftermarket bar available that doesn't look like it belongs on a drag car?

 

Thanks for the suggestion. It works great. the clutch is now just as smooth as stock.

Brad

 

We took our new Cardinal 5th wheel for it maiden voyage this past weekend. When we started out of the camp ground I needed to snake thru and around thru the trees to get out. On a small incline I experienced something that I had not before with the other trailer.
If was as if the clutch had hot spots on it..but it only does it going forward. I noticed that when I was in reverse and pushing the trailer up hill..there was no bucking what so ever. I took my own advice and raised the rpms a little to see if that would cure it...It did help a little but I still had the problem.
Could it be either the springs on the throttle return springs are weak or is it the axle is trying to roll with the torque that I am putting down.
It felt more like all of the action was coming from the rearend..

If I do need to do a set of traction bars or ladder bars...which ones are the best and where can I get them...

Thanks
Rick