Clutched !!!

Went out last night for a few hours to play on the plain, as has become the norm on our family since we had the new Jimny. With the snorkel fitted she swam across a number of previous un-crossable water features with ease, the rear wheels actually paddling the car rather than holding on for traction!!...

We crossed the most sevear of axel articulating rutts and then it was onto the mud.

Now, the clutch had taken punishment after we had recovered a friends Disco a few weeks ago, and needed to cool down before the car could be driven again, but the adhesion of the thick mud, and the clutch being inpoor condition, meant, even with the monster tyres, we were stuck solid.
No amount fo digging and building the tracks up with sticks could free the little JImny, and eventually the clutch refused to allow any gears to be engaged.

We were recovered by a friend and towed the little jimny complete with mud covering all wheel arches and tyres back home.

So a new tougher clutch is needed. Does anyone have any recommendations ? We were thinking a KAP competition clutch...


The funny thing is, if we could have kept the wheels turning, the jimny would have pulled itself out:S

ok, will check, this definatly burnt though, and the drive got progressivly less and less. After cleaning the mud off the Jeep ( 3 hours with the Jet wash outside the house!!) I can just about get drive in 4low but whenever I accelerate above tickover, the revs climb madly with no drive.
TO be honest, the symptoms I have probably suggest the clutch itself is gone as most of the rescues I have performed have usually resulted in the Jimny turning all 4 wheels and digging itself down at the end of a tensioned rope, followed by the smell of burning friction lining.

Yesterdays antics actually produced large amounts of Blue smoke bellowing out from the underside of the car .
See what you mean though about competition clutches being binary in their operation. Is it possible to fit a Heavy Duty clutch ?

I think my clutch is on its way out too, but was shocked by the price of new ones! can anyone recomend a reasonably priced one and somewhere to get it?

I had a paddle clutch in my old SJ and it was great and pain to drive around town as you have next to no slip of the clutch but off roading its great when its time to change the clutch on my jimny it what i will got for agian. It takes some getting used to and expect to stall it a few times when you first fit it.

Baz

Well, Jason spoke to AP Racing yesterday, and they discussed what is the best to go for. They offered a 15% uprated one, and a 25% uprated one for silly money.
After a lengthy discussion with Darren @ KAP, We decided on a 5 paddle Competition Clutch. Ok, no slippage for daily driving, so we will need to modify our driving style, but, according to Darren, were not going to have any problem offroad

Car is booked into the garage for friday too, so we will have the Jeep back for a shake down on the weekend

Well, New clutch fitted @ Newbury 4x4. what a nice bunch of chaps.
the old one was completely burnt out and stripped of all thr friction lining as you would expect
KAP clutch is great. Nice biting point, and a little burn as the clutch beds in but the take up is superb. Probably can still slip the clutch should I need too but it feels really positive now ( much better than the standard one that was fitted 3 months ago when we bought the Jimny from a dealer !!) .. Yes, 3 months !!!

- Jason

Email sent Martin.
No marks or numbers on the box. The basket looked the same as the OEM one but the clutch plate itself was a 4 ( sorry, I mistakenly said 5 previously )paddle one. both came wrapped in brown grease paper and in a plain box.
As soon as we have 5 minutes to take the jeep offroad, Ill give it some real abuse and see how it handles it. I suspect its going to be Uber cool !

- Jason

you will love it off road and wonder how you lived without it. I got a few more bits to do to mine then I will be fitting one.