Lencodrive CS2 - Rolled sprag - burned clutches - which came first & why

Discussion in 'PSI Superchargers Tech Questions' started by kbhemi, May 15, 2018.

  1. kbhemi

    kbhemi Member

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    Never fried all the clutches and had a rolled sprag before - but here we are - the sprag housing also cracked clear thru one side - strips n clips version - can a rolled sprag cause the disks to burn up - all were about .043 thick and black as heck - and trans and shop smells like burned oil. So the quetion is - which came first - crack thru in sprag housing - rolled sprag - burned disks?
     
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  2. sammy christian

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    IF A PIECE FROM THE SPRAG GOT BETWEEN THE DISCS, THAT WILL CAUSE THEM TO FRY.
     
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  3. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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    What oil are you using in the transmission section where the failure occurred?

    How are you adjusting the clutches. This is the CS2 procedure given to me by Mat Moore who used to work at Lenco
    1. Back off locking nuts on air pods and move lock nuts up high

    2. Remove top oil fill plug

    3. Look down oil fill holes at clutch ring and make sure there is a small punch mark on ring. If no mark then make one with a punch. Position is not critical as it is an eyeball reference.

    4. Turn air pod clockwise while watching punch mark on clutch ring. You should see or start to see punch mark move towards the air pod. You should also feel resistance in the turning of the pod at this point.

    5. Once you see movement towards the air pod and turning resistance increase stop and turn the air pod counterclockwise until you see the punch mark move away from the air pod and the mark stops moving. At that point turn air pod one complete turn counterclockwise then lock the air pod nut down tight at that position.

    6. It is not critical if you turn the air pod slightly less or slightly more. 3/4 to 1 1/4 turns.

    7. Install fill plugs.
     
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  4. TOL

    TOL Active Member

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    How many speeds is your trans, and how many clutch packs were involved?
     
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  5. kosky racing

    kosky racing Comp Eliminator

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    The sprag housing was probably one of the older light weight housings {scalloped on the outside} This breaks and releases the holding of the sprag -then the clutchs start to fry--s happens
     
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  6. kbhemi

    kbhemi Member

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    No fragments - amsoil 20wt synthetic compressor oil - adjusted clutch pack correctly - its not the lightweight scalloped sprag outer - clips and strips - sprag flipped backwards and I had to tap the center and even the race out with a small hammer - pretty good smacks - its a 2 speed lenco drive - 1 clutch pack - disks checked about .043 - new ones were .064 - not a fan of clips and strips - and maybe that put enough pressure on the outer ring it cracked rolled and that fried the clutches? RPM went straight out a sight and car moved about 6 inches
     
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  7. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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    Lenco recommends straight 30w oil. Preferable non detergent. In my opinion that 20 Wt synthetic is probably too slick for a Lenco and the clutches may not lock up fast enough with it and not enough drag on the sprag. Don’t get me wrong it is good oil but maybe too slick for a Lenco. Not sure what friction multipliers are in it. Also you should pay the extra and use helo sprags
     
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    Last edited: May 19, 2018
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  8. quickcut

    quickcut Member

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    Mike, I know Lenco recommends straight 30w oil. But you don't use it . correct me if I am wrong you use Redline ?
    I know you are on the ball with a lot of things & you have the Best knowedge . I Have ever seen.
    The Amsoil SAE 20 46 weight compressor oil is the best oil I have ever found for the Lenco drive & a lot of other people use it, So do you recommend we step up to the SAE 30 68 weight oil.
    I & other would like your advice.
     
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  9. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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    Depends on what section. With the Bruno that is totally isolated from the CS2. Yes in the Bruno we use the Redline Racing ATF BUT and a big but here, the Redline does NOT have the friction modifiers in it to make it slick. We use 30 wt in the transmission. Now with a Lencodrive it is a little different setup. Let me ask somebody who is more of an expert on the Lencodrive and see what he says. Will get back to you.
     
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  10. Will Hanna

    Will Hanna We put the 'inside' in Top Alcohol
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    The compressor oil deal was not all that uncommon back when everyone was running Lencodrives in ADRL/PDRA.

    If I had to guess the sprag let go first. Whether it was the outer or the element, hard to say. I would say from there it probably got things out of whack in regards to load from the fork on the clutch pack.

    If the clutch pack goes first it just won't shift that planetary. If the sprag lets go, it goes neutral.
     
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  11. kbhemi

    kbhemi Member

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    I agree Will - looking at my data - sprag went first - rpm went to the sky and hit the shift point - and over - I think shifting into high gear on the starting line at 8800 rpm killed the lencodrive clutch pack. Never had that happen to any of my lencos - cs1 or lencodrive - I found a new way to break parts!
     
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