What does a clutch assembly do in go-cart and how dose it work?
There are a few different types of clutches on go-carts. But they all do the same thing, as with any clutch in any vehicle. Let’s pretend you are driving right now. The speed of the engine determines how fast you go. Engine turns fast – wheels also turn fast. But what happens when the wheels stop? The engine must continue to turn (idle). With out a clutch, the engine would stop when the wheels stop, from braking. The clutch is always located as close to the engine’s power as possible. Just outside the engine block at the crankshaft. This allows the engine’s power to be disconnected from the wheels when necessary. Most go-cart clutches are “Centrifugal Clutches”. That means they operate on centrifugal force. The faster it turns, the more efficient it is at transferring power to the axle/wheels. The slower the engine turns, the less centrifugal force to keep the clutch locked in, and it disengages allowing the engine to disconnect from having to move the vehicle.
