Torque Converter; General Information - Club Car Gasoline Service Manual

SECTION 16 - TORQUE CONVERTER
WARNING
• ONLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS SHOULD REPAIR OR SERVICE THIS VEHICLE. ANYONE DOING
EVEN SIMPLE REPAIRS OR SERVICE SHOULD HAVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN
GENERAL MECHANICAL REPAIR. FOLLOW ALL PROCEDURES EXACTLY AND HEED ALL
WARNINGS STATED IN THIS MANUAL.
• ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES OR APPROVED EYE PROTECTION WHILE SERVICING
VEHICLE. WEAR A FULL FACE SHIELD WHEN WORKING WITH BATTERY.
• TURN KEY SWITCH OFF, PLACE FORWARD AND REVERSE LEVER IN THE NEUTRAL POSI-
TION, AND REMOVE KEY PRIOR TO SERVICING.
• DO NOT WEAR LOOSE CLOTHING. REMOVE JEWELRY SUCH AS RINGS, WATCHES, CHAINS,
ETC. BEFORE SERVICING VEHICLE.
• ALWAYS USE INSULATED TOOLS WHEN WORKING NEAR BATTERIES OR ELECTRICAL CON-
NECTIONS.
• MOVING PARTS! - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS RUNNING.
• HOT! - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SYSTEM. FAILURE TO
HEED THIS WARNING COULD RESULT IN SEVERE BURNS.
• FRAME GROUND - DO NOT ALLOW WRENCH OR OTHER METAL OBJECTS TO CONTACT
FRAME WHEN DISCONNECTING BATTERY CABLES OR OTHER ELECTRIC WIRING. NEVER
ALLOW A POSITIVE WIRE TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE FRAME, ENGINE, INNER FRAME, OR
OTHER METAL COMPONENT.
• TO AVOID UNINTENTIONAL STARTING OF THE VEHICLE; ALWAYS, BEFORE SERVICING:
- DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLES, NEGATIVE (-) FIRST.
- DISCONNECT THE SPARK PLUG WIRE FROM THE SPARK PLUG.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The torque converter consists of a drive clutch, a driven clutch, and a drive belt. The drive clutch, which is
mounted to the engine, is in the open position when the engine is at idle. At this point, the belt is riding at a
low position (smaller diameter) on the drive clutch. The driven clutch is mounted on the transmission. It is in
the closed position, and the drive belt is riding at a high position (large diameter) on it when the engine is at
idle.
At the point of clutch engagement, the speed ratio of the drive clutch to the driven clutch is 3.5 to 1. This ratio
provides excellent starting and low speed torque.
As engine speed increases, centrifugal force on internal weights closes the drive clutch, pushing the belt up
to a higher position on the clutch (increasing belt loop diameter). As the belt loop diameter increases at the
drive clutch, the driven clutch is forced open as its belt loop diameter decreases. At governed top speed, the
ratio of drive clutch to driven clutch is .92 to 1.
On steep grades, or when the vehicle is heavily loaded, higher torques at higher speeds are acheived
through the use of a torque-sensing ramp device on the driven clutch. This device overcomes the force of the
centrifugal weights to close the driven clutch and open the drive clutch, thus increasing axle torque with little
or no change in engine RPM.
16
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