Team Clutch in Plowman's Performance Kit

[hello]

Hi all when it comes to yamaha golf carts Plowmans is the only company I deal with period...

[nez02]

Originally Posted by TCDrive2

I installed Plowman's Performance Kit on my 2021 Yamaha Drive 2 which included the Team primary clutch Plowmans sends, heavier spring in secondary clutch, high flow air filter and Plowman's performance belt.

A couple questions for those familiar with Plowman's clutch setup:

1) I have recently seen some negative comments regarding Team brand clutches and that their service life is much less than the FBT style clutch (current clutch Yamaha factory installs) due to them not being sealed well (allowing dirt and debris to enter) and that the rollers inside begin to wear a flat spot which reduces the clutch function. One place I have seen this is in the comments section of this Youtube video that Power Equipment Man posted. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwhRyZvRjqU

Does anyone know if Plowman's actually updates the rollers and other parts (bushings, etc) inside of the Team clutch shell with higher quality components to increase the service life of the clutch they send with their performance kit? Does anyone know if the service life of the Team clutch Plowman's sends will still be less than the FBT clutch that Yamaha now factory installs? Anyone know what the expected service life is of the Team primary clutch Plowman's provides?

2) One of the comments made in the comments section of the video above is that the belt that Plowman's sends is too wide for the Team clutch they send. I have also wondered this because the new Plowman's belt fits tight in the Team primary clutch thereby making it a direct drive system. As soon as you push the pedal, the electric starter motor engages which immediately begins turning the belt and therefore the wheels. It does not allow the gas motor to start and begin revving before the clutch engages on the belt (as is the case with the factory FBT clutch). Does anyone think this is bad design and will cause the starter motor to wear out prematurely due to the load placed on it every time you push the pedal? With this Plowman's setup, the starter motor is being asked to turn the wheels and start the motor at the same time (due to the belt being tight on the primary clutch).

How is your clutch holding up? Which one did you end up with?

[bcsnave]

Originally Posted by TCDrive2

He does and I agree, I am always skeptical when somebody is offering (selling) an alternative, but also wonder if there is any merit to what was said about the Team clutches. I think what would answer it for me is if anybody knows if Plowmans updates the internal components of the Team clutch to ensure quality and longevity vs the standard components (rollers, bushings, etc.) that Team has historically installed in these clutches?

Would also like to know if anybody has an opinion on the Plowman belt being tight on the Team clutch, thereby adding additional load to the starter motor. Hopefully this is a non-issue, but I doubt the electric starter motor was originally designed to handle the load of both turning the wheels and starting the motor at the same time. Again, hopefully this does not lessen the life of the starter motor, but if anyone has any thoughts (experience) with this, let me know. Thanks!

Update after you did your clutch or clutches?

[Pullit]

I am not the OP but I just put on Don's performance kit on my 2008 G29 and it is night and day difference form the factory one.

[TCDrive2]

Originally Posted by nez02

How is your clutch holding up? Which one did you end up with?

Holding up well! Clutching continues to perform the same as when new.

I also had made the comment in the original post that was questioning if the belt was a little too wide for the primary clutch. I'm not sure if it was or wasn't when new (depends on Plowman's intent with this), but I will say that after getting some more hours on it, the belt does seem to have loosened up a little reducing the direct drive effect that had I mentioned earlier.

[TCDrive2]

Originally Posted by bcsnave

Update after you did your clutch or clutches?

See my response to nez02.

[villebacker]

I have the Plowman's Extreme Performance Kit on my 2017 PTV and also didn't like the "direct drive" feel of the provided belt so I went back to the OEM belt and really liked the smoothness of takeoff and shifting with the new clutches. However, I did put the Plowman's belt back on yesterday since we are experiencing extreme temps and felt it would accelerate the break-in of the belt. With our 105+ temps the takeoffs and shifting are definitely less severe. I will run it at least until cooler weather. It may wear in to the point I don't go back to the OEM belt.

[TCDrive2]

Originally Posted by villebacker

I have the Plowman's Extreme Performance Kit on my 2017 PTV and also didn't like the "direct drive" feel of the provided belt so I went back to the OEM belt and really liked the smoothness of takeoff and shifting with the new clutches. However, I did put the Plowman's belt back on yesterday since we are experiencing extreme temps and felt it would accelerate the break-in of the belt. With our 105+ temps the takeoffs and shifting are definitely less severe. I will run it at least until cooler weather. It may wear in to the point I don't go back to the OEM belt.

Good info.