I would totally agree that this happened. About 3-4 weeks into the pulling season 2007 we started receiving phone calls with issues like this. This occurrence even happened in trucks that had our Iron Giant working fine in years past, after rebuild...problem arose. We started looking into what the cause could be...tappered casting was one, changed it, still problem. Started to blame the friction material (feramic) arguing with the company that they had to have made a change. We never had a problem and all of a sudden we are. They stressed that they made no change but offered to make us a new button that had more holding power. Well heck yes, we are willing to try anything at this point. The new buttons came in and they looked awesome. Built a new unit up and shot it out. It was better but still not right. We were now scratching our heads. The only thing left was the pressure plate. We grabbed a 4200 lb pressure plate and put it on the plate load testing table. OMG it was at 3200 lbs. Tore the clutch down and individually compressed each spring and they were coming up 65-70 lbs light on each spring. Times that by 16 and you got a BIG problem. Called the supplier and asked if there was a change in the springs and they said the only change was a different manufacture.:doh: :bang
This is not an excuse..I take full responsibility for this error and should know better then to trust any component pieces coming in our door. We have a very good quality control system but obviously not good enough. We now on this particular facet, test 20 springs in every box of 250. We sell approximately 130 dual disc clutches a month and an error such as this is very costly and we will do everything in our power to never let it happen again. The good that came out of all of this is the new feramic buttons, they are awesome.
As for the people that experienced the problem I do not blame you for the manufacture change and wish you good success with your new clutch. As for levers breaking...folks these are extreme clutches for extreme applications and things are going to break. It is our job to see those weak points when they show up and find a way to make it stronger. Our clutches are running in some of the top trucks in the Country, Drew from EEP Enterprise Engine Performance and Ted from Powerhouse Diesel Performance. Big Bad Dodge, as well as point series winners in many different classes in the DHRA, NHRA, Full Pull Productions, Etc. I know we have a pretty good product but sometimes things happen.
I apologize to all that may have had this problem.
Peter
South Bend Clutch
