Time for a new clutch.

[903Dodge]

I am having a hard time deciding to so a

 

• Single or dual disk clutch?

• Which brand? 

•Weather or not to get a new flywheel?

• If I should get the upgraded hydraulics?

 

I mainly tow 6-7k 6-10 days a month. 

 

No further mods (Unless something breaks)

[Mopar1973Man]

52 minutes ago, 903Dodge said:

• Single or dual disk clutch?

 

Single

 

52 minutes ago, 903Dodge said:

• Which brand?

 

South Bend Clutch Con OFE

 

52 minutes ago, 903Dodge said:

•Weather or not to get a new flywheel?

 

Yes.

 

52 minutes ago, 903Dodge said:

• If I should get the upgraded hydraulics?

 

No. Not required for the South Bend Clutch.

 

I tow upwards of 10,000 pounds at times. Typically right around 8,000 pounds of RV. We are very close in modifications it should work just fine. That is 5 one-ton hay bails. 

 

Edited January 31, 2017 by Mopar1973Man

[dripley]

I have the the con ofe in mine and it is works fine. They have a HD clutch with organic facings that appears to be good also. Not quite as strong as the con ofe but if I down sized my trailer I would take another hard look at it. My ofe can be a little grabby in slow maneuvering but not unworkable. Works fine in 4 wheel low as long as you are not on a paved surface. You definitely dont need a DD as you are set up. 

[tonyjsan]

I don't recommend the South Bend DD, had one installed and had lot's of issues with it, from my experience it was a bad clutch, and there hydraulics don't last either. 

 

I will say that South Bend (think I guy named peter), did give excellent customer service, after all the problems I had with there DD clutch, South Bend sent me brand new single disk kit (organic I think) with flywheel etc., 

 

With that said when it's time to replace clutch again not sure if i'd use south bend again, as this clutch incident left a sour taste for South Bend and the nv4500 with very bad syncros, from not releasing correctly and other stuff. So I'm looking at replacing nv4500 soon, this all happen over course of 2-3 years.

 

Then it did not help that the company that installed the clutch for me was bad, they where great at dazzling with bull shit.

[Dieselfuture]

@tonyjsan are you sure monkeys that installed your clutch did it right, what failed what was discovered? Was there truly fault of a clutch, or was there installment mistakes. Not trying to defend SB never had experience with them myself, but just saying.

[Mopar1973Man]

I've always done my own clutch installs. I'm very critical about the torquing of the bolts, alignment, and even the installing of the transmission again. Alot of little spots where things can go wrong because of a poor installed clutch.

 

For example I've seen shops force a transmission back in using the bolts. Not good.

[tbo1450]

I installed a south bend single with a new flywheel in May. Shuttered a little bit for a couple hundred miles. Once it broke in no problems. I'm happy with it. 

[903Dodge]

Due to time constraint and immediate need I had to go with a valiar DD. It's what the guy had at the shop for another customer that hadn't shown. 

[dripley]

We would like to know how that works out for you. We all have our opinions. Me I had trouble with my Valair single. But I could never tell if it was the clutches fault or possibly the installers fault. I do know some of the problem was mine when I, and I repeat "I" installed a new throw out bearing for the failed one. So no matter all of our opinions, let us know.

[Cowboy]

Speaking of which Dripley, I ended up installing those 2 single disk valair clutches identical to your old one and so far nothing to complain about what so ever, feels and sounds like stock, minus the slippage.  The one's currently got about 330 rwhp going through it, and that will go up again here at some point.  

[Texas CTD]

3 hours ago, 903Dodge said:

Due to time constraint and immediate need I had to go with a valiar DD. It's what the guy had at the shop for another customer that hadn't shown. 

 

Which part #?

 

Did you get the HD hydraulics?

 

Can't go wrong with Valair. If it's an organic clutch, it should have good towing manners.

[dripley]

50 minutes ago, Cowboy said:

Speaking of which Dripley, I ended up installing those 2 single disk valair clutches identical to your old one and so far nothing to complain about what so ever, feels and sounds like stock, minus the slippage.  The one's currently got about 330 rwhp going through it, and that will go up again here at some point.  

Your success and others with the same clutch wont allow me to just condemn Valair.

 

46 minutes ago, Texas CTD said:

 

Which part #?

 

Did you get the HD hydraulics?

 

Can't go wrong with Valair. If it's an organic clutch, it should have good towing manners.

Mine was good for towing down the highway but not so for low speed maneuvering at all. 

 

I did not install the HD hydraulics on mine. The master went long before the clutch and I replaced with whatever Advance Auto had at the time. I did replace the slave sometime after the valair install. The rest is OE. Running this same set up on the new SB for about 30k.

[903Dodge]

7 hours ago, Texas CTD said:

 

Which part #?NMU70NV56DDSN-ORG

NMU70NV56DDSN-ORG

 

Did you get the HD hydraulics?

Yes

 

Can't go wrong with Valair. If it's an organic clutch, it should have good towing manners.

 

NMU70NV56DDSN-ORG

They also changed the fluid and put a new rear main seal in. 

[tonyjsan]

22 hours ago, Dieselfuture said:

@tonyjsan are you sure monkeys that installed your clutch did it right, what failed what was discovered? Was there truly fault of a clutch, or was there installment mistakes. Not trying to defend SB never had experience with them myself, but just saying.

 

You are correct @Dieselfuture I had no way of knowing if the clutch bad or a bad install. 

 

The shop that installed the clutch insisted that the clutch was working correctly, which it was not, it was not releasing correctly, and basically refused to do any other investigation of the problem. 

 

I went to another shop and they confirmed clutch was not releasing. After that I called SB and they sent me a brand new single disk clutch setup. So far clutch is working great, however my 3rd gear syncro is bad.

 

Unfortunately I don't have the tools or place to do work like this at home so I have to take it somewhere.

 

I am thankful that SB did stand behind there clutch and sent me the new single disc kit, and the DD was out of warranty at that time.

 

I still have the SB DD clutch, tried uploading picture but forum upload would not work, hope the links work.

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3EL_J88_MOKNjRoVVZZX09MaGc

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3EL_J88_MOKdXFuQjZvZ2xZT3c

 

Edited February 1, 2017 by tonyjsan

[Cowboy]

Could be they forgot to remove the washer from the pivot ball.

[Dieselfuture]

1 hour ago, Cowboy said:

Could be they forgot to remove the washer from the pivot ball.

Is that a normal practice when you use a double disc

[Cowboy]

As far as I know.

 

 

[tonyjsan]

2 hours ago, Cowboy said:

As far as I know.

 

 

hmm wonder if SB DD has the same procedure in there install instructions.

[Cowboy]

They should.

 

[TFaoro]

I would think removing the washer would do the opposite of what he was experiencing. With the washer in the clutch wouldn't engage all the way. 

 

I've personally installed 5 South Bend clutches and not a single one has had an issue. I'm on my 3rd. One of the old ones is in a truck and still working well. The other is in a box waiting to go in a 12V NV4500. 

To me it sounds like the root of the issue could be the hydros.

I would possibly like to buy that clutch from you though....