TOOSHORT_88

iTrader: (15)

I purchased a 9lbs fidanza flywheel,spec pressure plate and spec stage 2 clutch.
After i installed it drove no more than 20 minutes around the block and it starts slipping.

I pulled the tranny and inspected the clutch and fly, and the fly and p plate had signifficant burnt marks, after 20 min of putting around the block . I sent him pics and explaind that theres a defect in the items, he told me i installed it wrong and it wasnt properly alligned, and just kept making up exuses...

Now im stuck with a 647.00 junk and is defective, he wud not offer a replacement or any kind of return. I strongly suggest that no one buy from SPOOLEDUPRACING!

notveryhappyjack

iTrader: (4)

I feel your pain jason. I have had my clutch apart three times in the last month, its still slipping. Very Frusterating.

endneu913

iTrader: (5)

I am a friend of the O/P... and I actually installed this clutch/tranny ect. the first time around. I can verify that it went in smooth as silk with no issues at all.

So far Spooled has told Tooshort that the possible (massive amount ) of slippage could be due to :

1- bad pilot bearing... really? the one that came with the brand new clutch kit?
2- mis-aligned disc.... Is it me or does that sound impossible
3- bad tranny... ( you all know what a slipping clutch feels and SMELLS like right? Ever had a tranny make produce the same symptoms?)


Spooled had this to say:

"Sorry there is no warranty on performance parts at all.

and if that did that on 3 miles then that is an instalation problem OR something is wrong with the trans..

looks like possibly the pilot bearing was no good and it caused the chatter OF it was not alligned correctly and it rubbed on the flywheel..

I;m sorry but there is no warranty and no returns on performance parts.. that is CLEARLY either a instal issue or a trans issue..

Matter a fact looking at that again I can clearly see where the track path is and that disc was NOT aligned properly and it looks like it got stuck to low on the plate was begins to ride the flywheel and put those hot spots in it..

there was nothing wrong with the parts that I can guarentee "

After this, Tooshort went to the effort of pulling the tranny, replacing the pilot bearing and seal... inspecting all parts of the clutch assembly and searching in vain for the fabled "un-aligned disc" all to find the same results as before, a badly slipping $600 dollar setup. Now, maybe this is all a misunderstanding and there are other factors at work here making this brand new clutch slip, and Im sure that I DONT have that answer, because if I did, Tooshort would be shifting gears not grinding teeth... SO...

Can we take a poll here? is this seller taking advantage of the trust of a fellow rotary enthusiast? I sure hope not, that would be sad... and my most sincere apologies to the seller if this is the misunderstanding thatIi hope it may be... perhaps this will all get resolved and Spooledup can clear his name.

This is a photo of the brand new clutch kit/flywheel just before getting sealed put together ( with tranny and engine OUT of car I might add... which only would serve to make it even easier to notice something going wrong)



Here is a photo after putting less than 5 miles on the car, just driving around the neighborhood. YES, the dates on photos are correct, the car has been through a massive bodywork overhaul/paint ect which made it impossible to test drive at any length (in addition it had no tabs so it wasnt legal to drive) His build thread would corroborate this timeline.

*TOUCH*

iTrader: (29)

i dont know what exactly the situation is with the flywheel, but i can say that i just recently purchased some items from spooled and they were all excellent, just as depicted and described. the price was great, he shipped amazingly quick (although he was recovering from surgery!) and he communicated brilliantly with me. i also SOLD him an item a while back, and thus have been on both ends of the spectrum with this member. that went just as smooth as well. overall i have no bad things to say about him, and hope (and believe) that your experience is some freak accident or something. i am in no way doubting what youre saying, just that i believe the spooledupracing that i bought from wouldnt intentionally rip any one off.

oinesra

iTrader: (2)

This may sound dumb, since any numb nut would. But did you clean the anti rust coat of oil/wax from the parts before install?

endneu913

iTrader: (5)

Yeah! good idea on the adjustment nut. I am familiar with it and have used it on my own car to sort or "customize" my engagment point. Whether or not Tooshort knows this information im not sure... i just did the intial install and then test drove it and felt it slip.

Thats good to hear... As i mentioned above, I really hope he wouldnt intentionally sell bad parts ( they looked shiney new to me... right out of the box ) If it is just a freak accident, then I think that in the least he could have practiced some better business/ customer service, instead of sending the buyer on a goose chase for ghosts.

endneu913

iTrader: (5)

I used alchocol to do that, since it evaporates so well... Hey how you been? Im loving the flywheel YOU sold me... after i got it all working great... Thanks again!

AlexG13B

iTrader: (7)

when u recieved the parts was it new in the package?
i wouldnt call dave a bad guy since he sold u NEW PARTS, ive dealt with him countless times and everytime it went perfectly fine.

may be u installed it wrong or it may be defective. i wouldnt call him bad sincei dont think he can warrantee it if SPEC wont take it back.

was the disc put backwards?


can u post a pic of both sides of the clutch disc and pressure plate so we can see, maybe we can help diagnose the problem.

endneu913

iTrader: (5)

Yeah parts were new in box... and i installed them all... then Tooshort removed, inspected and re-installed. How many things can really go wrong on a brand new clutch install you know? Either it bolts up, or it doesnt. Disc backwards maybe.... but not in this case..

Also, its just my opinion that he could have been more helpful in figuring out what was wrong.. or setting him up with an exchange on another kit. Seems like the right thing to do, instead of producing silly geese to chase ( pilot bearing ect)

farberio

iTrader: (7)

I have no beef with spooled up, everything I have bought from him came freakishly fast and as stated. The only negatives is occasionally things are way overpriced and sometimes he forgets to get back to me about a price check I PM him about.

As for this issue, even if you bought it from SPEC itself, because it wasn't a 'professional' install they would probably give you the same crap. I think its BS, but thems the brakes. You can't expect spooled to take back merchandise that he won't get credit for and eat the $300 cost. Especially when he can't be sure that it wasn't an installation mistake. Your best bet would be to get the clutch and PP looked at by a licensed installer and to get them tested for defects, if they can show that their is some defect you can go to SPEC with a real warranty claim.

TOOSHORT_88

iTrader: (15)

Yes, i have bought items from spoold up racing in the past, they were just mufflers cant really go too wrong with those... Thats why i orderd from him again. That being said he is the seller and he sold me the setup, i didnt paypal his supplier, i payd him so i hold spooledupracing responsible for the defective part.

Dude seriously..... Were not talking about a 20 dollar part here.... I dropd close to 7 bills on this set up, to find out that its defective and now im stuck with a useless fly,disk, and plate... Like endnue said how can you install the set up wrong in the first place? We used everything that came in the kit and made sure it was alligned properly.

But yes, thats a good idea to get the goodies looked at by a professional
I will have proof spooledupracing sold me a bad part.. I dont care if it came from his supplier... Like i said b4 spooled sold it to me , i never spoke to his ******* supplier.

I just hope he will look within reason and help me with a replacement cuz i dont wanna have to bring this to the next level, im too busy for this shitt.

AlexG13B

iTrader: (7)

get us pics of the pressure plate and discfrom both sides.

farberio

iTrader: (7)

I know that we are talking about a large part, I know you bought it from spooled. But you did not get it 'professionally installed' and THAT IS THE PROBLEM. It is BS, I know, but that's the problem. You can't guarantee (yet) that it was defective, you are only basing it off I installed it and it didn't work.

http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/08..._balanced.html

"-----------------------------
Pressure Plate Overheated-Severe Hot Spots
Symptoms:
Clutch slips-does not hold vehicle power
Clutch chatters
Clutch wore out prematurely

Possible Causes:
Improper break-in procedure
Clutch excessively preloaded-improper adjustment
Excessive slipping from driving style
--------------------------------"

If the cause is improper break it, then that's one thing. It seems illogical since you say you were only putting around the block but you have to be 100% honest about that.

Excessive slipping from driving style, again what I just said.

Clutch excessively preloaded-improper adjustment, this is where you need to get the preload tested and see what it is, compare it to what it should be, and boom you may have some information you can bring up to spooled about being a defective part.

endneu913

iTrader: (5)

I know its not much coming from a friend of the O/P and halfway across the planet, but i can guarantee that the car hasnt driven more than 5 miles and it was all around the block..... it had multiple other issues ( including no registration) that wouldnt let it safely drive over 10mph. I mean were talking about driving this car with no hood.... these were just test drives ...like... ok it started up, now do the brakes work... ect.. Again his build thread would corroborate this... and thats why its so dang wierd that its slipping so badly.

Fumi

i can safely say that endneu know how to install a clutch. ive done alot of wrenching on cars with him and he is vastly capable of doing something that easy.
i also know because we put one in my car and one in his car and a couple others plus we're always finding reasons to pull a tranny. and bad install is the last thing i would be trying to blame this on.
just my 2 cents.

farberio

iTrader: (7)

I don't necessarily beleive the install is the problem, as endneu said it certainly wasn't the break in. It pretty much leaves a possible defect in the preload, which needs to be tested.

The bigger problem is that warranty covers defects only.
Installing the clutch yourself, no matter how skilled you are, is almost instant loss of warranty in SPEC's eyes because you are not a 'professional'. Again, its BS when you know how to install a clutch, but that's what spec will tell you. The burden of proof on proving a defect is up to the consumer, especially when its a self install.

endneu913

iTrader: (5)

Yeah that is pretty lame. You are right...

So.... Tooshort... Post some photos or both sides of the disc for these gentleman... Check the clutch rod adjusment nut before your next test drive, and if its still slipping then, lets pull it and take it to over to Atkins or Speedware in Redmond... i think we can trust thier reputaion for some testing.

Does the seller have nothing to say about this?

AlexG13B

iTrader: (7)

still waiting for pics

TOOSHORT_88

iTrader: (15)

I havent pulled the goodies back out yet... The only pics i took was just of the front or fly,p plate and disk...

Hitokiri_Gensai

iTrader: (2)

i dont know spooled up but im gonna play the devils advocate and say, ive heard a lot of bad things about Spec Clutches in the past... a lot of people have complained about them being bad... so is it possible it really was defective?

SpooledupRacing

OK now that I am back online let me give u the real part of the story..

I tried to give my opinion on what may have caused the problem.. when I asked him if he installed the pilot bearing that came with the kit he stated the one he ad was fine... when I asked if he put in a new pilot bearing seal (which does NOT come with the kit) he stated
"I reused the old one because when I pulled the bearing out it was ok.."

I told him to try and reinstall it making sure to use the alignment tool and to replace the pilot bearing and the seal again and ALOS to make sure his hydrolic system was working properly because my other idea (which I told him) was that the pressure plate may not be pushing against the disc hard enough and that is why it is wearing and now slipping I stated over and over that if it was installed right it has to be a hydrolic problem..

And again as others have stated I WILL not give u money or another clutch out of my pocket.. SPEC has declined the warranty after I called and emailed them the pics u send me.. They stand behind their product 110% and they said that something is wrong with the car that there is no way their clutch would fail (especially that soon)

I ALSO gave the O/P the phone number to SPEC and told him he may call them himself and can talk to them because they have to warranty it before I will do anything..

my guess is that he called them and they said the same thing so that is why he is NOW posting this up..

I would pay for all the shipping charges, I would even buy him a new flywheel face if that would cure the problem HOWEVER I will not buy him a new flywheel or a new clutch kit..

I STILL think that u have a hydrolic or a clutch pedal adjustment problem plain and simple..

I run the SPEC stage 3 n/a 6 puk kit on my car with the fidanza lightweight flywheel

I used a NON TURBO trans with a NON TURBO clutch kit and flywheel on a POSTED, TURBO 15psi engine and had NO PROBLEMS and the first time the engine went in the pilot bearing was destroyed (buddies put the engine in when I ran to the store and crushed the bearing).. I had chatter in reverse due to this and the plate and flywheel hd chatter marks but after I pulled the engine out and put another new pilot bearing in and reinstalled it help 13-15psi JUST FINE.. I will use a spec clutch in the future AGAIN when I put in the turbo trans.

you can bash me all you want, I kept all the pm's and I am doing EVERYTHING and more that any person would do when their hands are tied behind their back.. I have offered to do everything possible and more but I will NOT buy u a new clutch kit.. or a new flywheel... if SPEC wont warranty it then there is nothing I can do..

btw u told me u went 3 miles..
that disc would not look like that if u were going 10mph or under and only went 3 miles because in order to have the disc make any substancial contact to put wear on it u would have to have the clutch enguaged to shift. I am sure u put more miles and prolly a burn out on it and maybe even some slipping of the clutch to get it to roll..

Alot of your story has holes and does not follow with what the clutch looks like.. and THAT is why SPEC and myself wont warranty your kit..

Again I am sorry but that is the way it is I cant do anymore then what I have already offered to do.

SpooledupRacing

BTW guys here I found this tongiht..

Seems like I was right.. there IS more to the story then what he said.. so it was over 10ph, it was driven on and there are "symptoms"

https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/chattering-noise-763813/


Now I see that this thread should just be closed..

SpooledupRacing

and after reading that I am guessing the flywheel was not to the correct spec and came loose..

endneu913

iTrader: (5)

"I told him to try and reinstall it making sure to use the alignment tool and to replace the pilot bearing and the seal again and ALOS to make sure his hydrolic system was working properly because my other idea (which I told him) was that the pressure plate may not be pushing against the disc hard enough and that is why it is wearing and now slipping I stated over and over that if it was installed right it has to be a hydrolic problem.."

Who wouldn't use the alignment tool? its close to crazy to not...... And please, go back over those PM's and try to find where you suggested it was the preload/ hydraulic system.. cause im pretty sure you wrote:

"matter of fact looking at that again I can clearly see where the track path is and that disc was NOT aligned properly and it looks like it got stuck to low on the plate was begins to ride the flywheel and put those hot spots in.. " on 7/31

AND

" if the clutch chattered then the pilot bearing bearing was damaged during installation"

and then finally mentioned in passing the "hydrolic" system a week later:

" i think its a hydrolic problem or it was installed incorrectly"

"I would even buy him a new flywheel face if that would cure the problem...."
Nice of you to mention that NOW... a compromise like that probably could have saved a lot of wasted time


"I STILL think that u have a hydrolic or a clutch pedal adjustment problem plain and simple.."

STILL huh? ....

"btw u told me u went 3 miles..
that disc would not look like that if u were going 10mph or under and only went 3 miles because in order to have the disc make any substancial contact to put wear on it u would have to have the clutch enguaged to shift. I am sure u put more miles and prolly a burn out on it and maybe even some slipping of the clutch to get it to roll.."

Just because some people are inclined to fib the truth and burn out on new clutches... doesn't mean that the O/P does.... guilty conscience?

"Alot of your story has holes and does not follow with what the clutch looks like.. and THAT is why SPEC and myself wont warranty your kit.."

Thats a funny statement considering that you told the O/P that you DIDNT tell Spec your opinion... so whats the real story? Is this decision based in fact or your opinion, because so far your mechanical knowledge has led Tooshort on a bushwhacking adventure through clutch troubleshooting land.

"I will inspect it asap! I have drove with it sounding this way no more than 30 mph and just around the block, probably less than 1 mile total of drive time, hope it hasn't done any harm." ( tooshort wrote this in the thread Sherlock posted above)

What does that prove? Who cares if he was doing 80mph... ( which he was'nt) he claimed to have driven the care 1 mile! The clutch slipped from mile zero.


"was not to the correct spec" what does that even mean? torqued to the correct spec?
Are you suggesting his flywheel up and came loose? BTW.. if it hasn't been mentioned, Tooshort has taken ALL of Spooled's mechanical advice, and so far none of it has fixed the chatter or the slippage.

SO... the name of the game here is not "will Spooled buy Tooshort a new clutch kit?" (because we all know you wont) it is more like " is Spooled a reliable source for parts?"

-If you can't support the parts you sell with the proper technical information, you have no business selling those parts.
- if you cant stand behind the product you choose to sell and have to hide behind manufacture warranty, you have no business selling those parts. Its called customer service. You are running a business are you not?

SpooledupRacing

first off why r u envolved u are not even helping here..

I dont have the car here to look at it or to drive it..

I mentioned the following possible issues

hydrolic system not bleed properly

pedal travel not adjusted right

flywheel nut not on tight whcih could have caused the flywheel to come loose (yes it has happened)

disc was not aligned properly

pilot bearing not replaced or damaged duing install

beating on the clutch and not breaking it in.

those are my only options on why there could be a problem

I said it a few times and I will say it again I WONT buy him a new clutch, if spec would have warrantied it I would have done everything i could to make the transaction go smoother but they wont..

NO I never told them my opinion on what happened I emailed them the pics and what EXACTLY he wrote me in my pm box and THEY wrote me back and declined the warranty.. I then called them and they declined it over the phone as well..

I then GAVE HIM the number to SPEC and i have no idea if he ever called them or not.

I have done everything I can to help him out but if the supplier (SPEC CLUTCH) wont warranty the item then I cant.

and just so u know I was unable to access the site for the last week thats why it took me this long to get back on here and post it up.

and I did mention about the flywheel surface HOWEVER it is not the flywheel that is causeing the slipping it is between the disc, pressure plate, hydrolic system

and me and the OP talked over pm for a matter of 2 days and then after he suposidly reinstalled it he got back to me a week later.. I mentioned ALL of my theroies in the first 2 days we chatted.

again without havign the car here it is only advise on what to look for nothing more I can do about. I dont have a magical ball that will give me the answer.

I think I have been MORE then HELPFULL in everthing I have done I never ignored any of his pm's I answered him PROMPTLY and gave him all the advise I had to give.

btw whats funny to me is his initail problem started back in June... its now AUGUST and he is just coming to me about the problem..

who is to say he has not driven it since then..

those pics IMO/IME are not of a few presses of the clutch and no abuse.