What was the max RPM Tote Gote's with the Climbaway clutch ran from the factory? I have two Tote Gote Nova's. One is a 670 I put a 7hp Tecumseh engine on, the other is a unmolested, well-preserved, 675 with the stock 6hp Briggs aluminum engine. Both run the same 1" shaft Climbaway clutch made by Bonham. I consider the all-stock 675 the control for my experiment of putting a 7hp Tecumseh on a Nova.
What is the Max engine RPM I should be running? I put my spark plug run tachometer/hour meter on it. When governed down to the engine manufacturer suggested 3500 RPM max, the clutch seems like it doesn't want to open all the way in order to give me good performance by gripping the belt fully. However, when I run them at a little higher RPM, what my tach says is the 4-5 thousand RPM range, it seems like the performance is more accurate and the clutch operates to its max capability. But this is over the engine manufacturers suggested RPM for engine longevity. This 'problem' applies to both the Gote which I just put the 7 hp Tecumseh on and the 6hp Briggs one no one has ever really touched other than a carb cleaning..that 675 still has the original tires and belt on it. The 670 with the 7hp had the clutch powder coated to protect it, and I lubed the ball-pockets of the clutch with the Bonham suggested Lubriplate grease before installing it. Neither of the clutches have been modified in any way, however the balls bearing of the 7hp Gote have been replaced with same size replacements, but I don't see how that would affect it, they are just off-the-shelf bearings, and the fact it performs the same as the bone stock 675 tells me I'm on the money..maybe?
Does anyone have any experience as to what the max RPM should be in order to achieve the performance I should expect from these Tote Gote Nova's? Did Bonham set the max governed RPM higher in order for their clutches to work? Or is it set higher to get over obstacles when riding and I should just accept a good safe "cruising speed" for normal riding? Should I just accept the fact these Gotes need a little higher than recommended RPM to run full speed/full performance? I understand these bikes weren't meant to be quick from the factory, but running it at 3,500 RPM seems way too slow for the clutch to even fully operate...like they were MEANT to run faster than 3,500 RPM. Please enlighten me on what you think...Thanks Everyone
What is the Max engine RPM I should be running? I put my spark plug run tachometer/hour meter on it. When governed down to the engine manufacturer suggested 3500 RPM max, the clutch seems like it doesn't want to open all the way in order to give me good performance by gripping the belt fully. However, when I run them at a little higher RPM, what my tach says is the 4-5 thousand RPM range, it seems like the performance is more accurate and the clutch operates to its max capability. But this is over the engine manufacturers suggested RPM for engine longevity. This 'problem' applies to both the Gote which I just put the 7 hp Tecumseh on and the 6hp Briggs one no one has ever really touched other than a carb cleaning..that 675 still has the original tires and belt on it. The 670 with the 7hp had the clutch powder coated to protect it, and I lubed the ball-pockets of the clutch with the Bonham suggested Lubriplate grease before installing it. Neither of the clutches have been modified in any way, however the balls bearing of the 7hp Gote have been replaced with same size replacements, but I don't see how that would affect it, they are just off-the-shelf bearings, and the fact it performs the same as the bone stock 675 tells me I'm on the money..maybe?
Does anyone have any experience as to what the max RPM should be in order to achieve the performance I should expect from these Tote Gote Nova's? Did Bonham set the max governed RPM higher in order for their clutches to work? Or is it set higher to get over obstacles when riding and I should just accept a good safe "cruising speed" for normal riding? Should I just accept the fact these Gotes need a little higher than recommended RPM to run full speed/full performance? I understand these bikes weren't meant to be quick from the factory, but running it at 3,500 RPM seems way too slow for the clutch to even fully operate...like they were MEANT to run faster than 3,500 RPM. Please enlighten me on what you think...Thanks Everyone