Do You Need a Clutch?

[surfmachine]

Hi,I am rebuilding my Mercedes 55 hp diesel motor in Malaysia and the clutch plate had a few broken rivets and 2 worn springs. It is a sole diesel marine conversion. It is not functioning as a clutch and is bolted onto the flywheel inner face and connects the spline drive from the end of the crankshaft with the flywheel/starter ring gear.

The friction material has been replaced by a metal ring which is bolted to the inside of the flywheel. I cant get it repaired and am asking whether I can replace the assembly with a plate welded to the spline coupling and bolt this to the flywheel?

It's sole function seems to be to join the crankshaft to the flywheel. The springs may act as a slight shock absorber. The motor is coupled to a forward and reverse hurth type gearbox, brand SMP-H, then a flewxible coupling to the prop shaft.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Can't post any pics as clutch is away on the mainland.
Cheers from Keith.

[delmarrey]

I would not recommend any welding in that area. Everything needs to be on center or it'll create bigger problems.

You could try these guys to see if there is a replacement >>>> Help with Tech Tips - Tech Tip #52

[surfmachine]

Thanks Delmarrey, so it's called a damper plate, and joins the motor to the gearbox.
Could a clutch manufacturer rebuild it?
Cheers from Keith.

[delmarrey]

Without seeing it, it's hard to say. The springs are necessary to cushion the shock of engaging the prop. as you can see from the old springs that have been used up. The plates would have to be undamaged in order to rebuild, and if you could find the right size of springs.

But I was suggesting a replacement would be easier. The link I gave, they might have something on the shelf to fit or know where to get one. You just have to match up the bolt pattern and spline.

Help with Tech Tips - Tech Tip #52

[Florida Mike]

Go to a heavy-duty parts store or a junkyard and get a clutch plate from a truck with the same splines. He will have to read drill the mounting holes. I’ve would suggest taking the input shaft with you. Just my two cents, Mike.

[Lancerbye]

As Delmarry stated, the springs are necessary. The damper plate is there to save your shaft and coupling when going to reverse and just engaging. Consider the torque created went having to do an emergency reverse. Could break the shaft. No soft intro.

[shakey doug]

G' day surfy,
Do not make the connection between the flywheel and gearbox a solid this will cause all types of on going problems due to torsional vibration. An internal comp engine when viewed by a time elapse camera actually revolves in a jerky manner at each power stroke, the job of a damper is to smooth these jerks out thus making life for the transmission ect much easier. Headland Engineering, Sydney, Aust stock the correct damper.

[surfmachine]

Thanks guys. The plate is undamaged, but 2 rivets gone and springs have grooves in two of them. I am trying to get the part from the sole agent in singapore, or sydney.

Anyone know of a good supplier here in Malaysia, or nearby?
They have the part in the Sole factory in Spain.

Cheers from Keith.

[surfmachine]

Thanks for all your advice.
I repaired the old one myself, replaced fore and aft small rivets with bolts and welded them to the collars on the top of the springs, looks good. This a spare now!

Bought a new R and D marine damper from england for 285 aud landed in Langkawi, takes 5 days to get here for 66 aud freight via TNT. Great service from Roger at R and D marine, got a damper with the polyurethane shock absorber material, looks great.

Also fitted 2 from Barry here at the b and v marine yard at Tanjung Lembong.

Start reboring the motor in 2 days time, I hope????????

Cheers from Keith.

[SkiprJohn]

Is this an OM636 engine? Just curious.

I had mine apart a few times and it really is a simple engine. I don't have rings for overbore but have some extra standard ring sets.

kind regards,

[surfmachine]

Ahoy John.
No...it is not a om636, but an om615, 55hp, it has the same flywheel, so r and d marine tell me.
I now have 2 spare sets of 87mm rings 3/2/4, one from Germany and 1 from Malaysia. I am fitting cylinder liners and boring them to take 87mm new pistons and new rings.
Been welding up the alloy water pump housing and thermostat housings. Home to have it all finished in 1 week?
Cheers from Keith.