Let us know what they say at CT about all this.

 

It'd be nice if Shad would post with Comptech's point-of-view. There's a lot of 6MT drivers on this board that will be looking for new clutches in upcoming years and we'd like to know if this is a product we can trust, like other Comptech products.

 

I'll ask him to give his opinion... but here are the facts so far (not my opinion... just facts):

(1) I purchased the clutch/flywheel and installed it without the tool... it broke
(2) Comptech installed BOTH their clutches without the tool... hasn't broken
(3) Acura installed the second one... unsure if tool was used... it broke
(4) Acura installed the third one... 100% sure tool was used... it broke

It always broke the same way. I haven't driven the car any harder than I drove it with the stock unit. For that matter the stock unit met the drag-strip with the turbo!

(4) indicates that using/not-using the tool probably doesn't result in this failure... although this has been Comptech's position all along.

 

I said above that I think 3 or 4 people here have posted that they've installed the Comptech clutch/flywheel. I just realized something -- you've had 3 of them installed in your car, all with subsequent failure. That makes for about 6 or 7 installed products with about 50% failure rate. Ouch, Comptech.

 

Since no one else has had this issue, you might have to suspect the car. Maybe some small clearance difference in the tranny?

 

Do you think your car might have some kind of trans defect from the factory that is causing this problem, because even people with the blowers are not having this problem???


Allmotor
when you were at the track did you have those slicks on??????????????????????????????????????????


kevin

 

If its a trans defect... why didn't it pop with my stock clutch/flywheel? I drove it with the turbo... 400hp at the track... everywhere!

 

You should see if Shad is interested in their shop doing the install to see if they can determine the problem. I know it would require transport from S.CA to N.CA but it may be worth their time to determine the point of failure or design problems.

 

No way... I guarantee it will break again. I can't be a guinea pig with this anymore. Shad wasn't in today... will talk to him tomorrow probably.

 

let us know what goes down

 

Maybe we need to look at other clutch Co.'s and get them to make us one that wont brake

 

I just spoke to Shad in length. One idea that came up was that I do have the UR crank pulley and that might be causing some harmonic that is causing this piece to break (at a certain RPM). This is a remote possibility, but I am not willing to test out the theory!

He said he will look into reimbursing me somewhat for the flywheel (he brought it up... I didn't).

If this was the 'second' time the clutch broke.. I would have put the stock pulley back on!

 

What about the others that have the CT clutch/flywheel...do they have the UR pully? I dont know that much about cars...but that just seems a little far fetched...but I could be very wrong.

Im glad you might some some of your $$ back at least!

 

It's not far-fetched... possibly at 7000 RPM or 7400 RPM where I HAVE taken the car... it might cause such a bad resonance that it pops that little spring!

It is more likely than hard driving!

 

Thanks for the update.


Wouldn't the UR pulley have to be way off in it's balance to cause something catastrophic like breaking the clutch plate? Wouldn't you also have engine problems if it was off?

Even if the UR pulley was an issue, shouldn't this be something the Comptech engineers think about. Many people that buy the type of products that Comptech sells are trying to do the same thing that you are - get more performance out of the car. It shouldn't be a problem to have other performance products (esp bolt ons) on the car as well. Of course if Comptech made a pulley too things could be tested out a bit easier.


Just thinking out loud...

 

It is actually not too far of a stretch. Dampening was built into the design; subtle changes could cause enough harmonics to throw it out of wack. This might be the right (or wrong) combination, unfortunately for you Ramanan.

 

Yeah... this could be the cause... considering that this little that breaks really is a weak little piece of metal. I also talked to Comptech about re-designing the pressure-plate, but he said its not feasible unless its the same one for the new TL (considering the CL is discontinued).

I didn't see any problems with the UR Crank and the stock flywheel. One thing to consider is that this piece that breaks is held on by 4 little springs... so if its a harmonic it has to be something that isn't dampened by those springs - that's hard to believe! If there is such a 'beat' where the springs own harmonic constant is exponentially affected by the crank vibration... I'd probably see more damage in the engine - and you can tell the car runs fine (oil appears clean as well).

Shad mentioned it is unfortunate I am a 'guinea pig'... but hell, it was bound to happen to someone!

 

Yeah I meant far fetched because you are not have any other problems with the engin other than this...again I know very little.

That is to bad this didnt happen like on the 2nd one and notthe 4th and final one...it would be interesting to see if you took of the UR pully if you had this problem again.

Do we know if the others with this setup have the UR pully?

I was really looking forward to when the stock clutch goes out to get a good grippy one...but this is making me not want a CT one...I cant afford to go through what you have

 

i dont have the underdrive pulley and my clutch grips like an alligator.maybe it is the underdrive pulley thats causing a serious vibration at the high end by redline? well good luck i wish you could have enjoyed it like i enjoy mine.

 

Ok thats one with out the UR pully and the CT clutch with no problems...who are the others with the clutch??

 

yup and im almost at 13,000 miles with it hard driving!!

 

Hey guys don't underestimate harmonics!!!!!!!! Remember that big bridge that was swaying back and forth because of the wind HARMONICS!!!!!!!!!


Kevin

 

well allmotor i guess no more race clutch for you just go back to stock and build another turbo car

 

I just found out that another NA enthusiast from the past kept blowing clutches until he went to a stock pulley (from a very reliable source... not on a CL-S, of course... but an RSX).

This very well could be the key!! I don't know if I should risk it though.

 

Ohh you know the answer to that :P
Doooo it

Tell CT about all this and make them swap out the clutch one final time to test it for them and others.

 

Um... I have been PAYING the dealer to keep swapping this in and out... Comptech isn't doing it!

 

No I meant the actual clutch...not the install. All you have to do is strongarm the dealer and make them swap it one more time for free j/k

 

ask them to help pay for something because if they don't do anything i can think of about 5or 6 GUYS THAT WON'T DO THE COMPTECH CLUTCH because of allt he problems you have had me being one of them.


kevin

 

Well... here's one for the forum!! I told Shad that I'd try the flywheel with the stock pulley... IF they give me a new flywheel - as mine is all dinged up! He said they might give me one 'for cost'... but he will get back to me. I won't agree to that... free or nothing! I said... won't you feel comfortable if everything works fine after this and you've found the cause!

I'll start collecting for the next 'breakage' starting now

 

 

Geez... where's the love here?

 

Wow! Interesting development. I would think this is something Comptech would have an interest in getting solved. Could you do another install yourself if you had the special tool? I take it the Accord must use a different clutch? I assumed it was the same and there would at least be that market for the flywheels. Sounds like it could be the pully but I don't really understand a lot about harmonics. I think I'll cross the UD pulley off the list too. Good luck. I hope you hang in there and go for it but it's a tough decision.

 

Just answered this one. Here is the Accord:


Here is the CL:


Sure look the same to me. I'll bet the new TL has the same unit as well so there should be some more development going on with this.

 

The CL Flywheel appears to be $100 more expensive...!

 

any new news from comptech

 

Interesting news... Although I would love to see you get the Comptech clutch back on there with the stock pulley I can understand the situation. I am sure your wife is really enjoying this as I know mine would (they just don't get it).

I do hope Comptech will come up with something for you.

 

Gotta pay for that Acura name I guess.

 

He was going to call me today... I am still hesitant... cuz if it breaks again... that will be BAD! I got a nice lecture from the wife last night... so most likeley I will go with the stock pulley. I am pretty sure in the next 6 months someone will come out with a clutch/flywheel for either the Accord, CL-S or TL-S... so I'll be there for that!

 

Uh Oh! I'm surprised it didn't come sooner.

I have a wife too so I can relate...

 

She's been lecturing since it broke the first time!!!!