After running this coupled with a Tied secondary all of last season I'm running into a situation with the spacer washers behind the secondary. As the clutch is squeezing the washer between it's inner hub and the outer bearing race it is deforming, thinning the pinched surface, and cupping the washer. Two of them in 400 miles. The last one was so badly deformed and stuck on the shaft I had to pry it away from the bearing and use a pair of pliers to pull it off. It has happened to both a factory Cat washer and a cheap hardware store Hillman brand one. First one was setup with the secondary floated 0.005"-0.010". Second one had no float. Tied clutch aligned with supplied alignment bar. Big bore, 3" 162 track, and 300lb geared up rider are taxing the system as well. 400 miles on the last 111 belt (running 2018 primary) with more warm spring riding than I typically do.
I used to have a problem with the factory secondary on 2014 and 2015 cat shafts wearing those washers out over the course of a season. The factory secondary had a larger surface area where it contacted the washer so the force was less concentrated on the washers to deform them. Cat clutch was aligned with Cat alignment bar and had good belt life with 084s.
My theory is I have two main things acting against those washers that I didn't before. 1.) The increased contact stress from the smaller hub on the new secondary clutch. 2.) The flex of the shaft is allowing the end of the clutch to deflect more towards the engine and pinching the washer harder on the front (engine side) of the shaft. Changing the TCL from the 2014 style to the 2017 style is another variable, but I can't see how that would contribute to this since the jackshaft bearing is the same as before.
Anyone else using this combo and seeing the same thing? Thinking of trying to source some hardened machine washers to withstand the stresses they are seeing. If I can't find any this may become a replacement maintenance item every 2-3 rides.
