Steve and Randall,
We didn't include that warning, because I had never heard of coil bind
occurring in these units. I tested the springs with a valve spring
gauge with a range that didn't allow me to reach coil bind. The
accumulator springs or so stiff (over 500 lb/in) a couple of hardware
store washers will increase the pressure about 50 psi. I shimmed a
large accumulator OD to about 525 psi with no problems. When the coil
bind happened, what was the shim thickness and what pressure were you
at? Was it a large or small accumulator? I will add a warning when we
update the article, but would like the details. I suppose this would
suggest that you need to bench test it at a speed which is high enough
to activate the relief valve. Otherwise, you have no idea what pressure
you will have at speed.
Larry
On 7/29/2013 1:31 AM, Randall wrote:
> It's a very good article; and yet I wish it had included a copy of Steve's
> warning. I found out the hard way.
>
> The pressure on the bench and in the car looked fine at lower rpm. But the
> spring was reaching coil bind at higher rpm and the resulting pressure
> literally bent the bars that the pistons ride against, before eventually
> forcing the clutch assembly out of the carrier. That big circlip looked
> like a pretzel; and the clutch assembly was pretty much ruined. The excess
> pressure may also have something to do with the thrust washer exploding, and
> the case being about .080" longer afterSwards.
>
> FWIW, I turned my own adapter for the pressure gauge; a fun but practical
> lathe project. You can use the plug as a pattern for the OD end, then just
> drill & tap a hole for the pressure gauge (mine was 1/4 NPT).
>
> Randall
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