South Bend Clutch Report

[Ed Sigman]

Last week, I had my friends had Central Motive Power in Albuquerque install my new South Bend Clutch model MU 2001 Con FE. Andy at South Bend provided excellent input and shipped the product within a reasonable time. My stock clutch began slipping pulling a 14,000 lb. 5er and with some of the recent modifications, TDR members were warning of potential clutch problems. So I ordered the clutch.



There is an immediate and noticeable difference between the two. When this clutch grabs, it really grabs and you really notice it. It takes a little to get use to it but is very close in touch and sensitivity to the stock clutch. Very little depression will allow gears to be shifted and it is very quick. First gear is definitely smoother and from a dead start in second gear, it grabs so fast that you are really on your way. I will be testing it with the 5er shortly, and expect 1st gear to hold on an incline from a dead start. That is where I had problems before with the stock clutch: it would not grab and hold to get me up a severe incline from a dead stop.



Given my configuration on the 3500, and for my purposes, this is proving to be a prudent decision which I would recommend for these purposes only. Thank you South Bend and thanks to Martin at Central Motive Power



Ed

 

[Brandon]

one step up from that, the con FE is holding the same trailer wih DDIII and a pe ez,





peter you did hit a homer with this one





later Brandon

 

[Vaman]

Have to agree on all accounts... great combination of performance, price, and driveability. Take all that and then throw in outstanding customer support and you have something that is very difficult to find these days. Keep up the good work Peter.

 

[South Bend Clutch]

Thankyou all. If it was not for the fantastic R&D this would not have been possible. My hat is off to all of you what a great group of people. Peter

 

[KWIKKURT]

Peter (SB), How about offering a prize to the first person to slip or break? your clutch. After the beating I have given mine I am really suprised a clutch that holds so well with little Chatter or none at all has stood up to my punishment. The next test is coming soon! I want to start establishing some 1/4 mile times with my fifth wheel in tow!



You have ridden with me after MayMaddness and DD Bombing's and since then I have added more! Peter are you worried yet?



P. S. does your warranty say anything about Bombing Limits???



I'm off to do some more "Testing" Later KwikKurt

 

[South Bend Clutch]

KwikKurt, yes I will have a prize to the first one who can break my clutch------when you call me I will have another one in stock to ship that day. I can't wait for you guy's to be able to get the mods. for the ETH trucks so we can find out how far the MU 2001 CON FE can go!!!!! I was at the Muncie show this weakend and it was awesome. Hats off to Eric McBried for the fantastic work he did putting it all together. Drag day on Sunday was a blast but knowone was tring to do it with a trailer. I think they were going to wait until Wednesday to do that. LOL One guy wanted to use a U-Haul (diesel) on Saterday during the sled pull but when he tried to enter they just laughed. Peter

 

[Rattlebox]

Can I get a South Bend Clutch for a 1999 six speed ?

 

[ynot]

Hey Peter, I'll remember you said that The next month should see the propane put back on and a timing module, bumping me well over 525. So far it's taken all I can give it with no end in site, so it should be fun to see what smokes it. BTW, I'll get the other test units sent back this week. Thanks for all ya'lls help. Great job in both R&D and customer service... T

 

[South Bend Clutch]

Rattlebox, your 1999 six speed is not a 13" clutch. That did not start until July 6th of 2000. I believe our (MU 0090 CON O) would do the trick for you. This clutch kit seems to be holding good into the mid 400's with a smooth drive. I only rated this clutch for 350 but that has proven to be under what it is actually capable of. Peter

 

[DBR]

I have had the MU1938 CON. FE installed in my 12 valve for the past six weeks. I will admit that the clutch does hold, but the overall engagement characteristics are far from stock (as stated in the advertisements). I believe at this point that the clutch will provide good service for the needs of my 12 valve, however I would hope for a better business transaction/service from South Bend. I am glad to see that other members speak highly of South Bend and hope that they continue to provide good service to their customers. I cannot support the same glowing testimonials based on my own experiences with the company representatives--I would hesitate somewhat before doing business with this company again.

 

[South Bend Clutch]

DBR, anyone that calls us and asked about the driveability of a particuler clutch kit will get a different answer to each one. Each of our clutches have different characteristics. We believe we are very honest about this issue. The (MU 1938 CON FE) is one of our most powerful clutch kits. Understand that you have a full metal disc with a 3700lb pressure plate, this clutch was built for major horse power and if we did not alter it for smoothness of engagement (as we state) the clutch would be undriveable. We have also found that the same clutch can go into two different vehicals and react different to each of them. One gentleman came up last week and had that clutch installed and absolutely loves it. If it were my truck I probably would not go with this clutch unless my mods. were extreme. We have clutches that are way smoother and will hold plenty of hp. I know unless you slipped through the cracks that we were very clear with you on this issue. For that I am sorry. All you had to do was call us and we would take care of this as I think most people would testify to. We can't please everyone but if they give us the chance we will do the best we can.



What is your hp

Who is the installer

How sound is your truck

If you go to a metal clutch can your truck handle it

Did the flywheel get refaced and was it properly done

Was everything around the clutch in good shape (fork, ball, input shaft and brg. , pilot brg. allignment, whatever)





This is not an easy business

but we will try and do our best for you!!!!!!

 

[DBR]

South Bend Clutch,



The issue I have with the FE 1938 clutch is very minor and was expected. The “chatter” experienced during second gear starts is minimal. The shifting through the rest of the gears is clean and stock-like. The second gear chatter is significantly reduced, if not almost eliminated, if I have the under-drive in use (US Gear under-drive 20%).

The gears on the truck are 3. 54 with 33” tires. The truck itself is in sound mechanical condition, with a recent inspection from the local frame and axle shop. The truck has been dynoed at BD during a previous Dyno-Days and pegged their old 400 hp dyno. So I can honestly state that the truck does have around 400 hp, possibly more . I performed the installation of the clutch at my home shop, and during inspection observed no deterioration of the clutch-related parts. I did have the flywheel resurfaced (by stone) at a local Napa store with a full service in-house machine shop. I chose not to install the pilot bearing that had been provided in favor of a new stock needle bearing due to time constraints.

The issue I have with South Bend is not the quality of the clutch or its overall performance to date, but rather with the staff I encountered at South Bend. I did contact South Bend and presented and discussed my issue (a communication failure on the part of one of the salesmen) as it became evident but could not find satisfaction. I believe as a customer I presented myself clearly and professionally in regard to the issue. I simply chose not to argue the point and accept South Bend’s decision. My original post was my personal evaluation of South Bend Clutch and was based on my experience with the sales staff.

 

[Bad340fish]

Takin off in Second with 33s and 3.54s?

I am not trying to knock your driving style at all but thats a pretty hard load. My truck is a 2wd with the factory tires on it with 3. 54s. Second gear starts are easy but I know with a taller tire I would be using first gear. Just thought I would throw this out there. Since its not a problem with your underdrive engaged why don't you just take off in first??? JMO

Clark

 

[ynot]

Just out of curiousity, what was the issue you presented, and what was the salesmans name and the decision he made that you spoke of? I'm still lost on what you're getting at, being the first and foremost decision from myself and others on going with Southbend IS the staff... T

 

[Todd T]

Hey Pete,

what kind of trade in value is on the Joe Donnelly Sach's modified clutch?? just kiddin



I see where Steve St. is claiming one of yours welded to the flywheel this weekend. any truth to that, and if so what was the outcome?



which clutch did they have in?



5spd? or 6spd?



BTW are yours made for pulling? or just Drag racing like the JD's



I just want one that will hold whatever I am doing, its seems to me that if it will hold up for racing with 3rd,4th gear starts it should hold up for pulling with the tires spinning.

 

[South Bend Clutch]

Todd,



Actually the clutch Steve St. was speaking of, I believe, was a McCloud. You may check back to that post to see if I'm right. However, I was informed that one of my clutches broke also. Drag racing and sled pulling are two entirely different things. There is nothing worse you can do to a clutch then hook a sled to your truck and pull it until you stop the truck. We can, and do, build tractor-pull clutches but they will NOT be a street driveable clutch. When it comes to this type of abuse you can only have one or the other.



Peter

 

[DBR]

Bad340fish



No offense taken on my driving style... the issue of 2nd gear starts was only used as a comparison. The previous clutches I've had in the truck were capable of handling second gear starts, therefore I used this as an equal and fair comparison. I also recognize that the previous clutches were not capable of handling the vehicle's power as the new clutch does. I also kept the description of the clutch characteristics to a minimum. The clutch exhibits a chatter in reverse, but, once again, in under-drive it is not a major issue. I believe that when asking for a clutch to handle the amount of power our trucks are capable of producing, one will have to give a little somewhere, which I understand and accept.



Ynot



The following should answer and clarify my experience.



It has been a while since I have had my encounters with South Bend Clutch, but I believe that my initial conversations were with a gentleman named Andy. During our original conversations, Andy was very helpful and polite. He even mistakenly misquoted a price on the first clutch I ordered ($150. 00 in my favor) and stated that he would honor that price. During that time frame the CON FE 1938 was being released and seemed to be a better option for my particular vehicle. The only hesitations I had at the time were the $800. 00 price tag and the clutch having not yet been proven. A few days later I read in a TDR post about a group purchase offer that was available. I responded to the TDR post stating that I desired to participate. I then received an e-mail from the post originator, stating that he had sent my e-mail address to South Bend and to call as soon as possible to place my order.



I then contacted South Bend and asked to speak with Andy, but he was not available. I then spoke with a different employee, but do not recall his name (I believe that his name should be on my invoice) and asked about the TDR group purchase. I explained that I had been in contact with Andy for the past few weeks in regards to purchasing a clutch for my vehicle and we had decided that the Con FE 1938 would best suit my purposes. I then explained to the salesperson that I would like to get the clutch as soon as possible as I intended on participating in the BD Dyno Days. The salesman stated that there had not been enough response at that time to provide the group discount of 10%. I asked if it would be appropriate to send the clutch and charge my account the full price, then have South Bend credit my account the 10% if the discount was to go through.



The salesman agreed and I completed my transaction. After a few weeks, I called South Bend and asked the salesperson if the TDR group purchase was successful. He stated that there was adequate response and that the discounts were honored. I then explained the agreement I had made with the previous salesperson and asked if my account would be credited. It was then explained that I didn’t qualify for the group purchase as all the clutches had to be packaged and shipped at the same time. This was in contradiction to the agreement that was made with me at the time of my purchase. I then asked if I had any recourse and was told politely “No”. There was no offer of investigating or trying to resolve the issue.



In addition, the clutch alignment tool and lock-tight were not included with the clutch when it was shipped.



The issue is not monetary, but an issue of character by a company reneging on an agreement .

 

[South Bend Clutch]

DBR



Now that you have clarified the issue I am VERY familiar with what happened. The issue did not set well with me either. We have 3 owners and we are all brothers. Our names are Andy, Woody, and Peter. I am Peter, you first delt with Andy and that leaves Woody. Woody is one of those kind of people that everything has to be by the book (if it was'nt according to plan then there shoud not be any exceptions). Well, what he did with you realy @#%$ me off, but I had to respect his decision wether it was wrong or right. Well DBR, it was not right. I understand his point that the only way we could afford to give the discount was to do it all at once BUT sometimes you have to make a consideration. That is just good business. I know it is not a monitary thing at this point but I would like you to call ME and let me make it right.



I have to tell you that I have been racking my brains trying to figure out what we did wrong. We try very hard to do our best but sometimes there is a glitch. He felt that if we do it with you then where do we stop and that would be getting away from the group purchase altogether. Well you were the only one that had a special request. I tried to tell him that it would not be an issue, and if it is, we will cross that path when it comes.



I am truely sorry!!



Peter

 

[KWIKKURT]

Originally posted by South Bend Clutch

Todd,



There is nothing worse you can do to a clutch then hook a sled to your truck and pull it until you stop the truck.

Peter

Peter,



Finally something I can disagree with you on. The worse thing you can do to a Clutch is install it wrong!



Later KwikKurt

 

[DBR]

Peter,



Thank you for your response on the matter, however I disagree with your logic. Not to oversimplify the matter, but the common denominator here is the fact that an agreement was made, resulting in my purchase. You state that later through discussion with your remaining business partners (your brothers) the decision was made not to allow exceptions to the group purchase, which ultimately resulted in your company’s action to break our verbal agreement.



Let’s put this in a different light and see if you agree with the same logic. I agreed to purchase a clutch for a specified amount. Later, after discussion with my business partner (my wife—50% owner) we decided that the cost of the clutch exceeded what she felt was acceptable, therefore “I had to respect her decision, whether it was wrong or right”. Based on this logic, would it be appropriate for me to renege on our original agreement and pay an amount that we chose was fair…and would you be expected to accept it?



This may seem old-fashioned and out-dated for today’s society, but I still believe that a person’s (or company’s) true worth is measured by one thing – his or her word.