How does a Top Fuel dragster clutch work?
6 min read
Asked by: Jenny Hart
A centrifugal clutch operates using centrifugal force as the name implies. It is a system of timers, levers, and clutch discs making up a clutch pack. Centrifugal force wants to throw the clutch fingers outwards. That makes them pivot and push the pressure plate into the clutch pack, increasing clamp force.
How many clutches do a Top Fuel dragster?
In most fuel cars, there are six clutch discs and five floaters.
How does a Top Fuel centrifugal clutch work?
So if you're looking down at it. Basically if you're looking from the side. Here where this is the crankshaft. Coming in then you will see these pins will rotate the friction plates.
How many gears does a Top Fuel dragster have?
Top Alcohol Dragster
The injected nitro cars do not use a transmission, and the supercharged cars have three forward speeds.
How does a Top Fuel dragster go in reverse?
When the driver moves the handle it moves this lever. Back it reverses the direction of that output shaft.
Why do dragster engines only last 4 seconds?
Without any additional air required that's because it carries its own oxygen therefore needing less atmospheric.
How much does a Top Fuel clutch cost?
Prices on site not guaranteed, check with MTC before ordering
| CLUTCH SPRINGS | Red clutch springs (3) | $34.95 |
| CLUTCH ARMS | ||
| PRIMARY ARM #1 | $30.50 | |
| SECONDARY ARM #1 | ||
| SECONDARY ARM #2 | ||
What transmission is in a Top Fuel dragster?
centrifugal clutch
Have you ever wondered how a top fuel dragster can put 10,000+ horsepower to the track? The answer is in the clutch. Unlike a street or high-performance car that uses a manual or automatic transmission, a top-fuel dragster uses a centrifugal clutch and only operates in forward, high, and reverse.
What type of transmission is used in drag racing?
Automatic gearboxes are much more consistent, and that is king in drag racing. You will find that automatic gearboxes perform better in 9 out of 10 races.
How many rpms does a Top Fuel dragster run?
A Top Fuel dragster reaches more than 300 mph before you have completed reading this sentence. With a redline that can be as high as 9500 rpm, Top Fuel engines turn approximately 540 revolutions from light to light.
How much does a gallon of nitromethane cost?
about $16 US per gallon
… Nitromethane used to power the engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars costs about $16 US per gallon!
What is the G force of a Top Fuel dragster?
* In order to exceed 300 MPH in 4 seconds, dragsters must accelerate an average of over 4 G’s. In order to reach 200 MPH well before half-track, the launch acce leration approaches 8 G’s. * Top Fuel engines turn approximately 480 revolutions from light to light!
How much fuel does a Top Fuel dragster burn in a quarter-mile?
77Gallons per minute the fuel system can pump at wide-open throttle. The engine will consume 22.75 gallons of fuel during warmup, burnout, staging, and the quarter-mile run. 900Cost, in dollars, of a 55-gallon drum of nitromethane fuel. Current regulations allow a maximum of 85 percent nitromethane in the fuel mix.
How much does a NHRA Top Fuel engine cost?
about $500,000
Answer provided by. While a pro mod drag car will run anywhere from $275,000 to $350,000, a Top Fuel dragster costs about $500,000. Top Fuel engines that displace 496 cubic inches are most common, and these cars can weigh about 1,000 kilograms. Top Fuel dragsters can produce over 6,000 horsepower.
Do Top Fuel dragsters have brakes?
Since these cars would wear through brakes pretty quickly at more than 300 miles per hour (482.8 kilometers per hour), Top Fuel dragsters are equipped with a special type of primary braking system.
What is the 0 60 time of a Top Fuel dragster?
A top fuel dragster accelerates from a standstill to 100 mph (160.9 km/h) in as little as 0.8 seconds (less than one third the time required by a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach 60 mph (96.6 km/h)) and can exceed 297 mph (478.0 km/h) in just 660 feet (201.2 m).
What is the fastest 1/4 mile time ever recorded?
Watch Rimac Nevera Go Beyond Plaid: Sets New 1/4 Mile World Record
- #1 8.74 seconds @ 165.52 mph (without burn out.
- #2 8.612 seconds @ 166.99 mph (with burn out)
- Record pass: 8.582 seconds at 167.51 mph (269.5 km/h)
How long does a Top Fuel engine last?
The life of an engine of this sort is typically 11–12 runs in a dragster it is completely replaced, but after each of those passes it will be torn down and rebuilt.
What is nitromethane fuel made of?
Nitromethane is produced industrially by combining propane and nitric acid in the gas phase at 350–450 °C (662–842 °F). This exothermic reaction produces the four industrially significant nitroalkanes: nitromethane, nitroethane, 1-nitropropane, and 2-nitropropane.
Can I add nitromethane to my gas?
Nitromethane by itself does not burn, its only supplies more oxygen to the burn. Adding it to gasoline would be the same thing as running very high octane fuel, which involves motor knowlege and reworking to run safely.
What octane is jet fuel?
The octane ratings of AVGAS, a gasoline-based fuel, are usually either 91 or 100 (lean mixture) and 96 or 130 (rich mixture). The octane rating of jet fuel is much lower, around 15 – this is much more like automotive diesel and thus much more resistant to detonating due to sparks or compression.
What is the shelf life of nitromethane?
From my experience, it should last well over 1 year. In Quebec we stop racing in september and the season restarts in may. I regularly store fuel over winter and there are no problems.
What can I use instead of nitro fuel?
RE: alternative rc fuel
Nitro does not lube the engine, its the oil that does. Synthetic oil does not lube as well as Castor, so a castor synthetic blend would be the best.
Does fuel expire?
According to the RAC, petrol generally has a shelf life of around six months if it is stored properly. That means in a tightly sealed container at 20 degrees. At higher temperatures it degrades more quickly, for instance at 30 degrees it will last for just three months.
Where should nitro fuel be stored?
Obviously away from a flame. That's a given the most important thing is store the fuel up off the floor. And try to pick an area that is cool and dry if you do that the shelf life of your fuel.
How long does unopened nitro fuel last?
solid. 20 to 30 years in storage is fine for glow fuel. Keep it sealed up good, out of the sunlight, off of a concrete floor and out of extreme temperatures and the stuff is good for seemingly forever.
Is nitro fuel flammable?
The “nitro” we commonly refer to is from the nitrogen, which is what makes up most of the air we breath (oxygen is not as common in our air). Nitromethane is flammable on its own, even without oxygen, but it’s burning point is very high—higher than 4,000°F.
