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If you’ve ever owned an HPI Baja 5B/T/SC, you’ll know that doing any maintenance work on the rear of the car can be a bear. Something as simple as replacing the clutch shoes can take upwards of 30 minutes and require the forearms of Popeye to remove all the screws (most of them covered in Loctite!). My buddy Clayton over at Vertigo Performance hit me up a while back to test out his new two-piece, aluminum easy-access clutch carrier. At first I was a bit skeptical since the unit I received was quite hefty, but after installing and actually using it I can honestly say I want one on every one of my Baja vehicles. The clutch carrier comes pre-assembled, basically meaning that all the bearings are pressed in place, the two halves are joined and a bag of hardware is included. Let’s take a look at how this clutch carrier can make your large-scale life a whole lot better.
I started off by disassembling the stock clutch area. Off came the gear cover, gears, brake system and mounting plate. In addition, you will also need to loosen the screws in the rear top deck and side plate to remove these pieces. To install, simply slide the clutch housing into place and re-install the brake system. You can also tighten up the screws you loosened to get the parts off. Install the gear case screws (per the included instruction manual) and slide the one-piece carrier plate into position. Attach the spur gear, pinion gear and gear cover and you’re done!
So, what’s the point – what major benefit does this item provide? That’s a good question! First off, you can see that the parts count has dwindled from a ton to a few. Secondly, if you ever need to replace/repair your clutch spring or clutch shoes, there are only three (yes, three) screws you have to remove to get to it (after, or course, you remove the gear cover, pinion and spur). Once removed, the one-piece carrier slides right off and you have complete access to your clutch!
I’ve run this carrier on my 5T now in four club races and one National event and can say that there are absolutely no side effects of this unit … even with the slight added weight. In fact, I’m almost certain it has helped my drivetrain because with a one-piece unit, I can be assured that everything is in perfect alignment. The funny thing is I’ve only had to remove it once for maintenance but seven or eight times to show people how easy it is to access!
Bigger may be better, but it’s not always better to work on. For me, the Vertigo Performance Easy Access Clutch Carrier is one of those pieces that I can’t live without. Before owning this, I would dread having to maintain my clutch. Now, it’s a simple task that falls in line with my general maintenance. If you’re still not sold, head to Vertigo’s web site and watch the video. You’ll be buying one in no time.
LINKS
HPI hpiracing.com, 949-753-1099
Vertigo Performance vertigoperformance.com, 844-837-8446
