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[./1_2d_the_donor_car.html]
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[./why_do_this.html]
[./1_2d_the_donor_car.html]
[./2_2d_dismantling.html]
[./3_2d_painting.html]
[./4_2d_cleaning.html]
[./5_2d_clutch_removal.html]
[./6_2d_the_gearbox.html]
[./7_2d_buying_the_motor.html]
[./8_2d_in_the_meantime.html]
[./9_2d_the_pot_box.html]
[./10_2d_the_motor.html]
[./11_2d_the_heater.html]
[./12_2d_battery_racks.html]
[./13_2d_control_box.html]
[./14_2d_battery_install.html]
[./15_2d_main_cable.html]
[./16_2d_trial_run.html]
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[./20_2d_life_with_an_ev1.html]
[Web Creator] [LMSOFT]
05. Removing the Clutch
The Conversion & Life with an EV
Kiwi EV
.com
The Stages:
As you know, the gearbox that came with the car has a little hole in it and I'm looking for a replacement 'box.

Anyway, as this will be an electric car, it really doesn't need a clutch if driven carefully.
"What?" I hear you saying?
There are many EV converters that remove their clutches and swear by it, and there are many other EV converters that do the complete opposite! Let me explain the scenario as best I'm aware.
It's all to do with the lack of backpressure of having an engine. So, changing gears is a little easier but more importantly, because the electric motor has a torque curve that would make a V12 gas engine cry, it means you can leave the car in 3rd gear all day and never touch the gear lever.

I first heard about the idea from Jerry Halstead's EV conversion website where he had the clutch removed for his first conversion.

It seemed to work well for him, so considering this is my first EV conversion and I want the motor+gearbox joiny-bit to be as simple as possible. Not having a clutch makes things much simpler for a first time converter like me.

Oh, and it'll lighten the Tredia by about 10 kilo's (approx 20 pounds) judging by the weight of the clutch housing & plates when I removed them from the gearbox. It's a win- win for simplicity!

Anyway, we've battled and struggled to remove the clutch by undoing bolts and removing half the dash but with no luck. The clutch has us completely stumped. Over two days we poured about two and half hours into fumbling for hidden screws and bolts in that cramped area by the steering column but we've just had absolutely no luck at taking it out.

Upon closer inspection (most of which done purely by touch) the whole clutch swivel system seems to be a welded, sealed unit.

It seems the cunning people at Mitsubishi had an evil streak after all. They never wanted anyone to remove their precious clutch (cue the Lord of the Rings "myyy precious clutch" voiceover).

So after almost three hours of frustration, we're left with little other option than to cut the darn thing off with a saw! The access is better now that the heater box is gone but I'm not really happy about sawing it off. Doesn't seem very professional, but hey it's my first EV - too bad!
Watch the conversion unfold right here!