Postby DewCatTea-Bob » Mon Apr 16, 2012 5:46 pm
" There is already a second tab/lief/ear broken off, but it is not quite 180 degrees across from the one pictured. It's one tab/lief/ear counter-clockwise from the one that is 180 degrees opposite. "
____ Sorry, I hadn't looked closely enough before to notice that a second basket-ear/tab was also broken-off. _ While it's not too uncommon to find a 250-basket with only one of it's ear-tabs broken-away, I've never seen one still in use with two missing (which were not directly opposite one-another).
However, if you find that your clutch still operates well enough as it's meant to, then it could probably continue-on being used as it is.
" Do you think that will work in terms of balance? "
____ While your clutch-basket's current arrangement is STILL off-balance,, the way it currently is, it's balance is still somewhat better than with only one ear-tab missing.
Your basket's balance COULD be brought-back nearer to normal by busting-off still another ear-tab (also 180 opposite from the "second" one missing) as well,, but THAT may not be a worthwhile trade-off, as that (smaller) improvement in balance would be relatively minor in exchange for the additional loss of the function provided by the basket-tabs. _ So unless you've noticed some odd lower frequency vibs (2.5-times less than engine-revs), I wouldn't suggest busting-off the two additional basket-tabs required to get the complete balance back to normal.
I'd suggest that you leave the situation as it is until you have another reason to tear-down & remove the clutch, that way you'll have more time to find replacement parts.
__ It always seems that Duke-parts such as the clutch-basket become listed on eBay somewhat grouped together, time-wise...
Relatively long periods will pass-by without seeing any listed,, then all in a month's time, several will become listed.
And people who have their motor apart waiting to acquire the part will bid fairly high on the listing that's ending soonest, which then takes the winner (willing to bid rather high) off the market, and thus-then leaves the remaining listings easier to win cheaper !
For such an example, I've seen a 350-clutch sell for about 75-bucks, with the second eBay-listing going for about 50, and I-myself then won the last listing (uncontested!) for only 10-bucks !
So it can pay to not have yourself in a position of WAITING-on the part ya think ya need, and instead pick-it-up when it just happens to come-by-your-way (so to speak).
BTW, if you win that 350-clutch, I'd be willing to trade a 250-basket for it. _ But be smart, always bid (for something you want on eBay) NOT BEFORE the last 20-seconds of the listing,, otherwise you'll likely just help cause whoever the winner turns-out to be, to end-up paying MORE !!
Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob
PLEASE NOTE... If this-post is not-yet signed-off with '-Bob', then I'm still in the process of completing it,, and if not also included with 'DCT' near bottom as well, then I may edit this post's wording at a later time. - Dct.Bob
