It turns out size really doesn't matter.
If you haven't seen it yet, the popular Youtube page JohnnyQ90 is currently building a glorious, mini-V8-powered RC car from the ground up. It's, understandably a time-consuming and complicated process that has now led him to engineer a manual clutch so he will have even more control over the little car, but it's awesome to see how far he's come. It turns out, whether it's a Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack or a 1/5th scale RC car, naturally aspirated V8s are fantastic no matter the size.
We've written about his page before, as he manufactures or buys and builds all sorts of tiny engines and more to showcase and better understand how the different powerplants function. His attention to detail is truly impressive and has seen him create every from a twin-rotary engine to full-working RC car disk breaks and even create his own superchargers.
With his current V8 RC car project, he’s already fitted a 1/7th scale, 28cc V8 engine that is produced by a company called Toyan and costs a whopping $1,699.99. He then attached a homemade three-speed manual transmission with plans to upgrade the centrifugal clutch which leads us to the video above.
Using a 5-axis desktop milling machine, he gets to work creating the intricate parts. After upgrading the clutch, he realizes that the design can be improved even more, and sets about creating a manual cone clutch. Using plastic and metal, he first cuts the female cone and then the male one. Then comes the clutch bushing, clutch fork, and clutch lever. He then produces the clutch bearing, combines it with the driveshaft and transmission, and starts to test it.
It's all actuated using a little dial on his remote control. He fires up the engine and then tests the clutch engagement moving forwards and backward, along with engaging the higher gears. The vehicle is happy in 2WD but struggles with 4WD until he says he makes some tweaks to the system.
He goes on to mention this video took so long to create due to him going through a few clutch designs until it was perfect. Next on the agenda are to finish the electronics, stiffen the chassis, add the brakes, and then build out the exhaust system. Just watching the video you get excited to see the final product; the V8 truly sounds great even at this tiny scale and it's always awesome to see just how impressive RC cars can really be.
Keyword: Check Out This Working Manual Clutch On A V8 RC Car