Is 50% wear too much?

[Suz]

I have a 98 Mule 4x4. Repairman says both clutches are showing 50% wear. He thinks they should be replaced. I'm thinking 50% wear shouldn't mean worn out. Am I wrong? Shouldn't parts last more than 50%? What do you guys think?

PS I'm going to use RCW's Comet Clutch Lube in any case; maybe I'll luck out and give them another winter's life.

[RCW]

You really will not know until you inspect the clutches. 50% wear means nothing to me. Look for excessive looseness in the bushings, binding or rough rollers, grooves in the flyweights, missing or worn buttons in the driven clutch, grooves in the driven clutch helix, and roughness or wear grooves on the faces of the sheaves.

I use the rule that if I can wiggle any clutch component that should be snug and smooth to the corresponding pin or bushing, then it is too loose to run and time to replace that bushing or pin, or whatever. Grooves in the sheaves from belt wear can be minor or enough to cause the belt to hang during shifting. Roughness on the sheaves will ruin a good belt in no time.

The total cost of all the normal wearing parts is insignificant, the big bucks come in the sheaves if they are worn and causing problems. Labor is a big cost in rebuilding clutches, and can actually make it less expensive to simply replace the old unit(s).

[Saleenguy]

To my thinking thats very worn out.

I rebuild a lot of clutches, and they need to kept in top shape.

Easy to do, so why not do it.

[unit5alive]

I've used the Comet Clutch Lube in the past ,(on snowmobiles)with great results.

[Saleenguy]

Whats worn....the pins, bushings, slides, helix, or what?

If the pins and bushing are worn they flop around and bind, really screws up the backshift.

[kzlyle]

if its not broke, don't fix it.

[Ericthejet]

What the mechanic is say is that you have 50% remaining to use.
Do you change tires on the a car/bike if they are half used?

Take a pass.