MiniCwik

retired ... you'll know when/if your clutch shoe spring goes if the any of the following conditions are met (I would know, went through two of them before getting the Traxxas one):

[ul][*] Hard time starting your truck on the ground, starts fine while it is off of the ground and wheels spin fast, but stalls when you put it on the ground[*] You cannot push it freely forward or backward without hard resistance (other than the brake being on)[*] You hear a metal on metal grinding noise coming from the clutch bell area
[/ul]

Also, if you install the HPI 17 tooth racing clutch bell housing, you can actually peek in behind it to see the spring. That is how I know it broke the second time I could see it was loose.

Hope you don't mind me replying to ya ... [8D]