I recently bought a savage 4.6 and im having nothing but trouble with the spur gear. I replaced it probably 5 times already. First i set the slipper spring to the maual of all the way tight and then back it off a half turn. Next i set the gear mesh using the paper method. The problem i have is either the slipper pad melts or burns off or some of the teeth are missing. This is all happens right after i run it the first time when replacing the parts. Now i just ordered a steel robinson racing combo kit (spur and clutch bell) with Mugen clutch shoes and springs. Will this solve my problem? and why am i having bad luck with the plastic gears? I follow all of the instructions. What am i doing wrong?

Thanx

When you say 'paper method'... describe exactly what you are doing...

Anyway, yes, provided you set the mesh properly, the steel gears will be the end of your problems...

Paper method. i put the 4 screws in the engine mounts but do not tighten. then i put a piece of paper between the spur and clutch with a little bit of forcei tighten the engine screws. Next i get a new piece of paper and run it back in there between the spur and clutch to double check the mesh. I look for any tears in the paper telling me its too tight but also look to make sure i see something.

1/ Slipper Clutch: Most people tighten more than the manual specifies. Fully tighten and then back off 1/8 to 1/4 turn.</p>

2/ I don't find the paper method reliable. Tighten the 4 engine mount to mounting plate bolts untilquite snug. Check the mesh for "play". There should be just a little (as if you removed the paper with the paper method). Toadjust it, slip a small flat-bladed screwdriver in one of the mounting bolt slots in the mounting plate and twist it a bit to move the engine mount as required. Make sure all front slots show the same exposed amount as the rear. Re-check for the play you need and now fully tighten engine mounting bolts. Re-check for the play you need. Re-do if it changed, which can happen when you do the final tightening. When checking for play, spin the spur and make sure there are no places where it gets tight. If there is, and probably there will be, increase the mesh clearance until there isn't any tight spots.</p>

3/ Double check your engine mounting plates and in particular the screws that hold the plate to the supporting square bars. If the plate is cracked or one of those screws is broken (usually the right rear screw), the engine will rotate CCW (to the left when viewed from the rear) under hard torque. This eliminates the mesh clearance, jams the gears together,and prematurely wears or breaks, the teeth.</p>

4/ You can still have problems 2 and 3 occur with steel gears. I destroyed a set of Robinson CB/Spur gears because I didn't notice the right rear engine mounting plate screw had broken and the mounting palte ahd cracked. I've gone back to plastic, and switched to the thicker LX mounting plate as well as using better quality counter-sunkmachine screws to hold the enigne mounting plate to the square support rails, and no more problems.</p>

Wow, excellent feedback Argess. Thats exactly what i was looking for (step by step procedure) I will be sure to double check all that you listed. thanx again for the help. (i hope i get it right this time)

The paper method is flawless, but you missed a step for nitro... Fold the piece of paper.

Single piece of xerox paper is for electrics, fold it for nitros.

as in to make it twice as thick?

That's right.

I never liked the paper method myself. I always get it as close as i can and tighten it up, and if its not right, I redo it. Normally doesent take but a couple minutes still.

 Make sure your engine mount plate is not bent too. They get bent from landing the truck on the engines head which bends the engine mount plate. When this happens, i have heard the spur gears go fast.

 I have no problems with my plastic spur, and i run my slipper all the way tight. If the mesh is right, the mount is good, and the bolts arent backing out, you should be able to make a plastic spur last a while.

 Eric

Thanks for all the info!!!!!!!