I had a Jabbasport SMF kit fitted around 1500 miles ago. It was a bit rough when first fitted while it bedded in, but has now pretty much settled down apart from one thing. When I'm pulling away in first, there's sometimes some vibration felt through the car. It's a bit worse when pulling away uphill, and worse still when going uphill in stop/start traffic. Is this just a side effect of having a less dampened clutch and things like a stiffer dogbone mount (which I'm told can also cause more vibrations)? Just want to know whether it'ssomething I should get looked at or whether everyone gets this when they've fitted an SMF setup?

On the move it's perfect, I can gently push the loud pedal and shoot off as fast as I like, its just when first starting off.

Ta!

Actually, I just remembered that's not quite true. It also feels very similar when I'm reversing and am "riding" the clutch a bit (can't get full clutch engagement when I'm reversing and turning onto my driveway as I'd probably go through my fence!). And sometimes I can feel it if I "shortshift" from first into second and the revs are too low, which is another reason why I think it's probably just normal due to having less dampening (no DMF) and the SuperPro dogbone mount. Just want to see whether you guys agree that it's normal or whether it's something you think is worth looking at more.

Iv got a smf with a non dampened paddle clutch which bites quite fierce. If i dont give it enough revs when settin off the whole car shakes n shudders. I also have the superpro 80 shore dogbone mount which makes u feel every vibration or judder of the engine. Oh also when im reversing and riding the clutch i get a bad juddering

Personally i dont think theres anything to worry about and its just a combination of less forgiving clutch setup and the dogbone mount

Sounds like clutch judder, try a few enthusiastic launches, usually clears it.

Iv got a smf with a non dampened paddle clutch which bites quite fierce. If i dont give it enough revs when settin off the whole car shakes n shudders. I also have the superpro 80 shore dogbone mount which makes u feel every vibration or judder of the engine. Oh also when im reversing and riding the clutch i get a bad juddering

Personally i dont think theres anything to worry about and its just a combination of less forgiving clutch setup and the dogbone mount

My plate is dampened, it's one of the organic ones rather than a paddle one though. Even though it's dampened, it won't be as good as the factory DMF so it sounds like it's probably common with single mass and a stiffer dogbone mount.

Sounds like clutch judder, try a few enthusiastic launches, usually clears it.

I'll try that as well, when you say enthusiastic do you mean high RPM and lifting the clutch up to bite quickly? Will give it a go tomorrow if I can find a bit of road where I can launch it safely.

I'll try that as well, when you say enthusiastic do you mean high RPM and lifting the clutch up to bite quickly? Will give it a go tomorrow if I can find a bit of road where I can launch it safely.

Yup, removes any glazing from clutch linings. Common problem with the Morris 1000 clutches.

I have similar with my updated Sachs clutch and fly...

When pulling off I gets a vibration/noise . Like a much lesser equivalent of a busted wheel bearing ... Again only when pulling away...Help?

I have similar with my updated Sachs clutch and fly...

When pulling off I gets a vibration/noise . Like a much lesser equivalent of a busted wheel bearing ... Again only when pulling away...Help?

If it's the SMF setup, it's simply all those lovely torque spikes the DMF was designed to reduce. Poor gearbox.

If it's the SMF setup, it's simply all those lovely torque spikes the DMF was designed to reduce. Poor gearbox.

Er I simply have a receipt for Sachs clutch and flywheel from previous owner.. Totalling around £700-800 ... How do I determine if it's SMF? *hides*

I used to get a weird juddery feeling after I had a Helix / DMF set up fitted when taking off slowly. It took a while, but it eventually disappeared on it's own. No doubt some hard launches would have gotten rid of it instantly though

I think it's all probably just part of the bedding in? It took a long while for that judder to disappear on mine, must have been a good couple of thousand miles! Recently I've noticed it's bloody difficult to get in to reverse, and seems to bite a bit (not quite to the point of actually moving the car) in first even with the clutch pedal fully pressed down to the floor. But again, I have read that's just a "feature" with the Helix clutch.

I used to get a weird juddery feeling after I had a Helix / DMF set up fitted when taking off slowly. It took a while, but it eventually disappeared on it's own. No doubt some hard launches would have gotten rid of it instantly though

I think it's all probably just part of the bedding in? It took a long while for that judder to disappear on mine, must have been a good couple of thousand miles! Recently I've noticed it's bloody difficult to get in to reverse, and seems to bite a bit (not quite to the point of actually moving the car) in first even with the clutch pedal fully pressed down to the floor. But again, I have read that's just a "feature" with the Helix clutch.

The latter is another symptom, ... Thanks for the reassurance everyone :-) I can drive happy lol

Er I simply have a receipt for Sachs clutch and flywheel from previous owner.. Totalling around £700-800 ... How do I determine if it's SMF? *hides*

Gearbox out too see if it's an SMF, or if the receipt has a kit or part numbers, google them, or phone supplier. SMF usually causes a lot more noise at idle that stops when the clutch is pressed down.

My vrs does the same, its recently had vr6 clutch and solid flywheel conversion plus this week I had a power flex dogbone mount bush fitted and you really notice the judder now hope it will bed in a bit.

Is it a continuous friction plate or a paddle plate? Paddle's always judder in 1st at low revs. I've got a superpro dogbone bush and paddle clutch and if you set off at <1200 revs you know about it. I know Sachs do a paddle kit for this gearbox so could be that?

Mine is a full organic plate, not a paddle. I thought about the paddle, but BossFox has the same kit as me with the paddle plate and said he wouldn't want to do a lot of everyday driving in it as it's a bit too on/off. Which is fine for him as he has other cars, but I didn't fancy it as mine's my only car so I commute in it

It definitely pulls away better with more revs so I guess I'm just seeing the side-effects of less dampening and a stiffer dogbone, I'll try some harder launches later and see what happens but it's difficult to do in Nottingham traffic so I didn't bother this morning, just tried more revs with a gentle launch.

Give it some revs!!!

If you're not used to it then things seem a bit scary to begin with. It's the norm with SMF and harsher clutch in low gear.

You can also get the not going into reverse etc. If this happens try putting it in 3rd gear before trying reverse and then it should go straight in.

If you get the clutch glazing or sticking in gear, just dip the clutch and blip the accelerator. It should pop itself out.

HTH as they do take some getting used to.

Haven't had any problems getting in/out of gear on mine, it's perfectly smooth, it's just the vibration. It's not really a problem as I don't mind it as such, but if it wasn't normal behaviour for an SMF setup then I'd have been taking it back to the guy who fitted it to have a look at and make sure everything was still fine. You're probably right, I just need to get used to driving it as it needs driving a little bit harder than the old DMF setup.

Tried a few fast starts today to see if this helped but its just too damp and the car just spins up!