DynoDon
Moderator
First off, how I got involved in this position is beyond me because I wanted nothing to do with this engine from day one. Mainly because I knew with a gut feeling that it was going to be problematic.
A friend talked me in to helping keep the "out of the box" concept under control. With that commitment I purchased two engines out of my own pocket. Reason being, I knew from the beginning days of the clone that there were differences in the engines from one to another.
Sure enough, both engines were different. BUT, I was able to document every important area of the engines that I felt would be of importance should I confiscate an engine from a Karter. To this date I have confiscated 3 engines and prepared 7 engines for friends.
The 3 I confiscated were completely disassembled and documented. I am not saying I am the most knowledgeable individual over this engine but I am aware of what's going on internally.
NOW for the disturbing news to the new Karter ( first timer ) and not so disturbing news to the long term Karter.
Springs have been being changed on the predator from day one!!!! WHY? Because there are other people than me who have the skill and the tools to know just what is inside this engine.
Remember back in the beginning of the topic I said I had measured every inch of the engine on all that I disassembled. Well, I also took the springs out to see just what was up with consistency from one to another. If some of you are skilled enough to do a search on here, you will find a post I made several months ago about the consistency of the predator spring in relationship to the clone.
After verifying my findings with my builder buddy's down south, I decided to be quiet about it so the knowledge didn't get out. I didn't want everyone running out and purchasing clone springs and putting them in the engine.
TWO reasons. 1.) Cost to the Karter who can't do it themselves and need a builder to do it. 2.). THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO CHANGE THE SPRING.
Why do I make such a bold statement in #2?
It is easy to understand. If the predator spring is as good as the clone spring with the low rpm the engine is running there is no reason to change them. Builders would like to convince you that it does because it is a good payday for such a simple job.
Clones are turning in the area of 7000 rpm and that rpm will weaken a spring because of the performance cam and excessive heat.
The predator doesn't have either of those factor's so there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO REPLACE THE SPRING!!
Now, why did I allow it? ( Replacing the spring) Because I had people calling, texting, and physically approaching me asking if they could do it because they knew others were doing it. I also knew ( no actual knowledge just a gut feeling from past experience ) others were doing it but I just didn't want to allow it until I absolutely had to.
I knew it was going to be problematic for me when I did. Some one said to me, " don't you think you are a hypocrite knowing others do it and you don't allow the rest of us to do it".
That struck home!!! He was right. You can place a set of unmarked clone springs side by side to the predator spring and you can't tell the difference. With that being said, I discussed the problem with others and it was decided we need a parameter to gauge the spring by. The best parameter is the clone spring rule. I am sorry.
A friend talked me in to helping keep the "out of the box" concept under control. With that commitment I purchased two engines out of my own pocket. Reason being, I knew from the beginning days of the clone that there were differences in the engines from one to another.
Sure enough, both engines were different. BUT, I was able to document every important area of the engines that I felt would be of importance should I confiscate an engine from a Karter. To this date I have confiscated 3 engines and prepared 7 engines for friends.
The 3 I confiscated were completely disassembled and documented. I am not saying I am the most knowledgeable individual over this engine but I am aware of what's going on internally.
NOW for the disturbing news to the new Karter ( first timer ) and not so disturbing news to the long term Karter.
Springs have been being changed on the predator from day one!!!! WHY? Because there are other people than me who have the skill and the tools to know just what is inside this engine.
Remember back in the beginning of the topic I said I had measured every inch of the engine on all that I disassembled. Well, I also took the springs out to see just what was up with consistency from one to another. If some of you are skilled enough to do a search on here, you will find a post I made several months ago about the consistency of the predator spring in relationship to the clone.
After verifying my findings with my builder buddy's down south, I decided to be quiet about it so the knowledge didn't get out. I didn't want everyone running out and purchasing clone springs and putting them in the engine.
TWO reasons. 1.) Cost to the Karter who can't do it themselves and need a builder to do it. 2.). THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO CHANGE THE SPRING.
Why do I make such a bold statement in #2?
It is easy to understand. If the predator spring is as good as the clone spring with the low rpm the engine is running there is no reason to change them. Builders would like to convince you that it does because it is a good payday for such a simple job.
Clones are turning in the area of 7000 rpm and that rpm will weaken a spring because of the performance cam and excessive heat.
The predator doesn't have either of those factor's so there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO REPLACE THE SPRING!!
Now, why did I allow it? ( Replacing the spring) Because I had people calling, texting, and physically approaching me asking if they could do it because they knew others were doing it. I also knew ( no actual knowledge just a gut feeling from past experience ) others were doing it but I just didn't want to allow it until I absolutely had to.
I knew it was going to be problematic for me when I did. Some one said to me, " don't you think you are a hypocrite knowing others do it and you don't allow the rest of us to do it".
That struck home!!! He was right. You can place a set of unmarked clone springs side by side to the predator spring and you can't tell the difference. With that being said, I discussed the problem with others and it was decided we need a parameter to gauge the spring by. The best parameter is the clone spring rule. I am sorry.