Taguid

I have a Ritech Clamp ($250 plus shipping) that was purchased at the beginning of the year from Roger. It has been installed for about 5 miles and I just noticed it does have a few scratches and a small ding on the back.
I am selling it because I am replacing with with a Super Clamp.

ROG100

Great price (current price $315) - the Ritech clamp is the permanent fix for flex plate movement - once fitted it is impossible for the shaft to move again.

Randy V

Doesn't that also describe Constantine's Super Clamp?

ROG100

The SC relies on clamping force only.
The Ritech stops the movement mechanically.

traxtar928

So is the ritech superior to the constantine clamp? I'm looking at their bearings for a TT rebuild.

ROG100

Obviously I am biased but have always thought the Superclamp an excellent product. Infact until the Ritech clamp came along it was THE fix for TBF.

They do an equally great job but one advantage of the Ritech clamp is you do not have to remove the torque tube to fit it.

skpyle

PM sent...

Crumpler

oh Seth, I was wondering who would give in first

skpyle

The Red Witch had flexplate migration in only 2000 miles of driving after the preload was released.

I'm game for a better clamp...

AirtekHVAC

Good catch Seth

Randy V

What clamp did you have on there already?

FredR

That we now have options like Richard's clamp and the PKlamp can only be a good thing but at the end of the day they are both "bandaids" that do not resolve the underlying problem of an inadequate clamp.

Constantine's clamp solves the underlying problem and therein lies the difference- a big difference as I am concerned. When I was faced with this problem back in 1999 after my driveshaft snapped I had no such options as non were available until quite some years later. Thus why the "Loctite solution" was so attractive. 18 years and some 80k km later it is still holding strong. How do I know this?- my motor develops a pronounded vibration at 3050 rpm if the stock clamp slips - or it did when I had the problem.

As an engineer, a solution that solves the basic problem at minimal bucks is an elegant solution and this is precisely what the Loctite does- it makes the inadequate original kit work. The notion that "you cannot undo the clamp" is a red herring in that there is no need to undo it unless you have to remove the assembly from the car and then there is no problem getting it undone as I found when dismantling my wrecked S4.

No one has ever discovered why some stock clamps seem to work and yet many do not - my theory is that it probably boils down to inadequate machining tolerances being specified for the shaft and stock clamp thus offering an explanation as to why some examples work and some do not. They all seem to work initially but then failures seem to occur after a few years of service and typically in the 50k+ mles range.

That we have these options is a good thing - as to which is best depends on one's point of view.

Constantine proved in mechanical engineering labs that his clamp produces way more clamping force that the stock item and to my knowledge not one example has failed- a bullet proof design providing the instructions are followed the only down side being that a degree of disassembly is required.

ROG100

Unfortunately Fred you obviously have missed the design attributes of the Ritech clamp or do not understand the engineering principle behind it.
The Ritech clamp is not a bandaid at all BUT a PERMANENT fix for TBF. The Superclamp is like the PKlamp and relies on clamping force to stop the forward movement. The Superclamp works because of the exceptionally high clamping force but the principle is the same as the PKlamp.
The Ritech clamp goes one stage further to make it impossible for the shaft to migrate. The hardened steel end plate engages the steel shaft to make it mechanically and physically impossible for the shaft to move forward. A brilliant design indeed thanks to Richard. I think you owe Richard an apology for calling his design a bandaid when it is not. I guess using your terminology the Superclamp is a bandaid but I know it is not.

skpyle

Hello Randy V, at the time of purchase, the preload was released. New pinch bolts were fitted front and rear.
I drove the car 2000 miles then took it off the road for simple repairs that spiraled out of control. During that, I fitted a used PKlamp.
Fool or not, I am now jumping at this Ritech Clamp, which I feel is better than the PKlamp.

The torque-tube is not coming out anytime soon, so no SuperClamp for me.

ROG100

Just one further point of clarification - the Ritech clamp does not rely on clamping force to stop the forward movement of the shaft - it relies on a hardened steel surface that engages the tapered torque shaft mechanically preventing the shaft migrating forward. I am not dissing the Superclamp at all but the Ritech clamp is a different animal all together and the only permanent fix for TBF on the later cars without the original C clip on the forward end of the shaft.
Another benefit is that the Ritech clamp can be easily fitted without removal of the torque tube.
Current price is $315 so Seth you got a great bargain and can forget about TBF and checking end float on the crank. Fit and forget.