Double pulley clutch

Hi,
I'm building a double pulley clutch and I'm wondering if it's better to have the pulleys wider or shorter apart?

Shorter apart.

Ah right thanks!

Also, is it better to have the pivot in the centre of the steel plate that the pulleys bolt onto or offset?

In my experience, the pivot should be centered. That way you will get equal swing action out of both pulleys.

Ah right that's good to know.

Yep. Well, good luck man!

Another clutch question,
Is it better to have the clutch closer to the engine pulley, trans pulley, or in the middle?

In theory it would be better to put it closer to the engine, that is where the most torque is being applied. But Fearlessfront did his closer to the back and does just fine. Personally I'd do it wherever it seemed easiest and where the clutch pedal would allow it, which for me would be towards the engine more.

Yeah.
On my Westwood the stock clutch is at the front but now I can't use it in that location due to the front axle monolink bracket being in the way. The best place to put it is probably in the middle. We'll see

Now usually you should be able to flip your clutch linkage so it faces toward the rear of the mower, and build you clutch from there, and with a double pulley clutch it doesnt hurt to have a little more swing then a little less swing.

Could you elaborate? I'm fabbing up a new pedal for the left side of the tractor.

If your stock clutch linkage faces toward the engine from the clutch itself, what i do when building a clutch (given i have no welder) is flip the linkage so it faces oppisite toward the rear of the machine. Then i would build my clutch from there. And what i was saying with more swing then less swing, with more swing your belt is more likely to stop spinning (catches on the retainers) so it can allow you to come to a full stop. With less swing the belt could still grip and you may not completely stop.

Ah right I get ya now. The stock clutch is a double pulley unit so I'm just reusing it but in a different location. I think I might end up putting it in the middle but slightly towards the trans.

On a double pulley clutch it doesnt really matter where it is so long its not on the pull side of the belt. If you were to use a single pulley you would need it close to the engine or transaxle so it can get the right amount of tension without needing to have a huge swing.

Yeah, and I'm also putting the pulleys close together so it puts as much tension as possible on the belt.