Sintering a clutch?

I went off-roading Sunday with 15 Jeeps, it was Mrs. 914's first time. The trail was narrow and steep with four or five major obstacles, other than the usual milk crate sized rocks. One area was washed out more since my last visit, to something like 30" almost straight up. You put your nose up against it and just start climbing. I couldn't. By the time the front end started moving, the engine was revving but nothing was happening, the clutch was slipping. After three attempts I quit because I could smell the burning. The Jeep in front of me gave me a tug and I got up. Once it cooled a bit everything was fine.

A jeep guy said something like "You should have sintered you clutch when you installed it", and then disappeared down the hill. What? I know burnishing, knurling etc., but I've never heard of sintering and not heard of any per-installation prep for clutches. I did the usual brake clean, no fingerprints etc. Did I miss somethinng?

What's sintering? (or is it cintering?)

Dan

Sintering is a metallurgical process (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintering) that bonds powdered material without heating it to melting. Some clutches are sintered, a lot of modern con-rods are also sintered. He's likely misusing "sinter" as a slang for some sort of break in procedure for the clutch.

did he also belittle you for "granny shifting" instead of double-clutching?

I assume this was with the Sammy? If you put the front tires on it (4L and 1st of course), rev up the engine to about 1500-2000rpm and then let out the clutch and give it more gas (enough that the engine makes a low rumbling noise but not enough to actually get any pinging) you should be able to make it, although clearing such a tall obstacle could be a problem. Practice on some tall curbs.

Yep, the Sammy. I also have trouble with the Weber carb off camber, but that's another story. Probably looking to FI in the future.

Dan