From Michael James,
Your Guide to Radio Controlled Vehicles.
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Definition: Most commonly found on off-road RC vehicles, the slipper clutch protects the drivetrain from damage and excessive wear by allowing the spur gear to slip when the engine is delivering more power to the gears and wheels than they can handle at that point. The slipper clutch also regulates power delivered to the gears and drivetrain when running a powerful, high-torque engine.

Without the slipper clutch to regulate power to the drivetrain and wheels, the RC wheels may spin too fast and lose traction. This may occur during braking, when landing a jump, or when driving on loose surfaces such as loose dirt or gravel or on wet, slippery surfaces.

The slipper clutch consists of metal plates and a fiber or rubber pad and is typically integrated with the spur gear and can be found on electric and nitro RC vehicles.

Also Known As: slipper