Number one rule I follow is after any burn out (yes I start in first) let it roll out, back in first to set the sprag. If it’s broke you’ll know it, feels like second gear. Freewheeling is what kills them so don’t do that! After every pass I go quickly to first then to neutral, after stopping then set it again. Another thing why is everyone scared of going to neutral after the run? Your shifter HAS a stop to keep it from going into reverse don’t it?
NEVER start your burn out in low gear with a reverse manual non low band apply valve body, NEVER
Unless you want to die
AKA aside, Mopar 727 started exploding the front drums with the first reverse manual valve body non low band apply when racers over wound the motors in low gear and shifted them into second over 6000 RPM is what i was told by Art Carr as well as in several of the old Mopar sponsored drag race seminar by the Mopar drag race engineers and marketing folks
Never in over 50 years have I exploded a drum, never been around one that did. If you explode one you’re a no driving sob, sell the car and find another hobby. Now we have had tires hit wet spot, broke gears, broke u-joints and broke axels BUT the car went on the trailer and back home to check trans. VERY easy to feel if the sprag is broke. Only a fool would try and race.
And I never do burnouts in the water, spin the tire in water then move forward out of water to the semi dry spot then do a burnout, that’s why I start in first gear.
