Clutch Question

[garyl62]

OK, well I guess my "Project Complete" thread was a bit pre-mature. After running today realize I need to do a little work on the clutch. I bought this sled about 5 years back and it didn't get much use the first couple years I had it. The clutch has never engaged before 4500, and then just barely. Really need to get it up to almost 5k before it starts to move. I don't mean fast, just normal take off. What can I do to get this to engage at a lower RPM? I'd like to make it a little more user friendly now that my son is the regular driver, and my wife has started to say she may want to start going again and then she'd drive it.

It my 2000 ZL 500 efi, and as far as I know it had the clutch replaced, but just a stock one was put back in.

 

[stormrider3]

RPM's are controlled by the primary clutch. That sled would have a yellow spring with a white stripe.
If you have the correct spring, then check the weights in the clutch. Local dealer can tell you the correct weight. If the weights are notched then changing them to non-notched weights will lower engagement.

 

[garyl62]

Thanks, I've been doing some research since I started this thread and it looks like normal engagement is around 45 to 4800 so it might not be that far off. Stock is a yellow spring, and 46.5 weights. I'm off work today and tomorrow so I'm planning to go out to the shop and look into it a little more so see what I've got. Also going to look and see if it may just be some belt adjustment that needs to be done.

Now I don't know if the RPM's are the real issue, but it seems like when it does engage it hits harder than is comfortable for the occasional, or less experienced rider, so maybe that's what I'm trying to soften more than the rpm.

Any thoughts?

 

[stormrider3]

Belt deflection can influence engagement RPM's. Tight belt can reduce them and make for a smoother take off. In general the notch of the belt should be flush with the top of the secondary. A cat clutch with over 3300 miles usually needs a cover bushing replaced. If you check a round you can find a take off (near new) replacement clutches for around a $100.

 

[stealthv]

The clutch spring determines the engagement rpm. For a nice low engagement, recommend an Arctic Cat 0646-433 spring. It'll be the best $20 you ever spent on the sled.

 

[garyl62]

Well I've gain some knowledge, but I'm also scratching my head wondering about some things. Overall seems like the belt is adjusted well, and the typical engagement is right where I'm getting the sled to engage so maybe it was just over analysis and jumping back and forth between my f8, and the ZL that made it seem like there was an issue. But here is the head scratching... while I was confirming all the parts (weights, springs etc) I took a photo of the part number stamped on the clutch itself to make sure that when it was replaced the proper part was used. The photo clearly shows the part number as 0746-418. Problem is I can't find that part anywhere. Part 0746-071 seems to be the proper part, but there is no way that's the number. If the 8 was supposed to be a 6 it would have a 33mm crank not the 30mm that fits the ZL and that would have been stock on the F & M 6's and 7's so I doubt that is what is going on. Besides, the other 6's in the photo don't look anything close to an 8.

Anyone know if this number was changed, or if that's not even a part number? Or am I just missing something else entirely?

 

[garyl62]

The clutch spring determines the engagement rpm. For a nice low engagement, recommend an Arctic Cat 0646-433 spring. It'll be the best $20 you ever spent on the sled.

What can you tell about anything it would do to the performance? Not that big of an issue for me, but just want to know what effects it may have.

Here is a chart I ran across that is sorted from lightest to heaviest. The 0646-433 spring is the Cat Gold 75/275. Not sure how much difference that would be compared to the Cat yellow 122/285. If it's too much it looks like there are other options between the two but I really have no idea how much impact any of these will have.

maker color 2.5625 1.3125 rate (lb/in)
cat red/blue 53 224 136.8
cat silver 72 188 92.8
cat red 74 228 123.2
cat gold 75 275 160
cat yellow/green 114 267 122.4
Speedwerx blue/white 120 310 152
Speedwerx white 120 340 176
cat purple 121 240 95.2
cat yellow/white 122 285 130.4
epi orange 132 253 108
epi white 133 272 124
epi brown 134 291 140
D&D white 135 330 156
BMP 140 300 128
Speedwerx black 140 335 156
cat orange/white 143 290 117.6
Fett Bros red white 148 292 128
BMP 150 300 120
epi green 151 254 92
epi black 152 273 108
epi red 153 292 124
Speedwerx red 155 300 116
cat black 158 290 105.6
D&D yellow 160 290 104
BMP 160 300 112
Speedwerx blue 165 310 116
Speedwerx red/green 170 260 72
D&D blue 170 265 76
BMP 170 300 104
D&D Orange 170 305 108
D&D red 170 330 128
epi silver 172 293 108
epi yellow 172 303 116
Fett Bros yellow pink 175 303 113.6
Speedwerx green/green 180 300 96
D&D teal 185 295 88
D&D black 190 330 112
epi pink 191 294 92
epi Maroon 192 313 108
D&D green 195 295 80
epi gold 197 328 116

 

[stormrider3]

The other number in the picture is the year of the clutch. 2008
The year of the Cat, is 2000.

 

[garyl62]

The other number in the picture is the year of the clutch. 2008
The year of the Cat, is 2000.

Might not be following you, and I appreciate the help, but I'm assuming the date is the manufactuer date. I know the clutch was replaced so I figured that was when this clutch was made which is fine. They are still making parts that fit on sleds made a long time ago so I don't think the date makes any difference. I'm interested in the part number above the date as I can't find that part number anyplace. May not matter but just doesn't make sense.

 

[garyl62]

The clutch spring determines the engagement rpm. For a nice low engagement, recommend an Arctic Cat 0646-433 spring. It'll be the best $20 you ever spent on the sled.

.... The 0646-433 spring is the Cat Gold 75/275. Not sure how much difference that would be compared to the Cat yellow 122/285. If it's too much it looks like there are other options between the two but I really have no idea how much impact any of these will have....

Did some additional research and the 433 spring is a high elev spring. Don't really believe that will matter because the pretention, full tension and rate shouldn't change based on elev. Correct?

 

[garyl62]

The clutch spring determines the engagement rpm. For a nice low engagement, recommend an Arctic Cat 0646-433 spring. It'll be the best $20 you ever spent on the sled.

Sorry to keep this thread going, but still looking into options. Stealthv what sled did you run this spring in? I'm looking at hp/rpm curves and it would be helpful to know where you had this installed. Also, do you know what rpm's your stock spring engaged, vs this spring?

Thanks for your help.

 

[winter_time]

Sorry to keep this thread going, but still looking into options. Stealthv what sled did you run this spring in? I'm looking at hp/rpm curves and it would be helpful to know where you had this installed. Also, do you know what rpm's your stock spring engaged, vs this spring?

Thanks for your help.

If you change out the spring in the primary it will make a world of difference. A spring with a lower engagement rate would make the sled engage at lower rpms and still run to the full rpms that you would like to achieve. I personally would take Stealthv's advice and run the gold spring because it will drop the engagement and not really mess up the shift patterns between the clutches. Overall the sled will not take off hard because the rpms will be alot lower and it will still run to full throttle with the same rpms that you were seeing before.

 

[SoulEater]

My wifes 00 zl 580 Runs the Red Drive spring yellow 2ndary and takes off around 3500-4k Much smoother than my 00 zl 600 yellow yellow thats 4900-5k Im switching out mine Prime for the red buddy just did it and seems to be working great