Best Clutch Kit for Sidewinder

[jetpilot785]

I did the old search function and didn't really get the info I was looking for. I am picking up a 2017 Sidewinder LTX LE next week and want to leave it stock for now but may add a flash and some other stuff later but I really would like to keep it close to stock for the most part. With all the clutching options out there like:
- OSP
- Ulmer
- Thunder Products
- D&D
- G-Force
- Hauck

I may be missing some but I'm not sure which direction to go in that will give me the best and easiest tuning options. I was looking at the G-Force adjustable helix. It looks trick but not sure how well it works works in the real world. The idea is sweet but has anyone have any experience with G- Force products like their helix and weights? What are guys running for clutch kits and what are the characteristics they have. I know everyone rides differently and each kit will have some varying results but I guess I'm looking for the pattern to follow. Thanks for everyone's input!!

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Ulmer uses STMs which will cover a huge range of Rpms(tunes).....That is why Im going to start with STM weights myself, so I can run them stock to 280hp. Allen used these in "kit"form with great notes for when power is added. https://totallyamaha.com/PDF/Sidewinder Clutching.pdf

Out back the 33/35 helix and dalton or TP new torsional sec springs will do well.

Dan

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

I believe our clutch kit is very high performance. I had no issues winning drag racers, radar events, running 150mph+ with the same clutch Kit I ship with my high performance trail kits.
Dalton adjustable weights and stock secondary with shims for coil bind. Add dalton primary springs for drag racers.

For Ultimate racing setup I go full STM clutches but I've done very well with the yamaha clutches up to 26 psi of boost.

 

[VX1R]

Congrats on picking up your new SW L-TX LE. It sounds like you've done some home work on clutching, and I'm sure that you'll get a lot of action on this thread.

It might help if you post up what area's of improvement you're looking for and the conditions that you ride in to get the best responses.

Most of the kits that you mentioned are all great options with a lot of tuning possibilities.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Daltons make some great top radar speeds weights I always find....I just wish they could add more weight, but are great if you are sticking withing a fairly close HP range. And not using many maps from mild to wild. Definitely the easiest to adust weight, no removal of anything to tune them

I think the OP might be looking more for a "kit" though.

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

Daltons make some great top radar speeds weights I always find....I just wish they could add more weight, but are great if you are sticking withing a fairly close HP range. And not using many maps from mild to wild. Definitely the easiest to adust weight, no removal of anything to tune them

I think the OP might be looking more for a "kit" though.

I'm glad you posted this. I'm gonna go on a rant here so stay with me for a bit. Sure we sell performance parts for a living. And logically I would want to sell you as many parts for as much profit.
Except for one thing. I don't care about the money. I care about what works. If I was about the money I'd have springs, helixs, covers etc.... I would upsell as much aftermarket stuff as possible.

We actually tested many different helixes. And we test with professional equipement. Vbox and TD GPS. acceleration, response. We have also test sleds that we don't touch (reference sled) and we race each other in different ways.
In short, we do very extensive testing. I also test different mapping, not just one flash.

I'm not saying I tested all combos, but we've tried many different setup, more than most as this is what I do... and we always came back to the stock secondary setup.
I back up what I say with actual great performance, not just Radar, but drag and trail performance etc... My personal sled ran with the Dalton /stock secondary combo and s fastest sidewinder I've encountered.
And I travelled to prove my programming and setup... Many can attest to this. I opened up my panels for everyone to see.

For the record, drag racing, I've had better results with the STM weights as they have a bigger range of adjustment, and can be loaded more at the tip, for high RPM engagement. That's the only reason.
The daltons did good, but tend to engage low, which is not ideal for drag racing. They make a great performance trail weight.

We have tried different helixes some had slightly quicker ET in short distance, others had more MPH but slower ET. Overall the stocker had the best performance all around.

Again there could be a combo we didn't try that works better. But you won't find "much better" as testing would have shown a clearly better option by now.

I'm going to be testing thunder products soon and will report ! I will also be testing Dalton's secondary spring !

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

Too much info is worse than not enough...
I feel sometimes people get pryed in all kinds of directions by many different opinions on forums.

As for my setup:
For video proof, here's a customer's trail sidewinder racing a big hill drag event and taking 1st place in the Trail Open class.
With TD max 17 ecu reflash, TD dalton weights, stock secondary...

And also a video of my sled doing radar with the dalton weights and stock secondary... a sled with well above 150mph top speed !

 

[DMCTurbo]

I'm glad you posted this. I'm gonna go on a rant here so stay with me for a bit. Sure we sell performance parts for a living. And logically I would want to sell you as many parts for as much profit.
Except for one thing. I don't care about the money. I care about what works. If I was about the money I'd have springs, helixs, covers etc.... I would upsell as much aftermarket stuff as possible.

We actually tested many different helixes. And we test with professional equipement. Vbox and TD GPS. acceleration, response. We have also test sleds that we don't touch (reference sled) and we race each other in different ways.
In short, we do very extensive testing. I also test different mapping, not just one flash.

I'm not saying I tested all combos, but we've tried many different setup, more than most as this is what I do... and we always came back to the stock secondary setup.
I back up what I say with actual great performance, not just Radar, but drag and trail performance etc... My personal sled ran with the Dalton /stock secondary combo and s fastest sidewinder I've encountered.
And I travelled to prove my programming and setup... Many can attest to this. I opened up my panels for everyone to see.

For the record, drag racing, I've had better results with the STM weights as they have a bigger range of adjustment, and can be loaded more at the tip, for high RPM engagement. That's the only reason.
The daltons did good, but tend to engage low, which is not ideal for drag racing. They make a great performance trail weight.

We have tried different helixes some had slightly quicker ET in short distance, others had more MPH but slower ET. Overall the stocker had the best performance all around.

Again there could be a combo we didn't try that works better. But you won't find "much better" as testing would have shown a clearly better option by now.

I'm going to be testing thunder products soon and will report ! I will also be testing Dalton's secondary spring !

I'm curious if you tried daltons 35/39 reverse angle?

 

[Joe ltx-le]

I just installed the Dalton 33/35 helix with there black and orange spring. when the snow fly I will be testing it out.

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

I just installed the Dalton 33/35 helix with there black and orange spring. when the snow fly I will be testing it out.

That helix should work.... I have not tried it yet, but the stock helix working great this one is not far off. This setup should help keep the belt high and the revs up.
Most of my testing is hard pack snow too, this setup will shine in softer snow and still perform great on hard pack.

The helixes I have tried that showed marginal gains in some areas but in general were not quite as good as stock for a high performance trail machine were 45/33 41/35 46/32

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

I'm curious if you tried daltons 35/39 reverse angle?

This should work, it's very close to stock.

 

[DMCTurbo]

Ulmer uses STMs which will cover a huge range of Rpms(tunes).....That is why Im going to start with STM weights myself, so I can run them stock to 280hp. Allen used these in "kit"form with great notes for when power is added. https://totallyamaha.com/PDF/Sidewinder Clutching.pdf

Out back the 33/35 helix and dalton or TP new torsional sec springs will do well.

Dan

Glad to hear your running the same weights I am. Looking forward to many pages of your reviews and test results!

 

[swrtxlr]

I'm glad you posted this. I'm gonna go on a rant here so stay with me for a bit. Sure we sell performance parts for a living. And logically I would want to sell you as many parts for as much profit.
Except for one thing. I don't care about the money. I care about what works. If I was about the money I'd have springs, helixs, covers etc.... I would upsell as much aftermarket stuff as possible.

We actually tested many different helixes. And we test with professional equipement. Vbox and TD GPS. acceleration, response. We have also test sleds that we don't touch (reference sled) and we race each other in different ways.
In short, we do very extensive testing. I also test different mapping, not just one flash.

I'm not saying I tested all combos, but we've tried many different setup, more than most as this is what I do... and we always came back to the stock secondary setup.
I back up what I say with actual great performance, not just Radar, but drag and trail performance etc... My personal sled ran with the Dalton /stock secondary combo and s fastest sidewinder I've encountered.
And I travelled to prove my programming and setup... Many can attest to this. I opened up my panels for everyone to see.

For the record, drag racing, I've had better results with the STM weights as they have a bigger range of adjustment, and can be loaded more at the tip, for high RPM engagement. That's the only reason.
The daltons did good, but tend to engage low, which is not ideal for drag racing. They make a great performance trail weight.

We have tried different helixes some had slightly quicker ET in short distance, others had more MPH but slower ET. Overall the stocker had the best performance all around.

Again there could be a combo we didn't try that works better. But you won't find "much better" as testing would have shown a clearly better option by now.

I'm going to be testing thunder products soon and will report ! I will also be testing Dalton's secondary spring !

Ben what did you do for coil bind in the secondary? Are all your rollers touching the helix?

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

Ben what did you do for coil bind in the secondary? Are all your rollers touching the helix?

I add washers between cover and helix. Some machine the pocket but I don't. I've maxed my gears often without issues.

There is always more pressure on some rollers. Usually one is tight, the other touches, the last one slightly off the ramp. some sleds are worse...
Mine in one of the better ones I've seen.

 

[jetpilot785]

I believe our clutch kit is very high performance. I had no issues winning drag racers, radar events, running 150mph+ with the same clutch Kit I ship with my high performance trail kits.
Dalton adjustable weights and stock secondary with shims for coil bind. Add dalton primary springs for drag racers.

For Ultimate racing setup I go full STM clutches but I've done very well with the yamaha clutches up to 26 psi of boost.

Not looking to win drag races or speed run. Looking for a solid kit for spirited trail riding with varying conditions so thats why I'm looking for something that has some decent tunability ranges for those changing conditions. Im also not sure what these things need as far as clutching whether you just need primary weights/spring, helix and secondary spring, combination of both. I am trying to avoid blowing belts for a living and with all the companies and possibilities available, I wanted to see who ran what and what kind of results/luck they had with it.