Clutch Cleaning Noob Questions:

[DigitalFusion]

Hey All,

Doing a clutch cleaning on my viper. It was acting kinda strange when I was up on my last ride. I ended up changing the belt because it was lunging/lurching really bad and that was pretty much the only thing to try trail-side. It got a little better, but still seemed off to me. When I took it in for the updates the monday following, I mentioned it to them and they said they would check it out. When I picked up the sled on wednesday, they said the clutches were just dirty, which didnt seem right to me since I only have 1300 miles on the thing, and I blew them out right before the ride, and immediately after as well and only a small puff of belt dust came out here and there. Anyways....

I have the secondary off, dissembled, and cleaned with scotch-brite and acetone. I pulled the primary, and scotch-brite/acetone cleaned the plates on that was well, Now what? Do I need to pull the primary apart and clean it as well, or can I just toss the entire primary as-is into the dishwasher along with the secondary?


Second Question: Figured I would clean the plates on my cousins phazer as well since its filthy and sitting here. This secondary is new to me. is it safe to just pull these three screws?

 

[Blue Dave]

Hey All,

Doing a clutch cleaning on my viper. It was acting kinda strange when I was up on my last ride. I ended up changing the belt because it was lunging/lurching really bad and that was pretty much the only thing to try trail-side. It got a little better, but still seemed off to me. When I took it in for the updates the monday following, I mentioned it to them and they said they would check it out. When I picked up the sled on wednesday, they said the clutches were just dirty, which didnt seem right to me since I only have 1300 miles on the thing, and I blew them out right before the ride, and immediately after as well and only a small puff of belt dust came out here and there. Anyways....

I have the secondary off, dissembled, and cleaned with scotch-brite and acetone. I pulled the primary, and scotch-brite/acetone cleaned the plates on that was well, Now what? Do I need to pull the primary apart and clean it as well, or can I just toss the entire primary as-is into the dishwasher along with the secondary?


Second Question: Figured I would clean the plates on my cousins phazer as well since its filthy and sitting here. This secondary is new to me. is it safe to just pull these three screws?

View attachment 103230

Tom,

I see that we both went from the Apex to a Viper. I guess that great minds really do think alike, LOL! I have never done the dishwasher trick but many guys on TY swear by it. My fear is not that it won't work but rather my wife finding out that I used her dishwasher for cleaning sled parts. There are few things in life that I fear as much as the wrath of my wife LOL! Maybe I will put a dishwasher in my man cave.

In the mean time I clean the sheave faces after every ride as you described. I toke my Apex clutches completely apart yearly and cleaned / inspected everything. I have heard however that the Viper with the 8JP belt creates much more dust. I only have 10 miles on my Viper so I can't say from experience if that is true but I trust my fellow TY members.

For the Phazer clutch I think that those three screws retain the bushing for the helix? It has been a while since I have had a Yamaha with that design secondary. I believe that you will want to remove the helix first then remove those three screws and the plate. In any case take it completely apart if for no other reason than to learn. Take note of the secondary spring location (which number holes each end is in) and take a picture or two as you take it apart. There isn't anything on a sled that can't be put back together properly if you pay attention when taking it apart and don't lose any of the parts. LOL!

Dave

 

[kviper]

The screw's only hold the bushing in. You need to compress the cam slightly and remove the snap ring. Can be difficult to do with out a clutch compressor. Then it will come apart. Like stated above pay attention to wind and washer location. The cam is splines to the shaft and can be sticky.