Running engine up to engagment without a belt

[sledneck22]

"crazykid wrote:
Running your sled without a belt is a good way to destroy your new drag n fly weights, along with your clutch and possibly your sled.
. Can you please elaborate on what you are insinuating? I've never heard of this damaging anything and would appreciate an explanation of what this practice damages."

I was called out on a different thread about running the sled up until engagment of the primary without a belt on. Has anyone else ever heard of this damaging your clutch and or engine? An explaination on why this would occur would be nice. I have never had a problem with this but if it is damaging I would be sure to not do it again... What is everyones thoughts on this?

 

[Irv]

"crazykid wrote:
Running your sled without a belt is a good way to destroy your new drag n fly weights, along with your clutch and possibly your sled.
. Can you please elaborate on what you are insinuating? I've never heard of this damaging anything and would appreciate an explanation of what this practice damages."

I was called out on a different thread about running the sled up until engagment of the primary without a belt on. Has anyone else ever heard of this damaging your clutch and or engine? An explaination on why this would occur would be nice. I have never had a problem with this but if it is damaging I would be sure to not do it again... What is everyones thoughts on this?

I also warned a peep last year about doing it, it can turn nasty in a heart beat and that is what happened to my neighbors sled years ago.

Mind you, it was an older sled and many many years ago but he simply destroyed his clutch and parts were ready to fly off imo if he didn't get it shut down in time.

Maybe post your question in the clutch section or PM some clutch guru's on here for an explanation?

 

[Sled Dog]

I have done it many times with no problems mind you I am not pinning the flipper either though.

 

[Teamblue4]

I run our sleds every year to clean the primary with no belt with no problems.

 

[Snowmobileaddict]

Without the belt riding in the sheave it is very easy accidentally engage the clutch.

The moveable sheave and the weights can get banged around rather violently and if there was enough rpm involved the moveable sheave could fully open and collide with the fixed sheave with enough force to shatter the aluminum clutch assembly. I think I've heard it referred to as hand-grenading.

 

[sledneck22]

Interesting... Well I think in conclusion it should be stated that it is not a great idea to be running the clutch without a belt at any RPM over an idle/engagment. I hope I can get some agreement with this statment.

Edit: Run the machine - Do NOT engage clutches aka "Clutch Granading"

 

[pro116]

Its fine to run but don't engage the clutches, when the sheaves slam to gether they can crack or explode.
When a clutch explodes it can take out the belly pan and hood.I know of two guys that broke there hands from a clutch exploding.

 

[Super Sled]

This is great information -- and potentially life saving too!

 

[canoehead]

I guess you guys have never seen the Youtube video of a guy cleaning his primary clutch with emery cloth while it's running. Oh he's wearing protective Butyl nitrate rubber gloves though, DOH!
Some of the comments are priceless!!

 

[sledneck22]

Go to youtube and type: How to polish up a Primary clutch
I think this is the guy you are refering to haha.

Edit: one comment - the guy might as well be wearing a gold braclet and necklace, and to add to that he probably has a long pony tail dangling over his should that could get wrapped up too...