Soupy's belts

[Soupy]

Good news, finally made an entire weekend, almost 500 miles, without blowing a belt. I rode it hard, trails were flat & fast. Kinda even tried to blow a belt but damn, Max 17 is just so sick when you're exiting turns at 80, it doesn't take long to get to 115+!

Y'all know I've tried many resolutions but I never thought something so basic could fix such a problem. And my resolution is…

Clutch vents.

I couldn't believe how much cooler the clutches ran with a vent right in front of them. There really is no venting into the clutch compartment on these sleds. The only intake snorkel is located on top of the clutch guard, not under, where the clutches are located. My sales guy is a buddy and we were looking at all the other sleds with venting that's installed from the factory. Lack of ventilation coupled with the extra under hood temps from this sled was definitely a problem for me.

I sent it this wknd and didn't blow a belt, damn that was fun. Thanks for the invite @Beerman!

 

[SAB1]

Don't you know sidewinders have no power steering and heavy front end that give you a workout. How could you not be warm lol !

 

[fourload]

Post a picture of your vents when you get a chance. Thanks

 

[SAB1]

No clue how my post ended up here and not in heated vest thread! Sorry

 

[Soupy]

Adding to the problem I have a cold air intake stuffed in the factory intake vent.

 

[**sj**]

You don't say???

 

[Soupy]

You don't say???

Meant to send you a message & let you know, thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow SJ.

 

[Big_Phil]

Finally some good news!

I was at my dealer the other day, and they told me the Clutch updates for next year are bigger primary rollers, and a different secondary spring to get the secondary backshift quicker, keep the belt tension more consistent.

 

[KnappAttack]

Glad to hear you're making progress Soupy.

My plan for next season is to install a fan blowing right onto the clutches if I can make it fit on the side panel. Nothing better than cool belts and clutches!

 

[74Nitro]

Glad to hear you're making progress Soupy.

My plan for next season is to install a fan blowing right onto the clutches if I can make it fit on the side panel. Nothing better than cool belts and clutches!

Knapp, keep us posted on your fan idea. I've been thinking about this also. The Yamaha side by sides and ATV's have forced air through the clutches, I wonder if we see something like this on sleds in the future. I've also wondered about mounting something on the clutch like the nylon fans that were bolted to the flywheels of older Enticers.....just thinking out loud.

 

[Shagnos]

I have done something similar using a PC cooling fan. Very thin and lightweight......hmmmmmm.

 

[Soupy]

I understand some people have cool clutches but I think the big picture of a 4 stroke engine, turbo, water pump, coolant, exhaust, belt drive, etc all stuffed under the tightly packaged plastics could be hard on a belt that may or may not have been designed years ago for much lower powered sleds. Especially with minimal (or no) venting.

I ran an 8jp Thurs night then 8dn all day Friday. After the 8dn ran cooler, I went back to thrashing the 8jp on Saturday with aforementioned good results.

Had to put holes in the belly pan guard, which I'm sure weakened it but hopefully won't need it...

 

[**sj**]

Glad to hear you're making progress Soupy.

My plan for next season is to install a fan blowing right onto the clutches if I can make it fit on the side panel. Nothing better than cool belts and clutches!

you like that eh mike?

 

[kinger]

What is your definition of to hot of clutches? I checked mine on my new SW yesterday and they were HOT to the touch, like I couldn't hold my hand on them. On the 310hp apex it was always cool enough to touch.

 

[STAIN]

Clutch updates for next year are bigger primary rollers

G-force has been doing this for a bit......