clutch sanding - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

fr0st · 12-04-2006, 07:43 AM

ever heard of this?

my ol cat seems to be geting higher rpm at WOT. it's now at 8200 and was 7900..

im getting a new belt although this one has about 500 miles on it..

i thinking on sanding the clutch.. i mean i heard that before but is it good ?

what kind of paper do i need ? i know it requires leting the sled idle with no guard and no belt..

shed some light guys!!

Fr0st

**smallengineguy** · 12-04-2006, 07:45 AM

Most people use scotch brite pads to scuff it up a little. Like you said, let it run and scuff it.

fr0st · 12-04-2006, 07:56 AM

thanks dude

tamacat · 12-04-2006, 10:43 AM

DO NOT use sandpaper!!!

The sand will get into your moving parts and cause some problems.

Go with SEG . Use scotch bright.

fr0st · 12-04-2006, 12:01 PM

can i clean the clutch a little with some brake cleaner too ? and using my air compressor do dry it out

i guess it wouldn't hurt to remove all the crap from there while im at it.

**RJ Gleason** · 12-04-2006, 12:40 PM

SAFETY FIRST
Do not do this with the engine running.
Good way to lose fingers.
Use a scotch pad and work around the clutch not straight out from the center. Brake cleaner is a good idea as it will break up any gunk that is on the surface and make it easier to remove.

brideauj · 12-04-2006, 01:40 PM

I cleaned the works of both clutches on a 1990 jag 440 yesterday with brake cleaner spray. I was sure to clean the helix and roller cams thouroughly. I bought the sled about a month ago, and it ran ok. Now, with the cleaned clutches (no rubbing or sanding the sheaves) it nearly does 'wheelies' in the grass. Big improvment...

**RJ Gleason** · 12-04-2006, 01:42 PM

A new belt will also help a lot.

BC_Dan · 12-04-2006, 03:02 PM

Like RJ points out, use a scotch brite pad perpindicular to the belt travel, that gives you much better clutch-to-belt grab and better efficiency. Running the engine while cleaning the clutch gives parallel grooves the same direction as the belt travel, so you actually can lose efficiency. Plus, as RJ also points out, it's VERY unsafe.

**smallengineguy** · 12-04-2006, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC_Dan

Like RJ points out, use a scotch brite pad perpindicular to the belt travel, that gives you much better clutch-to-belt grab and better efficiency. Running the engine while cleaning the clutch gives parallel grooves the same direction as the belt travel, so you actually can lose efficiency. Plus, as RJ also points out, it's VERY unsafe.

I think RJ IS saying go around the clutch in the same directionm as the belt.

fr0st · 12-04-2006, 06:28 PM

i tried scotch brite as the clutch spinned.. with protective glasses, and put the scotch guard on the tip of a piece of wood so my hands would not come close to the clutch and it works GREAT.. the clutch looks like new!!

also used some brake cleaner to clean it out and it looks better.. can't wait to try it out

one thing i don't get is.. i got one of those high performance (well, supposedly) belt i bought last yeat.. ya know the kind with lumps on the interior and the exterior.. i did about 500 miles with it and it doesnt seem to thin or anything but it does fit not quit flush to the sec. clutch.. it s a bit lower even..

im gonna go get the OEM belt i think.. unless someone has something better to propose?

AWakely · 12-04-2006, 08:16 PM

yes shim your secondary so the belt sits where you want it

**RJ Gleason** · 12-05-2006, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallengineguy

I think RJ IS saying go around the clutch in the same direction as the belt.

Yes That's exactly the recommended way to do it.

fr0st · 12-05-2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWakely

yes shim your secondary so the belt sits where you want it

shimming the clutch ?

how do you do that?

**RJ Gleason** · 12-05-2006, 11:53 AM

Using shims on the jack shaft to align the secondary to the primary.
Many sleds now use a "floating" secondary to allow for engine movement and to keep the belt aligned through the entire ramping.

fr0st · 12-05-2006, 07:22 PM

yeah i've seen shims like that but the problem is not that it's misalign, it's more that the belt goes into the clutch by about 1/16.. it's not flush to the border.

getfloored · 12-05-2006, 07:33 PM

the belt sould been 1/8 over the belt may be done

**RJ Gleason** · 12-06-2006, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fr0st

yeah i've seen shims like that but the problem is not that it's misalign, it's more that the belt goes into the clutch by about 1/16.. it's not flush to the border.

Time for a new belt then.

tamacat · 12-06-2006, 08:42 AM

I'll 2nd ya on that RJ.

IndianRvrShiver · 12-06-2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWakely

yes shim your secondary so the belt sits where you want it

The shims AWakely is talkin' about are located between the sheaves....allows you to adjust the width of the pulley to better fit the belt. These are NOT for setting alignment on the jackshaft!!