Belt to short? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

richep · 12-17-2006, 09:34 AM

I have an 85 Arctic Cat Cougar that wont disengage the track at idle. The belt barly grabs the primary clutch and won't disengage. I took both clutches apart and they seem to function properly. I can run the machine through all spesds with the track suspended, but it is hard to start when pulling track over with the motor. I have bought two belts for it, one aftermarket and one arctic cat with no luck. Is there a way to adjust it? Both clutches look original.

ac bigbore · 12-17-2006, 10:06 AM

And the clutch still grabs at idle- your primary movable sheave bushing may have slid and is keeping the sheve from
opening completely. Happened to me once. Requires removal of
spider to replace bushing, so try to determine if that is the problem before proceding. Refer to manual or goto someone like Brown's snombile supply and look at blowup of clutch to see what I am talking about. I think if you take the belt off and pull tight just in primary, you should be able to slide the belt through the sheves easily. If it binds, the belt is too fat or sheve isn't opening up all the way.

upersleder · 12-17-2006, 10:42 AM

that could be. but find the spec for your center to center distance between your clutches and check it. has to be right, another thing to check would be the motor mounts.

kccats · 12-17-2006, 11:39 AM

If someone had the driven clutch apart and did not put any washers back in the belt would go way ou of the clutch (3/16-1/4") and it could do that.Also if it has the wrong style weights in it, it could be pushing the sheves out just enoigh!

richep · 12-17-2006, 03:08 PM

Well I took the clutch apart and the movable pulley bushing seems like it backed out about a 1/4 inch. Probably that's my problem. Looks like they don't sell the bushing separate.

kccats · 12-17-2006, 08:59 PM

sure they do, If it's a stock cat clutch go to your local dealer if it's a comet you can go to an aftermarket

ac bigbore · 12-18-2006, 12:20 PM

Looked at Brown's Leisure world this AM for your clutch after getting a spare new-in-package round bushing out of one of my parts bins. I see what you mean. No bushing listed or shown in the diagram. I've got a newer style arctic/comet clutch with the round shaft you can have for 10bucks and shipping if you want to try it. I think I may have rebuilt it with new spider bushings, but it has been some years since I worked on it and it may be just a take off from a junked sled (88 Wildcat I think).

richep · 12-18-2006, 02:57 PM

I ordered A new sheave from local dealer. Should have it Wed.