[Administrator]

Hi guys.

I was just wondering how often / if ever you clean your clutch. The clutch on my 99 Zr just went out and now I find myself shelling out $400 for a replacement. The dealer said that the clutch needs to be cleaned every 1000 miles or so. I never once cleaned mine. I was just wondering how many of you clean your clutch on a regular basis and what types of lubricants you use.

 

[strokez]

my clutch went out on my 97 Trail last winter, so i went to a salvage yard a bought a rebuilt one for $100

 

[700XC]

I have a 700 XC and I have never had clutch trouble I clean my clutch every year with CRC clutch cleaner I heard you can ues brake cleaner because it doesn't leave a residue.

 

[Administrator]

Yeah. I wish I had used clutch cleaner. My buddy was telling me today that Comet Clutch cleaner is what he would recommend. I don't know if I would use brake cleaner since it is very flammable, but it probably would be alright if you didn't drive immediately afterward.

 

[doomsday]

hmmmm......Note To Self: Ask dad if he cleans the clutches of our snomobiles

 

[strokez]

yeah..i've never heard of cleaning the clutch.. must just be for the rubber than comes off of your belt..but cleaning your clutch probably wont effect when the weights go out on it...that all depends on how often you give it gas and if you pull heavy loads and such

 

[Administrator]

Eh well... I got my sled back today. New clutch. Went out and tested it on the lake by my house... got about say 400 feet out and it started to do the exact same... lose power and almost die thing. Soooo... back to the shop again.... ticks me off. Well I guess I was due for a new clutch anyway, but now I still have to figure out what is wrong. It has started to backfire some too now... I am hoping its a bad plug wire... but it could be valves!

 

[strokez]

hmm.......thats odd....does it seem to start fine?

 

[Administrator]

Yeah. It starts fine and runs fine up until about 20 mph... then it sometimes looses power. You can't regain power until you let off the throttle and get back on it. I don't have a clue on how to repair an EFI engine, so I am going to have to try new spark plugs and if that is not it... back to the dealer again.

Thankfully my dealer is really helpful.

 

[strokez]

almost sounds like its not getting enough gas.....

 

[Administrator]

I thought that too... but it is fuel injected and it works great at mid range. Low speed and high speed are where the problem is most prominent.

 

[strokez]

hmm...i dont know what to tell you. Before I got my 97 Trail, i had a 1992 Polaris Indy 500 EFI. It was a great sled accept for when the computer went out on it, and that was like 200 bucks

 

[Administrator]

I'll play with it tomorrow and let you know what I find. =)

 

[doomsday]

Maybe you need to clean the fuel injection system?

 

[strokez]

yeah..that could eb a possibility. I know on our sea doo..which practically has a snowmobile engine..we had the same problems, and we took it apart and found that the gas filter was just dirty as heck..and we also cleaned the carbs and we didn't have any problem after that

 

[Administrator]

I changed the plugs and that didn't do anything. So I brought it back to the dealer today... hopefully they will have an answer soon. It does sound a lot like a lack of fuel... but it confuses me that it runs well at mid range speeds, but only has problems at high and low end. Well they should be able to fix it non-the-less.

 

[doomsday]

Let us know what it was when you get it fixed. Its a very interesting problem. Seems like it should be bogging out at all speeds, not just low and high.

 

[BordnBill]

clutches should be rebuilt every 800-1000 miles. Just go to your local shop and buy a clutch rebuild kit and it should run you around $25. I get my air compressor out after every ride and blow out the clutch. It's amazing how much dust you blow out after just one ride. And from what I have heard, a good way to check to see if your clutch needs rebuilding is, look at the shims on each side of the weight, and if they are sticking, then it's time. This is only my two cents worth. Also, write on your clutch, the mileage that you did the rebuild. This is a reminder for you in the future.

 

[Administrator]

Thanks. That is excellent advise. Don't I need some special equipment to pull of the clutch to rebuilt it? Or can I get buy with only a rebuild kit?

 

[BordnBill]

Thanks. That is excellent advise. Don't I need some special equipment to pull of the clutch to rebuilt it? Or can I get buy with only a rebuild kit?

You can go out and purchase a clutch puller, or you can just be patient as you remove the bolts from the clutch. It really doesn't take that long to do it. I don't remember how many bolts there are to loosen. I think 5 or 6. I will ask my buddy since he does the dirtly work for me. I just sit back and watch, and open a beer for him when he needs it.