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D-Drive ? Do you guys like them?

M

Mnt.Tamer

Free Member
I've been told that the M sleds don't shift as well as a chain case sled do the D Drive, this came from a company that builds custom sleds. I wanted to here it from you guys because I am thinking of getting a M. I currently ride a KK and love the way i shifts. Is there a cure for this? or is it just part of the D-D.
Thanks
 
the ticking time bomb that is my diamond drive, love everything about it except the reliability part...
 
I don't think the diamond drive has much to do with how the clutch shifts. I love the Diamond Drive, however finicky they may be, (even though I have had a DD failure) its still a superior mechanism to a standard chain case. Having no jack shaft, the associated weight savings, and having your brake on the drive-shaft is awesome.
 
I love mine dd. 8500km without any issues. Absolutely brilliant invention. No worries and bullet proof. But mine is -06 without reverse. Those -07 and -08 models are grenades waiting to explode...
 
For me the jury is still out. I love the concept and engineering behind the idea but, I have read far too many horror stories to make me feel comfortable.

Changing your diamond drive oil at least every season sounds like an imperative thing to do if you'd like to avoid trouble.

The fact that the diamond drive case cover is merely screwed into the aluminum of the chassis with self tapping machine screws (no nuserts) tells me they either cut corners trying to save money or weight or they just never planned for the diamond drive case/cover to removed.
 
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My M7 does not back shift as well as my MC. I think that is more to do with the primary clutch and sec encapsulated design then the gear drive. My only question on the gear drive why the need for the planetary? Seems with such a small room for error in gears meshing together that it just adds more that can go wrong. It must be a deal with RMI having a patent on 2 gear drive system, maybe when that patent runs out they can redesign it with just 2 gears.
 
Sledbrain2 said:
My M7 does not back shift as well as my MC. I think that is more to do with the primary clutch and sec encapsulated design then the gear drive. My only question on the gear drive why the need for the planetary? Seems with such a small room for error in gears meshing together that it just adds more that can go wrong. It must be a deal with RMI having a patent on 2 gear drive system, maybe when that patent runs out they can redesign it with just 2 gears.
Click to expand...

With just 2 gears the engine would have to run the opposite direction that it does now, that would create a whole new set of problems.
 
thekrust said:
With just 2 gears the engine would have to run the opposite direction that it does now, that would create a whole new set of problems.
Click to expand...

Don't quite follow your thinking. With the electronic reverse, the engine runs backwards anyways. Just a matter of reprogramming the computer. IMO
 
Thanks for your imput.

I'm thinking of building up a M sled, that is why I have the questions. If I do, I will use the M6-7 DD or the D-lite from black Diamond. What I was told was that the secondary can't sense the load from the track as well as the chain case or belt drive, thus it can't back shift as well. Don't get me wrong I love the concept of the DD and don't mind the main. that needs to be done, I just don't want to have a sled the trenches when boondocking because it can't back shift. I hope this make sense.
 
I think the 10.4 sheaves would help the situation if your worried about it. and if your that worried about it get the 11" sheaves. I have the stock sheaves on an m7 and buddy has the 10.4's, bottom and mid are alot diff in my opinion. don't know if this is a fact but from I have seen and ridden it does make a diff.
 
Mnt.Tamer said:
I'm thinking of building up a M sled, that is why I have the questions. If I do, I will use the M6-7 DD or the D-lite from black Diamond. What I was told was that the secondary can't sense the load from the track as well as the chain case or belt drive, thus it can't back shift as well. Don't get me wrong I love the concept of the DD and don't mind the main. that needs to be done, I just don't want to have a sled the trenches when boondocking because it can't back shift. I hope this make sense.
Click to expand...

It is probably exactly the opposite, no sloppy chain flopping around to delay reaction.
 
The drive itself is not the issue with shifting, it is the secondary. It can be improved drastically over stock, just do a search on it. Mechanically a chaincase and gear case both lock the track solid with the secondary clutch and the dd has less rotating mass which will let things react quicker. 05-06 dd were pretty much bullet proof, but if you are building from ground up then the BDX lite drive may be better option. You may notice that the gears in a dd are much closer in number than in a chaincase sled and do not give as much reduction. Most of the reduction comes from the planetary with the gear sets being a "fine tuning" mechanism. Planetaries allow for great reductions in smaller spaces without using huge gears.
 
boondocker97 said:
The drive itself is not the issue with shifting, it is the secondary. It can be improved drastically over stock, just do a search on it. Mechanically a chaincase and gear case both lock the track solid with the secondary clutch and the dd has less rotating mass which will let things react quicker. 05-06 dd were pretty much bullet proof, but if you are building from ground up then the BDX lite drive may be better option. You may notice that the gears in a dd are much closer in number than in a chaincase sled and do not give as much reduction. Most of the reduction comes from the planetary with the gear sets being a "fine tuning" mechanism. Planetaries allow for great reductions in smaller spaces without using huge gears.
Click to expand...


X2 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Once a few let out what works in secondary it is an animal. This X-1 kit is sick. No more week A$$ end cap. 99% of the torsion spring performance is the stronger end cap.

http://www.formulax-1.com/clutch-kits.php

This is the first kit that back shifts on a track stand. REALLY the clutch will back shift on a track stand with no load on the track. It will only hit 6800 rpms then put her on the snow and Chit you better hold on.

Don.
 
Great info.

I see what you guys are saying, It's more the secondary clutch not responding as well as say a team, cat roller,etc. do the aftermarket clutch kits improve it a lot? RKT, CPC.X-1. The reason I ask is the M1000 I road had stock clutch,except spring, stock gears. and I don't like the low end response, It feels gutless until you get it revved up, unlike my KK which has great low end grunt and works great in the trees except the out dated chassis. I hope to ride more M sleds this winter that have been clutched and geared better to feel the difference.
 
Frostbite said:
The fact that the diamond drive case is merely screwed into the aluminum of the chassis with self tapping machine screws (no nuserts) tells me they either cut corners trying to save money or weight or they just never planned for the diamond drive case/cover to removed.
Click to expand...

That tells me you have not taken it off yet, the DD is held in with nuts and through bolts, at least the ones I have worked have been
 
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I have had about 10 new Cats, about 50/50 chain case vs DD, I had 1 chain case break and leave me stranded and 1 DD fail but make it back to the trailer, so in my world its just as reliable
 
i dont know what redneck has been wrenchin on his sled, but i have yet to see the dd held on by self tapping machine screws! lol
 
have two m sleds a 06 and a 09. my m7 stock chewed one up and spit it out the side got lucky and was able to tow it out by a skidoo of all things. To be honest the benefits of em are through the roof but they scare the hell out of me. Tick tick tick.
 
miller47 said:
i dont know what redneck has been wrenchin on his sled, but i have yet to see the dd held on by self tapping machine screws! lol
Click to expand...

I think what he meant was the cover is held to the other half of the case with self tapping machine screws directly into the aluminum of the back half of the case. LAME cost saving design.

After I stripped out some screws on mine, I put steel inserts in (time-serts) and can snug them up nicely now. I will probaly do this on all my DD cases from now on.
 
Thanks for the help Nubulin, yes that is what I meant.

I think the other two knew what I meant too!
 
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