lets roll

Quick Change Field Tuning
Each helix is designed with two separate ramp angle patterns for differing snow conditions or performance needs. Each cam angle can be easily installed into the clutch by aligning numbers and custom cut helixes are readily available.

Roller clutches have always worked well. However, if you're in the mountains, and jump of the trail at 5,000 feet and climb the deep powder up to 8,000 feet, then the other brands of roller cam or button clutches do not have the capabilities to quickly adjust for increasing elevation and riding conditions.

Tri-City Polaris general manager Max Maxedon states that the Team clutch is so precise that it is very setup specific. For example, he says that if the Rapid Reaction clutch is tuned for a non-exhaust valve 2001 800 RMK or XC, it will not be tuned for a '02 or '03 RMK or XC because of the exhaust valves.

"Every time we install this clutch, we see at least a two to six mile-an-hour track speed increase when we shoot up a hill. Precise power transmission from clutch to track makes any sled a sweetheart to ride. The drive clutch engages the track so smoothly that in deep powder use, it does not blow out the track and cause the sled to trench."

Maxedon says that during his field-testing, he had two identical sleds: two 800 RMKs, 151-inch tracks, running on Starting Line Products' single tuned exhaust. Each sled had TCP's Lighting Weights, buttons and springs in the drive clutch. Each sled was tuned exactly alike. One RMK was mated to a Rapid Reaction driven clutch, the other RMK retained Polaris' stock driven clutch, but tuned to TCP's best setup with OEM parts for elevation and snow condition. The RMKs were lined up at the bottom of a hill each with identical sized drivers. The "Go" signal was given and carbs yanked opened. The RMK with the Rapid Reaction driven clutch was consistently ahead of the other RMK- six sled lengths, on average.

To validate the results, TCP switched drive clutches between the two sleds. Again the "Go" sign was given, and the sleds launched. Same results, six sled length gain for the Rapid Reaction sled.
Now if a driven clutch works so well on snowmobiles that breathe thin air and ride in two feet of powder, imagine what it will do for trail sleds that gulp down sea-level air and blast across a frozen lake. This is performance equal to a tuned exhaust.

Hall says for a ditch banger and trail burner, this clutch shines in its backshifting capabilities. "When a driver is hot on the throttle and comes into a corner, he will quickly hit the brake, shifting weight to the skis. The clutch backshifts. Then he turns the handlebars, whacks the throttle and quickly cycles into the upshift. This happens without any clutch hesitation on the Rapid Reaction"
Maxedon adds that once he has a sled's setup spot on, which is when the Rapid Reaction clutch is backshifting perfectly, "the tach needle won't tear itself off when wide open throttle is reapplied."
Simply, Maxedon states that before the Rapid Reaction clutch, the motor and clutch would over-wind, or over-rev beyond 8000 rpm and settle back down. With this clutch, "the motor climbs back up to 8000 rpm and stops."

This, according to Hall, keeps the motor in its optimum power band. "Each engine is designed to run at a certain rpm for optimum performance, keeping it in that power band is where this clutch dominates."

We at AmSnow have driven several snowmobiles with Team Industries' Rapid Reaction driven clutch, such as RMKs from Starting Line Products and Tri-City Polaris, Blades and Hylanders from FAST and the new ProX sleds from Polaris. We have witnessed for ourselves that what Hall and Maxedon testify is true. Backshift is incredible. Track blowout is almost nonexistent. This driven clutch is easy, forgiving and positive in keeping a true RPM response the best we have seen.

Hall concludes by saying, "We (Team Industries) now have clutches for all four brands of sleds. Each has the correct shaft so it will fit directly onto the stock jackshaft and is painted to match the brand's color. We also have Polaris ATV clutches both EBS and non-EBS."

For more information, contact Team Industries @ 866/766-9288, www.tpspro.com