Clutch not engaging until high RPMs???.

[snowmanhat]

'01 SX500 just replaced broken motor mount and now clutch doesn't engage until high RPMS. Since I replaced the motor mount the belt is tighter than before but within the 10.62" center to center spec. Don't know what is happening. Used a wood dowel as clutch holder when removing clutch - everything seemed to go well.

Thank you for your help

 

[SD Coyote]

You are not giving enough info to get a response. Is your offset correct? Is your belt ride height in the secondary correct. Center to center needs to be within a 3mm (about one eighth of an in.) tolerance. Did you take the clutch apart? Did the clutching work good before changing the motormount? What rpm does the clutch engage at now? Are the belt and clutches free of grease and grime? pm me if you want.

 

[snowmanhat]

Correct offset - yes used Yamaha tool
Riding at proper height on secondary - yes
Center to center - 10.62" as per spec - good
Didn't take clutch apart
Worked fine before replacing motor mount
Don't know what RPM engaging now but noticably to high
Belt and clutch free of grease - still alittle grease inside sleave
from when I used hydrolic pressure to pop off clutch.

Thank you for you help,

 

[SD Coyote]

It sounds like you have the clutches adjusted right. You should be able to see if your spring was damaged or misaligned by holding with the dowel. Other than this, the only other thing that comes to mind is if you cleaned the pto and inside the clutch taper before torquing the clutch back to 87ft. lbs. and then loosen bolt, and torque to 43ft. lbs. Maybe some others will have more ideas with the added info.

 

[snowmanhat]

I just disassembled the clutch and cleand all parts - found alot of crud. Cleaned everything real good with solvent and tested by hand. Everything seemed very smooth. Lightly grease faces of weights. When I put it back into operation is did the same thing. Clutch only has 1000 miles on it.


At what RPMs should the primary begin to move over?
Mine begins to move at 3800 RPMs.

I wonder if I did bend the spring - how would I tell? It looks straight

Thank again for your help I'm lost on this one

 

[SD Coyote]

Snow; it should tell the approx. engagement speed in your owners manual. My sx700 is 4000. You check actual engagement rpm when on a hardpacked trail and stopped. You slowly give throttle until sled just starts to move. The rpm at this time is your engagement rpm. It sounds like yours is pretty close at 3800. You are probally checking with the rear of sled raised which still gives a good idea. I thought from your post, it was crazy high like 7000! Do you have snow to test ride it? I doubt you caused any damage to the spring. If you had pushed it out of it's end slot it would increase the preload a bunch causing a high engagement. If you have lined the clutches properly (sounds like you did) and are engaging at 4000, +or- 1000, you should be good to go. The sx500 is a good dependable sled!

 

[snowmanhat]

No snow right now but I'll try as soon as I can.
Thanks so much for all of your help -I sure learned alot.

 

[SD Coyote]

Glad I was able to help and would like to mention one more thing. You have to put the clutch cover on with the x mark on the back lining up with the x on the spider to maintain the clutch balance. You can see these x marks without taking it apart again. One is on the spider arm and the other is on the back side of the clutch cover usually behind where it reads Yamaha on the front. Happy riding!