Clutches...Whining Sound

[Skeld]

I have a pretty limited knowledge of clutching. I noticed that my sled has developed a whining sound coming from the clutch side of the sled when it's under a load. This happened at about the 300 mile mark, and I have a little over 500 miles on it now. It's easiest to notice at low speed blipping the throttle...the whining will get louder as the engine spools up but then go away.

Yesterday I tried some acceleration runs from a standing start with not much snow on a lake and somewhat good traction. The whining sound was quite loud and it seemed like it took a few seconds for the clutches to grab the belt and get going. But I didn't notice the engine hitting the rev limiter either? It just didn't seem to launch hard right away. Any thoughts?

 

[skippy]

Do you have a broken primary spring maybe?

 

[Skeld]

Do you have a broken primary spring maybe?

I wondered that but I haven't looked yet. Think that could cause these symptoms?

 

[rotax]

Obvious symptoms of a broken spring is a lack of max RPM..
And a also a very lazy bottom end/engagement..maybe even 'boggy' feeling at times.
I never noticed any whining..

 

[Skeld]

I would say I am getting the lazy engagement but still pulling 8200 RPM on top. Weird. I dropped it at the dealer but I have little confidence...I pointed him in the direction of the primary spring as a possibility so we will see what happens I guess. Probably say there is nothing wrong.

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

Sounds like your belt deflection is off.

 

[GREICO1]

Just fixed one like this. Lots of rubber smeared on the drive clutch and belt was about to delaminate. Slipping clutches and bad factory setup. New belt, clean the sheaves and runs great, no more whining.

 

[JonezyBones]

Any updates skeld on the problem?

 

[Skeld]

Any updates skeld on the problem?

No, not yet. It's at the dealer. That probably won't turn out well. I didn't notice any rubber on the primary. How would the deflection being off cause this problem? Is the adjustment supposed to be so that the top of the belt is even with the outside of the secondary...the belt itself and not the ribs?

 

[TRS]

Are you sure it is not brake rotor noise?

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

No, not yet. It's at the dealer. That probably won't turn out well. I didn't notice any rubber on the primary. How would the deflection being off cause this problem? Is the adjustment supposed to be so that the top of the belt is even with the outside of the secondary...the belt itself and not the ribs?

I went back and reread the OP--you said under load and I missed that. My primary squeals some at idle. I'm told my belt is a bit too tight.

 

[Skeld]

Are you sure it is not brake rotor noise?

Definitely not. It only happens when it's under a heavy load. Let's say I take of very smoothly from a standing start; in that case it won't do it. If I blip the throttle a little while taking off though, that extra bit of power being applied will cause the sound to occur.

Or if I go through a ravine at steady throttle. It won't start whining until I come up against the far side and start to go up hill. Weird I know.

 

[Scott]

I went back and reread the OP--you said under load and I missed that. My primary squeals some at idle. I'm told my belt is a bit too tight.

Yup!

 

[Skeld]

Just fixed one like this. Lots of rubber smeared on the drive clutch and belt was about to delaminate. Slipping clutches and bad factory setup. New belt, clean the sheaves and runs great, no more whining.

So did you change anything about the setup to correct the problem, or did you just clean the sheaves and change belts?

 

[GREICO1]

Setup remained the same, but have spoken to the guy and had no more issue. The belt recieved a rare warranty by Polairs as it was beginning to delaminate and you could visibly see the issue. My recommendation was to have the sheaves cut to remove the dual angles. Most of the belt residue is at this point and it is just creating yet another point to "shift" the clutches. Mine will be recieving the same treatment over the summer as well as a straight helix in the secondary. Every multi-angle is just like adding a splitter to a manual in a truck. They don't need to be there and we could all benefit from straight angles and primary weights with more mass at the heel. This is an area where simpler is better. Hope this helps.

 

[BB454]

Whine

I would raise the rear and spin the track. You can create a load using the brake. I wonder if you may have a bearing on the drive shaft going out. I know it has low miles but you never know. This won't test the one on the drive shaft.

 

[tdblakes]

Mine whines pretty loud too and it sounds like its coming from the secondary. Mine does not have sluggish engagement and does not have a problem reaching max RPM. I originally thought it was that my chain was too tight, so I retightened it, no change. The sound reminds me of what you hear when you're free wheeling down a hill, only it does it all the time. It stops when I hit the brake, so its in my secondary, chaincase, or brake... Or could be a misagligned belt. My sled has done this since day 1. I have about 360 miles on it now. My '12 Assault RMK has it, my cousin's '12 Pro RMK has it but not nearly as loud as mine, and my dad's '11 Std RMK doesnt have it at all and never has.

Wondering if anyone thinks its an alignment issue. I don't have the tool to check it so I might just stop in at the dealer and have him check it if anyone thinks it is the cause...

 

[Skeld]

Mine whines pretty loud too and it sounds like its coming from the secondary. Mine does not have sluggish engagement and does not have a problem reaching max RPM. I originally thought it was that my chain was too tight, so I retightened it, no change. The sound reminds me of what you hear when you're free wheeling down a hill, only it does it all the time. It stops when I hit the brake, so its in my secondary, chaincase, or brake... Or could be a misagligned belt. My sled has done this since day 1. I have about 360 miles on it now. My '12 Assault RMK has it, my cousin's '12 Pro RMK has it but not nearly as loud as mine, and my dad's '11 Std RMK doesnt have it at all and never has.

Wondering if anyone thinks its an alignment issue. I don't have the tool to check it so I might just stop in at the dealer and have him check it if anyone thinks it is the cause...

Sounds like we are probably experiencing the same sounds, although not sure why I seem to have "slippage" issues and you don't.

 

[tdblakes]

Sounds like we are probably experiencing the same sounds, although not sure why I seem to have "slippage" issues and you don't.

well I sent my primary to Indy Dan to get balanced/sheaves machined before I even ran it, plus I'm not running stock clutching so maybe thats the difference, or yours is just more extreme than mine. Tough to say.

Did you check alignment?

 

[Clarke673]

Are you sure it is not brake rotor noise?

x2. that is my bet!