Light Weight Clutch

[wellfed777]

these folks are building this cover not sure how much weight it takes off

http://happyfacepp.com/polaris-pro-clutch-cover/

is there a point when the performance starts to go the other way ?
i'm thinking of dirt bike fly wheel weights changing the performance

i guess you can clutch a sled to the engine so maybe thats not a good
comparison

 

[winter brew]

Thoughts on rotating weight.....you are accelerating the entire drivetrain. The secondary clutch is much heavier. I don't recall the exact numbers but 4-5 lbs heavier than a Doo QRS for splined shaft. This was a Team Tied.
What percentage of the entire drivetrain is the primary....including every rotating component down to the snow including the track. Is there another area that can yield more gain?
Perhaps there is more to be gained there than the primary and at less cost?
Also, changing the weight of the primary will undoubtably have an effect on the resonant rpm of the engine. Exactly what rpm is tough to say without the proper equipment. I do harmonic/ resonance/vibration testing for a living and small changes can have a huge effect on longevity. Heavier clutches are generally easier on cranks as they provide a flywheel effect and smooth things out. That's why Doo leaves on the starter ring gear and I have seen guys add a brass ring to the backside of their P85's to increase crank life (in theory). Just some thoughts.

 

[Cooksend]

Alternative Impact has all the primary bolts available in TI but the weight pins which are available from Patrickcustomcarbon.

I would like to see someone develop a CVT that replaces both clutches and the gear reducing element in a light weight package (preferably inside the driveshaft /drivers). I had a system drawn up twenty years ago but the control function was cost prohibitive (more than $10,000 each at the time). But would easily remove 10-15 pounds of rotating crap and 5-10 pounds of non-rotating weight (depending on chaincase or belt drive).

I have been pounding that concept in my head for years and have no engineering background so it stays put as messed up thoughts! Imagine how that would advance the industry! The complete engine bay could be redesigned, revisit center of gravity, rotational mass would be centered and lowered! Unbelievable advances in snowmobile design and handling would come!!!

 

[carbontj]

Making Ti roller for the P 85 would not be cost effective and I don't think it would last. Ti is a softer material and does not wear very good. I need to coat my Ti pins with a carbon high temp coating for them to last as long as the stock pins. The first pins I made did not have coating and did not last very long at all. There is over 1200 lbs of force on the rollers in contact with the weights, so it would wear very fast and weight savings would not be very much to warrant doing them.

You can get ti springs, but for us I don't want to stock all the spring rates people run!!

We can take 1.25 lbs off the primary, and 3/4 pound off the secondary and all will be balanced.

TJ

Thanks guys for the endorsements...Working on rear skid right now, Just joined Facebook and will post some pictures on the project. Yes carbon fiber rails...

 

[Scott]

I've drooled over this cover for several years now.
However, I do like to see other products such as the Happy Face and Zollinger covers coming into the market.

 

[BILTIT]

I drool on mine in the garage every now and then, lol!

 

[carbontj]

In regards to the harmonics with changing to a carbon fiber cover. I sent the first covers to Polaris just to check on the longevity and performance, being I know many people there. The clutch cover was put on a new P 85 and installed on a new motor on the endurance dyno, which they test driveline endurance everyday...The cover was first thought to make only 20 hours as all first time parts do. They ran it over 90 hours straight with zero issues, and after taking off the motor was found to have all the bushings, roller, weight, CF cover still in good shape. Typically they will all be gone after 40 hours. WHY? Not something I intended to happen, but we came up with 2 ideas...1- does it spin threw the harmonics faster? 2- does the softer material in carbon fiber absorb some of the harmonics? We have no data other than the clutch life was extended over double from stock alum cover....We have done other inertia tests as well, all showing the carbon fiver cover helps the overall performance of the engine as well....Remember inertia works both ways, the hardest thing on a motor is when you lock the brake up and the clutch stops so fast...

TJ

 

[Stef12r]

Hi Guy m'y Yamaha Clutch weight 3686gr with no Ram and spring