P-85 tools - what to buy?

[GKR]

I have more belt side clearance than I like on my 900 and want to fix it. I would prefer not to take it to the dealer and obviously will need to tool up for it.
I want to buy the holding tools, spider tool, and spider nut tool but see there are a few variations available. Anyone recommend one over the other and where are the good deals $$$$$ found?
Thanks much.

 

[sled_guy]

A lot of money to spend for just one or two changes.

I use the Polaris hold down tool.

I bought the spider and jam nut tool from SLP, but that's been a few years back.

sled_guy

 

[GKR]

Yes but it's my style. I feel it's money well spent and I would see myself using it much more than a couple times. Sure a couple times to get the clearance right but what about spring changes, clutch maintenance, etc.
I have all the Doo tools but changed over to a Polaris last year and need to tool up for it. With the prices of labor at the dealer, the total inconvenience of having to go there and let's be honest, the level of expertise at most of them, I would prefer to do it myself. I would agree that it's not for everyone but I would be at a very advanced level on the tools and I can't stand being in the middle of doing some maintenance or having an issue and then having to stop, load up my sled and/or pull off my clutch and take it to the dealer to wait some rediculous amount of time for some apprentice to learn how to take a clutch apart with mine. I would be done long before that, confident that I have looked at and probably serviced many other things while I was in there, and have saved a bunch of money in the end. The other BIG plus is that when I break down or if my clutching is off, I'm the one to fix it.
Sorry for the run-on.
Anyone else have any comments on the tools?

 

[mac900rmk]

I bought the holding tool a couple of weeks ago. Then I seen a tech article where they used a tie-down to hold the primary to get the nut off. The holding tool was only 20 bucks but I wish I would have seen that before I bought it. Seems to be a bit long for the area. I also bought the clutch puller for my 900. I decided I could at least clean my clutches properly to start and learn how to make changes to springs, weights, etc. as I go. I'll hold off on the clutch holder and use the home made version that some use with the threaded ready rod and some angle iron.
There are some things that I have to go to the dealer but there are a lot of other things I can do myself. My brother has gotten burned twice now for some pretty good money. We've decided we'll do it and if it goes wrong we'll have no one else to blame and probably learn something.

I bought mine from Royal Distributing out of Ontario. Both tools with shipping was $75.
http://www.royaldistributing.com/07/

 

[SwampCat]

Hey GKR Iwas in the same boat as you. Do most all my own work, HATE incompetent shop help. Picked up a combo jam nut ,spider wrench from Micro Belmont in MI. Damn nice tool if I may say. 125$ from J.R. Grahm mail order.

 

[sled_guy]

A tie down to hold it. I garantee they don't make a tie down that will hold a properly torqued Polaris drive clutch.

sled_guy

 

[GKR]

I'm not looking for a tie down to get the clutch off, I have a tool for that. The one I am referring to is a bench mount to hold the clutch for removal of the spider and spider nut, as well as the special spider/nut tools to remove them.
Like thishttp://hiperf.com/acatalog/Clutch_Holding_Tools.html
Item 725-355 is what I'm after, just wondering about it or other versions as well as a preferred Canadian place to buy.

 

[sled_guy]

Yup, got you.

Royal Distributing has the tools. If you go to that website the tools I use are:
19-157248
19-157255
19-157253

I've also built my own tool like 03-15500 for doing weight pins and I also built a set of tools for pressing in and out cover bushings and moveable sheave bushings.

The hold down fixture needs to be mounted to something REALLY sturdy. I bought a piece of 2x2 steal tubing that trailer hitches are made from. Got a 3/8" plate and welded to the tubing and then drilled the plate to mount the hold down fixture to. I just slip that into the receiver on my truck and it holds it really sturdy.

The other thing I did was go to the John Deere dealer and bought a 3/4" drive flexhandle. The jam nut and spider tool have a 3/4" drive hole in them. I used to use 1/2" with an adapter but I broke a couple of them so I just bought the 3/4" one from John Deere and have never had a problem since. Note, you'll also need a 4-6' cheater bar to go on it to get it apart and torque it back together. I use a piece of chainlink fence pipe.

sled_guy

 

[saints5]

just wondering about it or other versions as well as a preferred Canadian place to buy.

In Saskatoon
http://www.recreationsupply.ca/pdf/2008-05_Tools_Maintenance.pdf

 

[BIGGDAWG]

from your link this is the set up i have and it works great.

Clutch Holder & Tool(Reference #725-355)
A fixture designed to hold the clutch and remove the spider from Polaris, Arctic Cat and Comet clutches. Holder can bolt to bench or be held in vice.

# Polaris & Comet Clutch (Jam Nut Tool Built In)
# Arctic Cat (except '07 4 Cam Arm Clutches)

2 In Stock
$139.95

 

[truthrider]

I have a "dummy clutch tool", don't recall who makes it, but you can change your weights in about five minutes with the clutch remaining on the sled. Your also suppose to be able to remove to cover to change springs, But I haven't got that far into it yet. I beleive it cost about $50.00. Changing weights with this is about as easy as it gets.