RB and DJ clutch kit success 2012 etec 800 163?

[snomoguy]

What deep powder climb track speed and performance improvements have you guys seen with clutch kits and/or gearing changes? I've got the 2012 etec 800 x 163 with HPS can and scissor relocates. Stock 19/51 gearing, 500 miles on sled and still original belt. I love the way this thing keeps pulling at 40 and 41 mph on soft, deep powder pulls. Before I spend $300 on a kit I wanna make sure it's gonna do better. I don't care about trail speeds, just climbing. I ride between 5000' and 9000'. Have there been any side by side comparisons with stock pre kitted sleds to kitted sleds?
Thanks Lee

 

[DOOFREAK]

http://www.mxzx-revzone.com/forum/ There is a lot of info here on DJ's kits. I know it isn't the same but I have got his kit in my 08 and I am VERY pleased with it better performance all around! One thing for sure is if it wasn't an improvment over stock DJ would not offer it.

 

[jacmmaxwell]

My vote is for Roosterbuilt, my XP is night and day with his kit compaired to when I got it.

Not to mention, he is great to work with and it's always nice to do bussiness with a local company vs outside the country.

 

[Whiz-bang]

Have had a 12' stock sled and a rb kitted 12 side by side. The rb kitted sled had an advantage. 3-6k elev

 

[snomoguy]

Track speed

good info guys but I'm really needing actual improvement numbers, Such as track speed gained or sled lengths on hard deep pulls without heating up the belt more than stock . That is proly the best way to tell if the kits/gearing are actually improvements over stock compared in as close to the same snow conditions as possible. If I could see 4 mph or more consistenly in the same snow conditions, that would be well worth it to me if the belt wouldn't explode.
Thanks, Lee

 

[beans]

On my 12' 154 I am seeing 41-43 on deeper wet/heavy pulls in steeper terrain -30 degrees and steeper. Last weekend with a firm run into a steep 700 foot chute (6000-7000 elevation) I got mid 50s and held it steady over the top. The trench was more than a foot deep for the last 3/4 of the climb so it did get pretty soft (maybe 1.5 ft. of newer snow on a North aspect). There were cameras filming and the E-tec had a very noticable edge over the other sleds. I was going more than 10 mph faster (ground speed) all the way up....it almost appeared that the camera was in fast forward when the E-tec was in action.

The new belt cover and stock clutching seem to be working very well. 800 miles on stock belt and it looks perfect! I have geared up to a 20T top (20-49) and am considering throwing the 19 back on.

Unsure that there is any benefit to a clutch kit on the new machine. I would not spend the money unless there was a guaranteed 3+ mph advantage.

 

[winter brew]

I am happy to discuss what myself and customers have seen both stock and with our clutching/gearing. I'm guessing you are looking for a more unbiased opinion than the guy doing the clutching...LOL
Our RB setup for the '12 has only been out for a few weeks so I doubt you will get much feedback.
I will say I would not release anything unless I felt there were noticable gains....there are definate deficiencies in the stock setup and I have had many calls from customers complaining of the same things I noticed and addressed. We compared side by side with another '12 163 that was left stock...until he couldn't take getting a beatdown anymore.

 

[Matte Murder]

Brew is putting clutch kits on my Freeride and 154X as we speak. He wouldn't sell me anything until just recently. Wanted to make sure that is was "worth" it. I even volunteered way back in Nov to be a guinea pig but he didn't want me to have any troubles so he declined. This is the first thing I have bought from him. Has advised AGAINST me spending money on some things that he didn't think were worth the money. Also, I have received a TON of free advice over the last few months. He even gave me a great explaination of how the Doo clutch works so I know what is happening when I adjust the clickers. Their shop specializes in the most amount of go for the least amount of dough.

 

[CBX]

I've rode a 154 for about 100 miles, and a 163 for about 60. The 154 setup is better from the factory. The 163 hunts pretty bad. The 154 would work well as long as you didn't cycle the throttle. The 163 was opposite. Had to constantly cycle. Both lacked the kind of engine braking I like.

Talking to winter brew, the changes he's doing on the 12's are what I felt was needed compared to the ones I rode. A gear up is mandatory on the 163.

Of all the aftermarket guys out there, brew is my favorite. Anything from clutching to camoplast, he is the man. And he won't take your money if he thinks you don't need a part either.

If I ever get to ride with you Paul, I owe you a steak dinner and all the beer your belly can hold. Thanks.

 

[snomoguy]

comparisons

thanks guys. This sled climbs so well stock and embarrasses the 800 Pro and Pro Climb that 3 to 4 mph track speed would be amazing. I agree that the backshifting is not good stock and improving that alone would help. Paul, we're the sleds you compared side by side pretty much equal before you finished clutching the one that kicked butt? Also, was there that much of a difference replacing the top sprocket for a 21 tooth from a 19 tooth. With that 2.5" lug track it sure seems to pull hard with the lower gearing (and of course you proly know you're competitor likes to keep the 19 tooth in)

 

[winter brew]

I really don't know what anyone else is doing. I like low gearing and have always geared down from stock but the '12's just went TOO low IMO.
With the 19 is was snappy at low speeds but that was it... it didn't have that "pull" through top end that we look for. It was all over by mid shift compared to geared up and a helix that actually loads it a little.
Stock if it was held pinned up the hill it would do fine...but get in/out of the throttle and it would only recover to 7500 if that...same on the flats.
We had 3 '12's that were close when stock, all 163's...one had a SLP exhaust. Also had a good running RB clutched, 2.5'd '2010 to compare. The '10 whooped on the stock '12's pretty good. All the '12's saw 38-40mph on a climb early season when we had some deep....looking at speedo at lowest speed at turnout, NOT peak.
Now we are seeing mid 40's at turnout (lowest speed), upper 40's to lower 50's if in another track or in our current spring-like snow
Keeping the stock -391 belt, stock sec. spring and stock ramps.
Anyone is welcome to come along and ride a setup for themselves.
Doo did better this year on the Summit's, I don't think guys will have the belt issues they have in the past but there are some deficiencies that can be addressed to make it work a bit better.

 

[snomoguy]

cool

OK. You've convinced me. Does your kit come with the 21 tooth sprocket? I'm gonna have to build up the secret $ fund so I can sneak this kit by the little lady. The Poo and Cat riders I go with will not let me ride with them any more after this. They already don't like it when I blow past their high marks from each other.