Stripped Primary clutch bolt :(

[MikeMetzger]

Was listing my 2018 Arctic Cat for sale, saw one of the 6 bolts that hold the end cap on the primary was loose and sticking out a bit. Went to tighten it and the threads are stripped. Looked online and it looks like I'll have to purchase a $750 assembly... Is this the case or does anyone have some advice on where to find the only part I need etc.... Thanks

 

[Octanee]

You could look at installing a HELI-COIL and hopefully that takes care of it.

 

[Badv2]

Had something similar happen drilled and tapped hole up to 5/16"and ground bolt to a little shorter till it weighed the same and the 1/4" factory bolt. Ran till clutch was completely worn out now have new one.

 

[MikeMetzger]

Thanks guys! Both of those sound like good ideas. Im actually in the act of selling this sled, so have to consider what will be best for the new owner, or maybe sell as is and drop the price so they can fix it however they'd like

 

[hansenmac]

on an old sled i had a bolt was stripping over so i put JB weld in the hole and on the threds then poked it back in the hole. kept it in balance anyways but would be kinda a dick move to do if selling it. i think the drill and tap would work best and be easiest.

 

[MikeMetzger]

Ended up going to my local hardware store and found the exact bolt but 1/4” longer. Snugged in there perfectly so should be a permanent fix ?

 

[Dam Dave]

its a rotating balanced unit, rotating at engine speed, changing one bolt size or thread insert or longer bolt will affect the balance, could vibrate bad

 

[kiliki]

^^^^ this but changing all the bolts would balance it back out.

 

[Sage Crusher]

^^^^ this but changing all the bolts would balance it back out.

You will drive yourself crazy trying that-not one bolt is going to be the same to the other- so spin balancing as a unit-you can take the weight off where needed.

 

[MikeMetzger]

I was curious about the balance aspect. I know that they balance clutches pretty tightly, so will be curious how it feels after replacing the bolt. I meant to weigh each one to see the weight difference, but will probably end up getting it rebalanced somewhere....

 

[boondocker97]

If you're going to get it rebalanced I would helicoil it. Then you know it's going to be a permanent fix.

 

[MikeMetzger]

Not sure why I didn’t think of this sooner. Pretty simple fix. Was 1g off. Now matches exactly and snugs right up. ? Ready to rip.

 

[Coldfinger]

Could you have added another long bolt to the opposite side so you would have two that match? Then shave a little off the hex end if one needs lightened.

 

[MikeMetzger]

I guess I could have, but seems just as easy to just shave 1 gram off the bolt rather than run down to the hardware store etc. More than one way to skin a cat I guess ?

 

[Octanee]

I think you'd be OK to go, these clutches I don't think are balanced all that well, being a team clutch if they are anything like the polaris ones, again "team" they arent so good..... it's sad actually... so best to keep it as balanced as you can which I'd say you did and that it shouldn't change much at all to be an issue, sure the weights a bit more inward but rotational wise it's the same.

 

[MikeMetzger]

Octane, I agree. Obviously you want it perfectly balanced. But I agree that it’s as close as anything that comes off the production floor ?

 

[live2beel]

What happens when it gets disassembled for service ? Are you going to tell the new owner the 1/4 longer bolt has to go in a specific hole? I would just HELI-COIL it. Easy fix done right.

 

[MikeMetzger]

What happens when it gets disassembled for service ? Are you going to tell the new owner the 1/4 longer bolt has to go in a specific hole? I would just HELI-COIL it. Easy fix done right.

My plan is to mark the bolt and the hole, as well as to let the new owner know, if/when I sell it.

I was going to go the helix-coil route, but A) I've never done one before, so I don't have the tools or knowledge B) The threads are deep, so I'd be drilling and tapping a 3"(ish) hole, removing aluminum and throwing off the balance, which would then require it being rebalanced by someone, which would mean shipping it out etc.

So it just seemed like the better way to go for me and my current position. Like I said many ways to skin a cat.

 

[sno*jet]

looks to me like you fixed it more than others would have, send it out the door and focus more on how the dems stole this election

 

[MikeMetzger]

looks to me like you fixed it more than others would have, send it out the door and focus more on how the dems stole this election

I'm really comfortable with the fix, I don't think it'll ever be an issue for me or future owners. Definitely interested to see what comes of this election.....