M series clutch life

B00nd0ck3r4lif · May 25, 2010

A buddy of mine suggested that since I can't rebuild my primary clutch on my M8 that I should replace it every 1200 miles. I realize that the rollers and bushings get worked really hard in the mountains but is 1200 miles just being precautionary or is that what most people do?

I would prefer to not have to go through 2 clutches a season if I didn't have to, but if that is what it takes to keep my sled in peak shape then I'll gladly do it.

mountaincat 800 · May 25, 2010

:face-icon-small-sho
Can I have your old ones?

JasonAK · May 25, 2010

Mine lasted 4000 miles before it was worn out (roller stuck). I would take agood look at it every 500 miles. Keep it cleen with and change the spring every 500 miles for peak performance.

Jason

diggerdown · May 25, 2010

It seems the 1000 takes a toll on clutches but they do pretty well on the 800. Blow your clutches out with an air nozzel quite often and the clutches last pretty good.

B00nd0ck3r4lif · May 25, 2010

this is more along the lines of what I was thinking. Based on the extreme level of preventative maintenance I see him do I figured 1200 miles was a little much.

I will just change the spring and take care of it, if I get a deal on a replacement I will pick one up.

73GOLIATH · May 25, 2010

i got 3700 on my clutch before the spider went out and i had to buy a new one

TheBreeze · May 25, 2010

every 1200 miles is being anal on the 8. In my experience, its more like 3500 - 4000 miles.

sledtahoe · May 25, 2010

air

Keep mine blown out real good with compressed air and got 5200 out of it before spider broke.Think 4000 is about the time to replace..

WyoBoy1000 · May 26, 2010

just did mine at 1800 on a slp piped m1000 and I've had plenty of clutching issues so if not for that I would have figured a little over 2000. It also ruined a weight, so keep an eye on it so your not buying weights.

CO 2.0 · May 26, 2010

I keep my clutches CLEAN. Roller bushing went out in my 2010 M8 at 600 miles creating a flat spot in the weight. Cat warrantied it with a new clutch.

My buddies 2009 HCR has ~1500 miles on it and the exact same thing happened to his. He didn't keep his clutches too clean though. He had to buy a new clutch.

mountainhorse · May 26, 2010

One thing to ponder...

IMO.... it is not the number of miles, but how the sled is used..

A throttle jockey like Burandt, who's clutches are constantly "working" at a high percentage of load will wear out a clutch faster than say a climber or trail rider.

Turbo sleds or sleds operated in powder more, especially boondoocking will wear pin bushings, spider bushings, cover bushings and clutch faces get worn... especially with these new belts. Clutches that get hot wear out faster too....if the setup is not good, the heat builds up and parts wear faster.

Maintaining the clutch, keeping it clean and keeping it adjusted go a long way towards making it last.

WyoBoy1000 · May 28, 2010

mine gets the most abuse when climbing, as it upshifts and then has to down shift with a hard load on it, it puts more pressure on the rollers than any other time.

ACMtnCat · May 28, 2010

IMO the primary gets the most wear on it when your hard on and off the throttle all time. Lots of tree boondocking will wear it out the fastest.

I now have 6400+ miles on my '08 Nightfire and have gone through 3 primary's and 1 secondary and 5 belts and 1 donkey drive. NOT BAD FOR THE ABUSE I PUT ON THE SLED. It sucks having to replace clutches, but I ride the sled hard and expect to have to do it every so often.:face-icon-small-dis

The spider and rollers are the parts that wear out for me. when my current spider starts to go I'm going to try a billet spider that uses the replacable aero space rollers.

6400+ miles on my stock pistons! Might be time to freshen up the top end!:face-icon-small-ton

B00nd0ck3r4lif · May 28, 2010

I work my sled pretty hard, however I try to give the clutches frequent breaks to cool down.

Even so, I found a brand new 2010 primary for 175.00 shipped so I pulled the trigger of course and now I will have a backup. I figure around 3k miles I will swap it out.

sledtahoe · May 30, 2010

cheap

at that price I would change it out alot more to.Think 275-300 is a great deal compared to cat...

mountainhorse · May 30, 2010

FYI... from what I was told by Dale Cutler at the JH hillclimbs.

The 2010 primary, from what I'm told will only fit on the 2010... the taper is the same... but the bolt on the 2010 is smaller...

Also, the 2010 Primarys (at least on the 800's) ran 2.5lb flyweight on the primary clutch to smooth out the engine a bit. (the crank was lighter in the 2010's)

SLP lists a different puller for the 2010 than they do for the previous years.

Coldfinger · May 30, 2010

Other than the $175 great deals, what is the generally accepted reasonable price of a new clutch (not dealer retail)?

So exactly how many pieces in these things are replaceable? Obviously the spring and weights. What else?

Thanks.

Dam Dave · May 30, 2010

yes the puller and bolt are metric on the 2010 M series, also the puller is green in color so you don't mix them up, I cured all my maintenance issues with sleds, I trade every year:face-icon-small-hap

Destroyer · May 31, 2010

Mine failed on my 2010 at around 450 miles.

tchriste · May 31, 2010

I ride an 09 HCR with about 750 miles on it. Opened up the clutches for cleaning etc and found some movement on the rollers. Talked to the dealer today and it turns out while cat doesn't have a kit for these clutches, they do have a pin and roller kit for the 1999 bear cat with the wide rollers that fit the M8 units. Our local dealer has been making these repairs for sometime. Apparently the kit is about $120. CND and a couple of hours install...cheaper than a new clutch.

M series clutch life

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Similar threads