Our technicians are the industry's clutching specialists, racing and riding with our products year round. They know snowmobile and ATV drivelines inside and out - clutches, chains, sprockets, helixes, u-joints and more. And they test and use all the major brands - Polaris, Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki & Honda. So, when it comes to snowmobile & ATV performance, our techs have the answers.

We plan on regularly presenting technical tips for snowmobiles and ATV's. See the list on the left for our current Tech Tips archive list. Select any tip in the list to view it. Feel free to print these Tech Tips out to save for future use, or check back here regularly to view new tips as they are added.

Remember, these are strictly Tech Tips. Feel free to contact our technicians directly with any part-specific, or application-specific questions.  Call 218-829-6036 for assistance.

Tech Tip #9:  ATV Clutch Heat

Several different things can cause your clutches to over heat and cause poor performance and/or part failure. These problems can show up on any brand with automatic belt driven transmissions. The three most common causes are belt slippage, plugged vent lines, and homemade snorkel kits.

When the clutches slip the belt, this will cause extra heat in the belt and clutches and a loss in performance. Belt slippage can happen when the clutches are over worked. Pulling heavy loads, larger tires, using high range in extreme conditions, improper clutch set up and incorrect belt deflection can cause belt slippage. Clutch kits are available through EPI to help fix some these problems. Other problems be can fixed by changing riding styles, using low range in extreme conditions, and proper maintenance.

Another over looked cause of clutch heat is plugged vent lines. Grass, dirt, mud, and mice can get into some of the vent lines for your clutch housings. This causes heat to build up and does not let the cool air in. Mice can build nests that block the vent line when machines are stored for any amount of time. The clutch system will then run hot and eventually over heat. Whenever any clutch work is being done be sure to check for any vent line blockage or if you notice extra clutch heat.

Home made snorkel kits or breather kits for clutch housings may keep the water out but also keep the heat in. When using a snorkel kit it is imperative that you maintain adequate ventilation for your clutches. Reduction of diameter, lengthening, incorporating multiple bends, or modifying the vent tube will result in increased heat build up in the clutch housing and damage may occur.