Anybody else ever had a clutch shoot off the crank?

[Modman]

Had a stuck on clutch the other day - put the puller on it and put the heat to it, left it for a couple days to sit, re-heated and cooled a number of times over a few days, soaked with WD40, nothing happened.

Finally I got tired of p!ssing around and put a bar into the clutch and put way more torque on the puller than I have ever put on a puller in my life, thought I was going to snap the socket in two or break the puller right off in the crank. Had a 24" breaker bar and impact socket as hard as I could twist it, and I'm not a small guy. Grabbed the torch and put the heat to it, within about 4 seconds there was a huge BANG and the clutch shot off the crank and rolled about 8 ft across the garage floor!! I thought something exploded!!

Motor was on the floor at the time so the clutch only fell about 1/2" vertical while it was a projectile for 8 ft and clutch seems like it's OK, no dents or scratches. Scared the pants off me, I thought the propane torch had exploded!! Never had a stuck clutch that hard to get off and never seen one become a projectile before like that. I knew Cat clutches were fast but this was ridiculous. I think the puller had some good tension on it..... I wish I had video'd it fopr you guys, I'm sure the scared sh!tle$$ expression on my face would have been priceless. Thought it was a funny story I should share.

 

[HotShotHarry]

Yea they can sure be a @#$&^%&* some times. Feels good when they do finally do come off though.

 

[Ryeser]

Had a stuck on clutch the other day - put the puller on it and put the heat to it, left it for a couple days to sit, re-heated and cooled a number of times over a few days, soaked with WD40, nothing happened.

Finally I got tired of p!ssing around and put a bar into the clutch and put way more torque on the puller than I have ever put on a puller in my life, thought I was going to snap the socket in two or break the puller right off in the crank. Had a 24" breaker bar and impact socket as hard as I could twist it, and I'm not a small guy. Grabbed the torch and put the heat to it, within about 4 seconds there was a huge BANG and the clutch shot off the crank and rolled about 8 ft across the garage floor!! I thought something exploded!!

Motor was on the floor at the time so the clutch only fell about 1/2" vertical while it was a projectile for 8 ft and clutch seems like it's OK, no dents or scratches. Scared the pants off me, I thought the propane torch had exploded!! Never had a stuck clutch that hard to get off and never seen one become a projectile before like that. I knew Cat clutches were fast but this was ridiculous. I think the puller had some good tension on it..... I wish I had video'd it fopr you guys, I'm sure the scared sh!tle$$ expression on my face would have been priceless. Thought it was a funny story I should share.

A similiar thing happened to my cousins old formula, the clutch went right thru the side of the sled, while we were standing beside it. Thought it was a bomb that had gone off! We quickly ran to the bathroom to grab toilet paper to wipe up! Will never forget the noise it made.

 

[my mod]

Almost something like that, but when the one I fought with finally came off, only half came off. It broke right at the end of the crank and the back section was still stuck on. Now that was a PAIN IN TH A-- to get the rest of it off the end of the crank. This was a P 85.

 

[retiredpop]

Had a stuck on clutch the other day - put the puller on it and put the heat to it, left it for a couple days to sit, re-heated and cooled a number of times over a few days, soaked with WD40, nothing happened.

Finally I got tired of p!ssing around and put a bar into the clutch and put way more torque on the puller than I have ever put on a puller in my life, thought I was going to snap the socket in two or break the puller right off in the crank. Had a 24" breaker bar and impact socket as hard as I could twist it, and I'm not a small guy. Grabbed the torch and put the heat to it, within about 4 seconds there was a huge BANG and the clutch shot off the crank and rolled about 8 ft across the garage floor!! I thought something exploded!!

Motor was on the floor at the time so the clutch only fell about 1/2" vertical while it was a projectile for 8 ft and clutch seems like it's OK, no dents or scratches. Scared the pants off me, I thought the propane torch had exploded!! Never had a stuck clutch that hard to get off and never seen one become a projectile before like that. I knew Cat clutches were fast but this was ridiculous. I think the puller had some good tension on it..... I wish I had video'd it fopr you guys, I'm sure the scared sh!tle$$ expression on my face would have been priceless. Thought it was a funny story I should share.

Well, you made me laugh.

 

[Carbon]

Yup!last fall.....like you said put the hurt down and she came off.....with speed and distance

 

[CUSO]

I had a friend have one shoot off... But in a different way...

 

[srxhair]

that would really suck

 

[CUSO]

Well, it bounced around a bit... destroyed the secondary too.

 

[treemongrol]

I had an 90 indy 500 that we ended up pulling the motor out and putting it into a press to get the clutch off. Ended up destroying the clutch, and puller getting it off. Nephews 700 couldn't get it off had put heat and torqued the hell out of it. went to get something out of the house heard bang came out and it had popped off.

 

[RGM]

If you use the water method there wouldn't be a problem. 8 to 10 wraps of Teflon tape on the clutch bolt (not clutch puller) turn sled up 20-30 degrees on it side, fill bolt hole with water and put back the bolt. Amazing what hydraulic pressure can do

 

[Modman]

If you use the water method there wouldn't be a problem. 8 to 10 wraps of Teflon tape on the clutch bolt (not clutch puller) turn sled up 20-30 degrees on it side, fill bolt hole with water and put back the bolt. Amazing what hydraulic pressure can do

I would have but on Arctic Cats the puller threads are larger than the clutch bolt threads into the crank stub (you don't thread the clutch retainer bolt through the clutch threads and then into the crank stub like a ski doo - the AC clutch retainer bolt just slides right through the puller thread area in the clutch and then threads into the crank stub). You would have to use the puller to force the water out of the clutch taper instead. This was going to be the next option if it didn't come off when it did.

 

[calgarysledguy]

If you use the water method there wouldn't be a problem. 8 to 10 wraps of Teflon tape on the clutch bolt (not clutch puller) turn sled up 20-30 degrees on it side, fill bolt hole with water and put back the bolt. Amazing what hydraulic pressure can do

I did this on my buddy's 99 rmk 700 about 2 months ago. Worked awesome.But i only wrapped it 2 times with Teflon tape.This is the way they all should come off. IMO.Wish it would work with Cat clutches.

 

[teeroy]

I did this on my buddy's 99 rmk 700 about 2 months ago. Worked awesome.But i only wrapped it 2 times with Teflon tape.This is the way they all should come off. IMO.Wish it would work with Cat clutches.

it would work with a cut off puller, or a bolt with the same threads as on the puller. I was amazed how easy the water trick worked on my 'doo, scared the ch!t outta me. never even put a lot of torque on the clutch bolt, was holding the clutch with one hand and turning the ratchet with the other when it went "bang" and came off. I'll never use a puller again.....

 

[Ancient Sledder]

What happens there is the heated air has to go somewhere. I am an Auto tech and use that trick to remove siezed brake slider pins. It pops them off without damage. I bet the trapped air, when heated, goes to at least 250 psi.

 

[maxwell]

i always lay down a big peice of foam and let the clutch sit in tension for a few hours then apply a little heat and it shoots a good couple feet haha.


lets just say i know to put the foam down from an incident similar to yours haha

 

[shawnmcgr]

Sounds entertaining, I'd say wish I was there to see it but....."Scared the pants off me, "

...maybe not!

 

[imdoo'n]

modman do you ever ask the age old question

(WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME):d

 

[Modman]

modman do you ever ask the age old question

(WHY DOES THIS ALWAYS HAPPEN TO ME):d

Never.

 

[imdoo'n]

this must be an everyday thing then {normal}. will definitely keep a safe distance next time, :d