Kanedog discovers a Clutching CATastrophy, again. Pics!

[acesup800]

Your engine is toast as well, by the way. Demand the dealer replaces the engine.

Ya, cause that is what doo would do....

 

[jhurkot]

Ya, cause that is what doo would do....

Oh did ski-doo have a well documented case of clutches exploding for the past 3 years?

 

[acesup800]

Oh did ski-doo have a well documented case of clutches exploding for the past 3 years?

I was implying that I am sure that doo would simply replace an engine because you demanded it....

 

[Stg2Suby]

How do you know the engine is toast? If the crank runout is still in spec I doubt there would be a case for engine replacement?

 

[ferniesnow]

I would think that if there was catastrophic damage to a clutch the bearings on the crank would be under stress. If I were a Cat owner and my clutch disintegrated, I would drive the hell out of it when they replaced the clutch just to make sure there was nothing suspect with the motor. All of that should be under warranty.

 

[devster]

I can't believe guys are still buying Cats. This is just about common knowledge and Kanedog did one hell of job. What is wrong with the management at Cat/Textron that they are still putting these clutches out on the market??

I won't be again unless Cat does something that blows my mind and somehow compensates me for losing half a season of riding and warranty. Unfortunately I didn't know this was a problem until I owned the sled. I typically try to spend more time riding than researching every flaw a sled has. I guess it bit me this time.

I do commend Kanedog for getting this thread going, and everyone else for adding to it. I hope it amounts to something and we see a resolution to the problem before more people get hurt, and/or have to fork out thousands for helicopter recoveries. I've been told by a dealer that Cat has a lawsuit against Team over these clutches, but I can't find any concrete evidence of this so it may be bulls**t to try and console me somehow.

I've had my share of issues with other brands and their warranty but this one does take the cake. Continually installing clutches that are known to cause harm to your customers is completely wreckless. I'm on the fence about pursuing this issue via other means.

 

[devster]

Your engine is toast as well, by the way. Demand the dealer replaces the engine.

jhurkot, you're right, the engine is toast. Well, the crank is anyway. Backordered until at least the end of February. I've found one doesn't usually get very far making demands, but yes, I'm in talks with the dealer about replacing the whole engine.

 

[devster]

I would think that if there was catastrophic damage to a clutch the bearings on the crank would be under stress. If I were a Cat owner and my clutch disintegrated, I would drive the hell out of it when they replaced the clutch just to make sure there was nothing suspect with the motor. All of that should be under warranty.

I agree with you completely. To me its not a matter of if it did crank bearing damage, its how much. Is the life reduced by 10%, 20%, 50%?

Turns out my crank is bent which doesn't surprise me considering the engine hit well over 10k rpm with some broken a$$ unbalanced piece of scrap metal on the end of it. I haven't heard one sing like that in years. Unfortunately by the time I get my sled back I doubt I'll have time to drive the hell out of it.

The stats I've found so far after talking to about four dealers definitely point to there being a good chance that the engine is damaged in some way when the clutch grenades. One smaller dealer alone had two bent cranks, and one unit that had acceptable runout and blew up 75km after installing new clutches.

 

[tex78]

I'm shocked as well. To me this is a safety issue. Should be a safety bulletin on this from Transport Canada and vehicles parked until Cat comes up with a solution. There must be a design issue. Cat hasn't been building exploding clutches forever. Its just the past couple years?

Ctec power over the Suzuki

Is my guess

 

[jhurkot]

Ctec power over the Suzuki

Is my guess

Do you think the marginal power increase (5-8hp?) is responsible for clutches blowing up? I personally think it’s the clutch design/build quality. Maybe a bad harmonic in the cat build engine?

 

[0neoldfart]

Not denying the Team clutches could be better. Obviously I replaced my outer cover with a 911 unit and balanced my primary, which I would (and have) done to every sled (excluding the TRA’s). Back in those days, I budgeted a belt for every weekend. They all have problems, period.

 

[tex78]

Do you think the marginal power increase (5-8hp?) is responsible for clutches blowing up? I personally think it’s the clutch design/build quality. Maybe a bad harmonic in the cat build engine?

Well I agree with the vibrations

Having to tighten up chassis bolts ect, tells it has it


Now the 20+ have more than 5-8 hp over a zuki 800, would bet its 10-15


Now that does not make the outer messing up no, but p85 used to blow up on mod sleds back in the day, like 670 made to 720-740 and p85 put on them

My buddy used to have to get the 800 Polaris ones, cause they were a touch better and thicker Mabe

 

[GreyGhost]

Well I agree with the vibrations

Having to tighten up chassis bolts ect, tells it has it


Now the 20+ have more than 5-8 hp over a zuki 800, would bet its 10-15


Now that does not make the outer messing up no, but p85 used to blow up on mod sleds back in the day, like 670 made to 720-740 and p85 put on them

My buddy used to have to get the 800 Polaris ones, cause they were a touch better and thicker Mabe

Mmmm made the mistake on using a Polaris team in my doo, moral of the story was it went boom boom. Sounds like the it’s a problem with balancing

 

[tmo1620]

I actually thought the ctec had less power than any of my past suzuki 800's, just way better power delivery on the bottom and mid range making it feel more powerful. Any of my suzuki powered cats had way better wide open throttle power that you would see in a long climb. The power ratings that are on the information sticker on the ctec sleds show less than the suzuki's power rating, its in KW but still shows less

Well I agree with the vibrations

Having to tighten up chassis bolts ect, tells it has it


Now the 20+ have more than 5-8 hp over a zuki 800, would bet its 10-15


Now that does not make the outer messing up no, but p85 used to blow up on mod sleds back in the day, like 670 made to 720-740 and p85 put on them

My buddy used to have to get the 800 Polaris ones, cause they were a touch better and thicker Mabe

 

[tex78]

I actually thought the ctec had less power than any of my past suzuki 800's, just way better power delivery on the bottom and mid range making it feel more powerful. Any of my suzuki powered cats had way better wide open throttle power that you would see in a long climb. The power ratings that are on the information sticker on the ctec sleds show less than the suzuki's power rating, its in KW but still shows less

Not sure

Never road a zuki really

Mabe it is the way it put to the ground, but I do know a 20-21 has more than a 18-19

They changed some stuff too for the 20+

 

[Jjanke]

Well, here is another clutch showing some signs of cracking. 2019 mountain cat with 700 miles. Thoughts??

 

[NoBrakes!]

Sell it while you can....

 

[MK4TDI]

Buy a powerblock and keep on riding...

 

[Dawizman]

ZRP or 911 cover? Is one better than the other and why?

 

[JMCX]

ZRP or 911 cover? Is one better than the other and why?

I believe if you have the newest, narrow chassis, Ascender the 911 doesn't fit without machining off the adjuster knob (which isn't required).