Vintage Snowmobile

Snowmobile Mountain Riding- Adjusting Your Clutch

Snowmobile Riding can be very exciting. For those who are fortunate enough to live near the Rocky Mountains, the experience is exhilarating. High altitude riding is not without challenges to your sled’s performance, however. Manufacturers recommend “high altitude” adjustments using the proper snowmobile parts & accessories but failure to implement these adjustments can result in a less than pleasant trip. 

Now it is necessary to address the bitter reality of horsepower loss. E.g. your clutches are set up for a motor that makes 75 HP at 8000 RPM at sea level. At a 7,000-foot elevation the same motor will put out approx. 60 HP. This is due to the reduced oxygen levels and reduced fuel supply. As of the time of writing this article, no manufacturer has a “smart clutch” that will compensate for this mismatch.

 To make your mountain experience more enjoyable, refer to the manufacturers’ recommended high-altitude clutch settings. The changes may vary from installing a stiffer primary spring for higher engagement, lighter clutch levers to maintain RPM or a change in gearing to improve the mechanical advantage over the drive train. The manufacturer may also recommend a change in shift pattern by replacing the driven helix or spring or increasing the tension on the spring to improve the back shifting.

The parts required for all these modifications should be available from your dealer or aftermarket suppliers for around $100.00-$150.00. With the huge inventory of non-performing stock in the Powersports industry and a little research you can find websites that discount the snowmobile parts & accessories you are looking for. Some manufacturers even have all the required parts in kit form with one part number for a specific altitude. These simple modifications will make your machine rideable in high altitudes.

About the Author

Visit http://www.xlr8parts.com  for  unusual, obsolete, discontinued, or sale priced ATV, Motorcycle & Snowmobile Parts & Accessories. Try our Bargain search utility. XLR8 Parts maintains a huge database of dealer entered clearout parts. We can match your search with a motivated seller. Copyright 2010, (Please note source if reprinting this article.)

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