'99 Mach Z - Snowmobile World : Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

blackknight · 12-21-2003, 06:22 PM

Hi,

I finally got out on the trails last night and ran into a problem that I need some input on. The trails were slow going, lots of tight twists, and the sled was almost always at the red line on the temp gauge. After reading other posts I know this sled does this and was prepared for it, so I would try and get into the fluff when I could to cool it down. (Based on what I've read on this forum I know I have to get a thermostat)

My problem is that as the night wore on it seemed like the rpm's kept inching higher and higher to keep the sled moving (almost 6000 - 7000 to engage it sometimes). I looked at it today and the belt is a little glazed but no fraying or belt dust - the belt is a new OEM belt. Can this belt have stretched this much because of the heat? It still engages at 4200 with the track off the ground. Today it seemed to get worse as the day went on, but if you hammered it, it would move just fine, but like I said, almost 7 grand to get the sled moving.

I've never had belt problems like this on my formula plus and it just seems like a $70 belt shouldn't have any trouble with so few miles on it (About 80 miles).

Has anybody else experienced this? This is the first time I didn't buy an aftermarket belt and was wondering if I made a mistake. Any and all input would be appreciated.

blackknight · 12-22-2003, 03:10 PM

Anybody?

Could it be a clutch problem?

97mach1 · 12-22-2003, 03:47 PM

Yes it could. You need to check your clutch alignment and belt deflection. The belt glazed and a high engagement is exactly what will happen when you have too much deflection.

Not sure about the specs for your sled, but with the track off the ground and the engine idling, the track should just barely creep. If it moves fast, you don't have enough deflection, and if it doesn't move at all, it has too much deflection.

Look over in the "advanced tuner section" of this website, in the clutch section, I posted all about belt deflection. There's a couple different procedures that people have described.

Odds are if you had a different aftermarket belt on the sled before this one, your deflection is way off.

Big Bad Jon · 12-22-2003, 05:10 PM

What belt are you running? 417300066??? Deflection is easy to adjust - you need an allen key and small socket! I usually have it sitting just a hair above the top of the secondary pulley. How many miles on your machine?? When was the last time you had your bushings and sliders replaced?

blackknight · 12-22-2003, 05:54 PM

Just ran out and looked, yes I'm running the 471300066. Belt deflection is about 1.5", which is what my manual says, and the belt is sitting about 1/16" above the secondary, give or take.

Miles on the machine - speedo says 900km, which the second owner says is accurate, but I never found out what the original owner had to say. The sled looks like a low mile sled so I really didn't question it. This is my first season with it and I never serviced the clutches, so I can't say when they were last done.

Just seems like the belt is too loose to me. Before yesterdays ride, I had no problems, and the track turned just barely on it's own when off the ground.

Fast Mach Z · 12-24-2003, 06:34 PM

Wow, I'm really amazed that you had to hit 6000rpm to get the sled moving. YOu have a serious clutch problem. It could be a simple adjustment and I would try adjusting the belt deflection first. Go tighter ans loser from where it is now ans see if it gets better or returns to normal. If it does, great! If you still have problems, you need to get the clutch alignment checked and have them verify you have no binding in the clutch. Hopefully it will not be a big problem to fix. Good Luck!