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SnowTech Magazine
December 2006
Glide Washers
Have you ever noticed how some of the compression springs in a
snowmobile clutch are sometimes twisted and deformed when you take a
clutch apart for service? Most every technician has seen this, and
often replaced springs due to their deformation.
Besides the spring being twisted and
deformed, what does this do to the performance? Well, the shift
characteristics of the clutch and entire drive system is calibrated upon
a known spring rate. If the spring is twisted and distorted, the drive
system calibration is suffering. You know it.
Clutch springs are in constant motion,
being subjected to compression, expansion, end-to-end radial torque,
vibration and distortion. One way to help the minimize the twisting
forces and help keep the springs moving freely instead of binding is to
allow the ends of the spring to move freely within the “spring pocket”,
the capture area inside of the clutch.
One solution to this problem is to
install “Glide Washers”. These steel shims act as slip-washers and are
custom-made with a baked-on lubricity coating, and are far more durable
than simple plastic washers. By placing a Glide Washer on each end of
the spring, it is allowed to slip when required within the spring
pocket, thus no longer able to bind on the spyder or clutch cover. The
spring will remain straight and true, free to do its job.
Thunder Products offers “Glide Washer”
kits for all makes and most models that includes two lubricity washers
and three additional zinc-plated washers for precision tuning. Each
washer increases the spring preload and clutch engagement speed by 40-50
rpm, so along with the benefit of knowing your springs are not binding
and staying aligned better you can do some tweaking along the way.
Multi-tasking, of sorts. Get yours for only $14.95 (www.thunderproducts.com)
or by calling 320-597-2700.
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