M8 Clutching setups?

GlennRMK · Dec 5, 2008

Just picked up an 09 M8 162 Sno Pro today. Stock for now. May add RKT head and SLP pipe down the road. Riding mostly around 9000ft

Wondering if the stock clutching(73 gr, yellow primary, orange secondary, 36 deg helix) is going to be as bad as stock clutching in my 06 M7 162?

My M7 seemed to have terrible backshift. I ended up switching to 42/36 progressive with Team Red/White in order to get a good upshift and backshift. I tried just about everything with the straight 36 and got either poor upshift or poor backshift. Was running 68s, SLP Blk/Pink(120/340) and seemed to have it running well 42 MPH track speed with Speedwerx pipe, RKT head, and boondocker box. Stock was around 36 MPH.

Anyone have good luck with progressives in the M8? Same angle I'm assuming?

I didn't try the torsional setup, but my buddies have had mixed results with it and hate to throw away $300 especially when I felt I had the compression setup working well last year.

I'm shooting for 7800 RPM if memory serves me?

What rate is Cat yellow primary?

One thing is the engagement seems a lot smoother on the M8.

What track speed are people seeing with 162s at what altitude?

Thanks guys

Picture is just for fun!

iluv2fly · Dec 5, 2008

The 08 M8's were clutched pretty well and the 09's have the same setup. Those who rode the 09's last year said it worked really well and 73 gram weights should work good. I would not touch it until you ride the thing and see what it needs. My 09 M8 has the slp pipe and with the stock clutching I had 7920 going down the trail so with the stock pipe it would probably be around 7800. Just my opinion but I would install the cat orange/white spring for a little higher RPM with the 162.

koolaid · Dec 5, 2008

On my 07 M8 I was hitting 8050-8100 with 70 gram weights at 7-9000 ft. with the SLP single setup only. Ideal RPM's according to SLP and my seat experience. No other mods.

Still waiting to take out the 09 M8 if we ever get snow. Kept the pipe and after break in will add it to the sled.

How could Cat go from 68 gram in 07 to 73 gram in the 09's. What else did they change in the clutching?

Dam Dave · Dec 5, 2008

koolaid said:
On my 07 M8 I was hitting 8050-8100 with 70 gram weights at 7-9000 ft. with the SLP single setup only. Ideal RPM's according to SLP and my seat experience. No other mods.

Still waiting to take out the 09 M8 if we ever get snow. Kept the pipe and after break in will add it to the sled.

How could Cat go from 68 gram in 07 to 73 gram in the 09's. What else did they change in the clutching?

They went to 73 in 2008

FastM8 · Dec 6, 2008

I was have some trouble pulling the rpm's with my 09 m8, only getting 6800- to 7200 in the powder. I dropped down to 70 grams in the primary and it made a world of difference. I'm riding at about 8200 - 9500ft. If you look at the clutching chart on the sled. Arctic cat recommends 73 from 6000-9000 and 68 for 9000 and above. That seemed to me like a pretty big jump. So I dropped a little weight since I ride right on the line of altitude change..9000 ft. mostly. It was a totally different sled it amazing what 1000 more rpms will give you....

TURK92 · Dec 6, 2008

ok im a little slow here but do they make adjustable weights for the 09 m8
and what spring should a guy put in the primary.. and to be honest im a firm believer in rkt secondary with the lime green spring i did it to my 06 m7 and it totally amazed me how it changed that sled..

not trying to steel thie thread but any people willing to help is great for the both of us

thanks alot

GlennRMK · Dec 6, 2008

Thanks for the info

It better not be running 7200 RPM when I go out! Or I am not going to be happy!

My M7 pulled 68s at 8100 RPM or so with mods. I don't see why the 800 shouldn't pull 73s at 7600-7800 RPM.

I found a brand new Black/yellow SLP primary spring(120/310) in the garage, so I may try if the RPM is a couple hundred short. If I'm 500 RPM short I will have to drop weight.

Anyone do much with secondary? My M7 didn't like the orange secondary spring at all.

iluv2fly · Dec 6, 2008

I would install the stiffer primary spring and leave the weights alone. It should pull 77-7800 rpm with the 73 gram weights, however he is running almost 9000ft so that makes a big difference.
My M7 would not dream of pulling 68's at altitude, mine had 65's for 8K and above and it was not stock. It had HPS can, slp trail porting and head mod. This is not the 1st 09 M8 I have heard of with low rpm though.

GlennRMK · Dec 6, 2008

Well I run right around 9000 ft most of the time, so I guess we will see how the clutching is.

Need more snow here or all I'm going to get is some road riding!

I think I will bring that primary spring with me on my first ride

MTm7 · Dec 7, 2008

GlennRMK said:
Thanks for the info

It better not be running 7200 RPM when I go out! Or I am not going to be happy!

My M7 pulled 68s at 8100 RPM or so with mods. I don't see why the 800 shouldn't pull 73s at 7600-7800 RPM.

I found a brand new Black/yellow SLP primary spring(120/310) in the garage, so I may try if the RPM is a couple hundred short. If I'm 500 RPM short I will have to drop weight.

Anyone do much with secondary? My M7 didn't like the orange secondary spring at all.

do you have the shift assist? it is a must imo with the big springs.

GlennRMK · Dec 7, 2008

Had the shift assist in the M7. Haven't ordered it for the M8 yet. Debating on doing the torsional setup.

Has anyone used the torsional kit from Straightline Performance?

http://www.straightlineperformance.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=253

$150 seems much more reasonable then $300 for the RKT and Cutler setup. Appears to use stock helix or 05-06 helix. Which I don't think will work with the electronic reverse?

Also, this is the same issue with using the 05-06 helix and adjustable compression. Don't think reverse is going to work.

MTm7 · Dec 7, 2008

GlennRMK said:
Had the shift assist in the M7. Haven't ordered it for the M8 yet. Debating on doing the torsional setup.

Has anyone used the torsional kit from Straightline Performance?

http://www.straightlineperformance.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=253

$150 seems much more reasonable then $300 for the RKT and Cutler setup. Appears to use stock helix or 05-06 helix. Which I don't think will work with the electronic reverse?

Also, this is the same issue with using the 05-06 helix and adjustable compression. Don't think reverse is going to work.

imo i think you should try a progressive helix to get the ball rolling quicker.

GlennRMK · Dec 7, 2008

I liked the progressive in the M7

May have to get AMP or BDX to make me an old style helix with the reverse notch.

GlennRMK · Dec 7, 2008

DD Torsional setup

Anyone try D&D's torsional setup?

It also uses the 05-06 style helix and is very reasonably priced at $79

http://www.ddracing.com/shop/productdetail.htm?productId=-82480&catalogId=-317

I really like the RKT and Cutler setup. Very nice and have seen both sitting next to each other.

However both are pretty spendy. I like that the D&D or Straightline kit could be convereted back and forth so if I don't like the torsional setup I can go back.

I think the RKT and Cutler take some modification. Can you go back to compression with either or these?

GlennRMK · Dec 8, 2008

Not much feedback?

Does the stock setup actually work well enough that people are not playing with the clutching?

kane13 · Dec 8, 2008

under the hood on the chart it says 68 grams above 9000 73 for 6000-9000 i just broke in my 08 clutching was good but i was riding at around 4000 with 73s,i never did open it right up but pulled 7600 easily so they should be good till 9000.if you use 68s just watch rpms till you get there!

Icedog · Dec 9, 2008

GlennRMK said:

I think the RKT and Cutler take some modification. Can you go back to compression with either or these?

Click to expand...

Yes, you can go back to stock. The only alteration to the stock clutch is a hole you drill to hold the ear of the new torsional spring. Pull the RKT parts, reinstall the stock parts; done.:beer;

tm8 · Dec 9, 2008

Glenn on a stock machine at 9000+ ft I would try some 70gr wts it wont pull 73 that high maybe some 69gr cat wts would work to.

GlennRMK · Dec 9, 2008

Ordered the following

D&D torsional kit
D&D shift assist (when running compression setup)
D&D white primary spring (135/330)
BDX 05-06 style helix (42/36 progressive)

Probably going try the orange with the compression setup
Probably going to try the snopro green with torsion

I was going to order the RKT kit as I was very happy with torque line head on my M7, but chose this setup so I could use the helix with compression and torsion setups.

iluv2fly · Dec 9, 2008

will the old style helix work with the electronic reverse? GlennRmk I am going to try a setup that racinstation recommended to me on friday and I will let you know how it works. I installed some 71.5G light tip speedwerx weights with a D&D 150/330 spring. I do have a slp pipe though and I am shooting for 7900-8000 in a climb.

M8 Clutching setups?

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