Early Clutch Replacement

[NancysToy]

It's nice to see folks finally supporting what the tech's at Durango stated last year. Per them, unless you're above 3750 there is no guarantee the clutches are locked in. To me, that meant keep the R's at or above 4K. Unless you're in 1st gear doing the stop sign to stop sign -25MPH town crawl.

The added clutch plate wasn't the only change BRP made. They also changed the clutch oiler tube length. Not sure if there were any additional upgrades or not.

Keep the R's up :thumbup:

They also changed the plates from aluminum to steel.

 

[RanHag]

This is why I feel my replacement should have been covered!

 

[Can-Am Poogs]

The SM lock up as soom as yoiu let out the clutch all the way. Clutch damage on them would likely be the fault of the operator (abuse or bad technique), a faulty clutch assist solenoid, or possibly a bad slave cylinder.

So if your on a 1/2 mile State Park entrance and your doing 15MPH with the Manual (Clutch Out) and only 2,400 RPM,s it is Not going to hurt anything???:dontknow:

Correct....unless you foul a plug, or ride the clutch.

:agree: This is an "ESSIE" thing only... The ESSEMs only wear out clutches early if you try to make it happen... :shocked: (Barring mechanical issues; of course!)

Thanks guys for the posts and questions about the SM5's. I love my SM5 and the flexibility of shifting at both higher and lower RPM's depending on how I am feeling and the type of road I am travelling on. I am not a fan of going through school zones and playground zones at higher RPM's regardless of lower speeds. I love the sound of the Rotax, but prefer not to have the nasty looks that come with twisting the throttle through those areas.

 

[ulflyer]

To the greater extent, the clutch engagement, shifting, etc are controlled by the computer. If the clutch can not stand the RPMs you are shifting and/or running at, the computer should intervene and not allow it. This has been an issue that BRP has not addressed and that they have been punishing their customers with as long as the SE5 has been around. You probably won't win but, apply pressure. This clutch issue is nuts and I believe, should be preventable by BRP through programming.

I agree and while the mod BRP did last year made it easy to shift DOWN to 4th to keep it above 4K, if you're cruising in 4th and rpm's are somewhat below 4K it won't allow you to shift DOWN to 3rd . BRP needs to do another mod to allow that. Or warrant the inadequate clutch they put in originally.

 

[ulflyer]

This is why I feel my replacement should have been covered!

Does the BEST extended warranty cover this?

 

[NancysToy]

Does the BEST extended warranty cover this?

Clutch plates and discs are excluded from the original warranty coverage, so they would not be covered by the extended warranty, either.

 

[Jeriatric]

I agree and while the mod BRP did last year made it easy to shift DOWN to 4th to keep it above 4K, if you're cruising in 4th and rpm's are somewhat below 4K it won't allow you to shift DOWN to 3rd . BRP needs to do another mod to allow that. Or warrant the inadequate clutch they put in originally.

If you're unable to manually downshift at an RPM that is higher than the computer controlled downshift point (with or without trailer). Something else must be wrong.

If I'm reading your post correctly. :dontknow:

 

[NancysToy]

If you're unable to manually downshift at an RPM that is higher than the computer controlled downshift point (with or without trailer). Something else must be wrong.

If I'm reading your post correctly. :dontknow:

:agree: The programming only limits upshifting to a higher gear at too low an rpm.

 

[RanHag]

I have that warranty...waiting to see!

 

[Jeriatric]

I have that warranty...waiting to see!

Any idea what your percentage of time in each specific RPM range was over that 8000 miles?
Available via BUDS print out.

That information will tell the dealer and BRP whether you were consistently running at low RPM's like folks do when trying to save fuel. Saving fuel by running to low RPM's.....can be expensive.

 

[RanHag]

Most of my mileage is on the highway. I try to hold it at 5000 RPM or about 68-70MPH. That seems to give me the best performance.