I use Rotella 5-40 syn in bike/pressurewasher/mower/atv ect.

 

This is correct for your KFX-400 and Warrior, but not for quads with a CVT such as the Brute or Prairie. The Brute and Prairie do not have a wet clutch, therefore using automotive oil is fine. In fact, MikeAmes should not use motorcycle oil because it's formulated for use in a wet clutch. I do believe Mobile makes a 10W-40. I use Mobile 15W-50 in the summer, and 10W-30 in the winter

Just to clarify things....suzuki and yamaha and a/c do have wet clutches on their cvt quads. The kawi and polaris dont.

 

What is the purpose of having both a wet clutch and a CVT? I don't know anything about Yamaha's CVT, or AC's, or Suzuki's, but it seems like there would be no purpose in having both systems. Can you explain?

 

Sure...
On the kawi and polaris, in order to idle in gear, at a stop..the primary pulley opens up, and the drive belt goes slack. This is the main reason, on those two brands, for the need to use low range for trail riding, because of the slippage factor, when the spinning pulley closes on the stationary belt.

On the others, the belt nevers goes slack, the wet centrifical clutch allows the machine to idle in gear, at a stop. This also allows another benifit...the belt is not a wear item on the suzi and yami trannys, the belt never slips on the pulleys, except if grease or water gets on it. This is why those brands, dont require the tranny to be in low, for trail riding.

 

Thanks. Now I'm curious. What controls the engagement of the wet clutch on those machines? Are they simply throttle activated? Is there some kind of centrifugal mechanism to engage it when the RPMs increase?

 

Yea, Im curios too? So the Yam Griz is a different setup as is the Honda Rincon?

Thanks

 

They are just like a motorcycle, the level on the LH side of the bars. Inside they are a stack of plates that move in/out to engage the clutch.

 

RPMs control the engagement of the centrifical clutch. Depending on which model and which motor....about 1700 rpm is when its all in. At that point, the primary pulley is being driven.

The rincon and grizzly are totally different.

The yami system looks just like all the other cvt , belt and pulley arraignments, except it has two clutches...a wet centrifical clutch and a sprague clutch for engine braking.

If you go to one of the online yamaha parts findrs, youll be able to see the wet clutch and the sprague clutch behind the cover, behind the primary pulley.

 

Isnt the Rincon very similar to an automobile auto tranie? It has a torque converter and all similar to a car. I havnt research the rincon any so im not sure, but thats what ive heard. And the one I rode, a buddies, actually felt alot different than any other ATV ive ridden, so I believe it does.

 

Thanks to Kawirider the one guy who at least tried to answer my original question about what viscosity to use. I too was leaning towards the heavier weight for summer and lighter in the winter.
I too have always used full synth oil (automotive) in my belt drive quads with no (0) bad effects other than it should not be used in a limited slip front end because many full synths turn a limited slip into a TOTAL slip... Yahh yah, I know there are a few that don't, but Valvoline isn't one of them and I haven't felt the need to try any others yet.