I have an 400 Explorer with a Dynoport pipe, K&N filter W/outerware, Boyesen powereeds and Bearclaw tires all around. I would like to improve thottle response and acceleration without sacrificing lowend crawling ability. Does anybody have a clutch kit that they are pleased with on their Explorers? What kind of gains did it provide? What are it's other characteristics if any?

 

Joe,

I have the EPI clutch kit and am very impressed. Acceleration was greatly improved and crawlability is amazing. For me it was a night and day difference. (seat of my pants rating system) Well worth the money.

Quick question(s) for you: How do you like your Bearclaws? How did they affect drivability and performance? I just ordered some this morning because my wife told me to take off the 26" mudrunners. The ride really suffers(performance and handling)and she doesn't want to ride with me anymore...LOL

 

Xplor,I love the Bearclaws! The thing steers much easier and the handling differance compared to stock is amazing. I was afraid the ride would be rougher but it really wasn't. I got the stock highth( 1 1/2" wider in the rear)but they were still an inch or so taller than stock. I would recommend changing all four at the same time.
Where did you order your epi kit from? Was it the one Dennis Kirk calls the sport utility kit?
How much higher is the engagement speed over stock?

 

Thats good to hear about the Bearclaws! Do yours rub a bit on the fenders? My mudrunners are hell for that...even with stiffer springs.

As for the kit I got it at my dealer. I think it is the sport-utility. I can get you EPI's telephone number if you want. I called a couple times and they are great. Since I am not the most mechanically inclined person, I am not sure about RPM engagement. From the feeling of it, just a bit higher. It is much "zippier" than before. It is not too high as to make it uncontrollable. It just feels stronger and acts stronger. I added V-force reed valves to my Xplorer after... and I would have to say that in my opinion the reeds added about 5% to my ride and the clutch kit at least 20%.(seat of my pants feeling)Plus you can adjust it for your riding style. Mine is set half-way. I think they are about 170$ U.S. for the kit. When I had it installed (2 years ago) I was a real "newby" to ATV mods. I called it my "magic power kit"



By the way, does the K&N add enough to the ride to be worth it? Rejet?

Brian

 

Xplor, please post the # for Erlandson EPI. Iv'e done a search and I can't find a web site for them anywhere. I like the K&N. It does seem to breath a little better and I did not have to rejet. In addition it will be the last air filter that you will ever have to buy, plus it will not fall apart if it gets wet unlike the stock filter.
Joe
Oh ya, the Bearclaws have never rubbed the fenders (stock springs)

 

I will look later for the item number. It is filed away somewhre in the office. I do have the adress and telephone number though:

EPI Erlandson Performance Inc.
1421 Indudtrial Park Rd. Brainerd/Baxter
Mn. 56425

Tel: (218) 829-6036
Fax: (218) 829-1685

Hope this helps for now. I am not really sure how many kits they have per ATV model.

Brian

 

Xplor,
I had the EPI clutch kit installed in my 99 Sportsman 500cc 4x4.I was VERY disappointed in it.It cost me 230 dollars with installation.It did raise the engagement speed somewhat.Maybe it might have given me a 3% increase throughout the entire powerband.The Sportsman has EBS,so does my Xplorer.Because of my experience with the EPI on my Sportsman,im wanting to shy away from it on my Xplorer.Do you have EBS on the Xplorer?Your really one of the first guys I've heard talk up the EPI kit.Rick Ritter did'nt even try to sell me an entire clutch kit.He told me to change the primary spring to white or green and try it[25$].

Convince me I should spend the 170$ for the whole kit.ANYBODY?====Bill

 

Bill, I remember you stating that you did not like it on your SP500. My Xplorer does not have EBS. Maybe that played a part in it also. Plus the kit is adjustable. I know 2 or 3 guys with the kit on there Sportsmans and they love it also.

It might stem from the fact that we all have our individual tastes, likes and dislikes when it comes to performance and improving it. We all perceive things differently too. As for me, I really loved my EPI and loved it even more on my Scrambler. The difference was like night and day on my Xplorer and winter and summer on the Scram. I probably noticed a much bigger difference on the Scram because stock, it has no low end. With the kit it was running/crawling like my utility quad in high gear! I actually perceived a bigger difference from stock form to EPI/V-Force than from stock to HPD pipe and clutch kit!

As for the Xplorer it really was great. I would just be curious to know if it is the same kit for the 2000 Xplorer and the 2000 Scrambler. That way I could lend my kit to someone with an Xplorer to try it out. A real test! But if you can just change a spring or two for 25$ and get similar performance, than that would be even better. It is hard to beleive though, because the kit comes with a new multi-algled helix which is supposed to be the heart of the system???

The only way to get a second real opinion is when some other Xplorer rider gets one!

 

Xplor,
Thanks for the reply.Im going to try the clutch spring and make up my mind from there.You know something,the EPI kit was installed by the SAME dealership who screwed up my Sportsman.Perhaps it was installed/adjusted incorrectly?I just wish I knew someone who really tried one on their 00 Xplorer first before forking out all the $$.====Bill

 

Brian, thanks for the information. I'd love to have the part # if it's not going to be to much trouble. I have the black PSI primary spring in now and I like it, it's kind of like a stall converter on a cars auto tranny it just revs a little higher before it engages. When it does engage it grabs the belt a little harder and allows for a little faster take off and increased belt life (due to less slippage)However I think the different angle cut on the helix is really the key to quicker times and faster backshifting. I am looking in the 00 Dennis Kirk catalog and they list two different kits. The first kit is the sport utility and the other one is the towing plowing kit. The towing kit has a disclaimer under it which states that it is not a performance trail riding kit. I think I am going to go ahead and try the EPI sport utility kit.
Joe