<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Stoopidbot

I have never heard of anyone changing the clutch for high elevation. What is the point?</end quote></div>

You don't have to change the clutch but change the weights in it. It makes the clutch engage at a higher rpm and keeps it from bogging. I'd reccomend clutching for sure. It's easy and you don't have to change them back when your done, like you may have to when you jet them.




uncleben03
If you want, get the weights and we'll talk you through weighting your clutch. jetting isn't bad either. We could help you with that also.

 

You change your clutching because you make less power at higher elevations. When you make less power in auto belt driven centerfical force clutches you need to keep the machine at its peak rpm to make maxium horsepower. To do this you get lighter weights for your clutch...it makes the engine have to do less work to engage the clutches. It evens your clutching out.....for example on my snowmobile (RMK 900) it makes peak HP at 75-7600 RPM, now if i went up in elevation and the heavier weights on...the sled has less power hand has a harder time opening up to 75-7600 RPM...it may be at more like 65-7000 range. So if I lighten the clutching up the engine has an easier time achieveing my max HP level rated at about 7600 RPM.

You have less oxygen at higher levels....this means less power.

 

The jetting is much more important than the clutch. If your jetted for 800 ft and go to 13000 ft and dont rejet it will be just like running with the choke on. The area you are going to is awesome and there isn't anywhere that you will be running high speeds.

 

See if I can remember all the questions. And first of all, thanks for explaining the clutch wieghts to me, that makes perfect sense to me now.

I'm not sure when Im coming out yet, but I'd like to wait until most of the trails are open so probably late July or so.

Speeddrive1 - I've been there a couple times, but previously with my Jeeps. I got out of Jeep when Iowa closed the last public offroad park allowing fullsize vehicles, so Im going to pack up my ATV and do it that way! Hwy550 and the San Juans is the most beautiful place in the world, if you ask me. I love being able to take a machine and conquer those mountains and hang out at the top.

 

Call Lake City Polaris, they deal with this stuff all the time and are very nice people.
Uncleben, I can't agree with you more. I have been to Oregon 2 times and Idaho 2 times, ridden Lions head and Two top just outside of
West Yellowstone and none of those compare with the San Juans. I am haing a hard time figuring out where the place we are going to ride
for our big trip is this year, but am leaning to the alpine lop again. 1 week last aug just wasn't eneough time to see everything.

 

FYI, That county requires that the rider has a valid drivers license and at least liability insurance. I don't know how strict they are on checking but it could ruin a trip.

 

Colorado now requires any and all ATV's to have a Colorado permit on the ATV fenders. No mater what state you come from or have a sticker from you will need to buy a permit here for $25. Better than getting a ticket. Because of this now when I ride in Utah I must buy a Utah permit.
We ride from 3000 feet in Utah to well over 12000 here with the 500HO's and never change anything, you need low gear on most of the real climbs and descents anyway unless you are on a dirt road.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: bentarrow

Colorado now requires any and all ATV's to have a Colorado permit on the ATV fenders. No mater what state you come from or have a sticker from you will need to buy a permit here for $25. Better than getting a ticket. </end quote></div>


That is very interesting info! I never knew that a Colorado permit was needed to ride in CO. We ride up in the NM/CO border area all the time...so this is welcome news!

OBTW: Where would one purchase this CO permit? How long is it good for?


Thanks,

biz
[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

You can buy them at any motorcycle shop in Colorado.(at least I've never seen one that didn't) It is good from April !st-March 31st. No matter when you buy it.

 

Sorry for the double post but I just found this.


OHV PERMITS FOR NON-RESIDENTS
Effective April 1, 2000, Colorado State Parks will begin issuing permits to nonresidents who own and/or operate off-highway vehicles (OHVs) that are not registered in another state. The permit is in lieu of a Colorado off-highway vehicle registration.
OHV operators must have one of three registrations or permits:

1) a Colorado OHV registration
2) a valid registration or license from another state or country, or
3) a Colorado non-resident OHV permit.

Non-resident OHV owners may use their own state's valid registration or license for up to 30 consecutive days. If the vehicle is in the state for more than 30 consecutive days, the Colorado non-resident OHV permit is