Dialing It In With The EPI Pro Series Clutch Kit
Story By: Staff Of UTV Sports
Photos By: EPI and Brandon Bunch
Time and time again, UTVs prove to be practical in various applications. They can sand dune with the buggies, rock crawl with the jeeps, run the deep mud pits with the swamp buggies, and trail ride almost like a motorcycle. They are by far the most diverse piece of equipment with a steering wheel. What we have also learned is all the different styles of riding require different setups to net the best performance and most fun while driving them. Tire size, tire style, suspension, and the weight of the vehicle all play a role in how well it handles the given terrain. Not only that but if we are optimizing these parts as the terrain changes, we also need to optimize the clutch.
EPI has been delivering quality parts and playing with centrifugal clutches since the early 90s and are continuing to evolve their operation to suit the growing needs of the UTV riders. EPI has seen the growing need for a clutch kit that gives the driver all the pieces to adjust the clutch for their specific style of riding. Proper clutching seems like black magic, but that is because every UTV is different. It’s like building two identical engines. All the parts, machining, and assembly are the same, yet they will make different HP and Torque numbers. Much like an engine builder or shock tuner, the guys at EPI have been collecting data on each clutch they have worked on and know what it takes to achieve a great base set up.
Clutch weight and springs work in unison to control clutch engagement through the RPM range. Spring rate, overall weight, and where that weight is placed all play into the performance or lack of performance from the clutch. EPI has created the Pro series that allows fine-tuning clutches for changing conditions. With a solid base tune out of the box, the Pro kit comes with the extra weights and springs needed to really dial in the setup. For instance, if you’re running in the sand and the engine just isn’t building the RPM as fast as it should, you can remove some weight from the base and that should solve the issue.
As you make changes to your car—let’s say you pull off your 32” paddles and put on your 30” tires for some tight wooded trails—instead of buying a complete clutch kit, you can follow the EPI base tune chart and be really close to the right set up for the tight woods trails. That is what really makes this kit impressive. For the racers, you can fine-tune for the track you are at. Again, EPI gets you 90-95% there with the base tune with their easy-to-follow chart.
Elevation brings a whole new set of challenges into clutch tuning. As you go up in elevation, the engine makes less power. Less power means you need to adjust your clutch to compensate. If the engine doesn’t RPM as it did at the lower elevation, pull some weight out of the tip of the weight and it should regain that lost RPM.
EPI has been hard at work helping customers all over the world with clutch tuning. The Pro series clutch kit is one step toward turning a black magic art into a quick adjustment that you do before every ride. The kit comes with everything you need as well as a wealth of information to get your base tune in and information to help you get the clutches just right for what you are doing. These few extra steps are the difference between winning and losing races or having a good time on the trail or a great time on the trail. Plus, learning new things about your UTV never hurts.