[F500] Kawasaki 440 drivetrains

[McAbee, Chuck]

>From what I can piece together, the Kawasaki 440 engine that is legal for
F440 had it's home in the Kawasaki Invader and Intruder snowmobiles.  The
Formula Car supplement in the GCR specifies the specific engine models that
are the legal ones, my memory has forgotten the specific model numbers.  My
understanding of the differences between the model numbers is, that one
model number is an electric start engine and the other model doesn't have
the provisions to mount the starter motor for electric start. Internally the
engines are identical.

Trans = clutches.  The basic Polaris or Comet drive (engine clutches) are
cheap enough that you should not be concerning yourself in trying to find
used clutches from snowmobiles.  Those of us that race, or have raced for
some time, will have several used (well used) clutches around although most
clutches used in racing today have the taper for the Rotax and won't fit the
Kawasaki.  There are a variety of driven clutches available, the Polaris
'button' clutch is the 'old reliable' and the cheapest of the driven
clutches.  Artic Cat make a roller driven clutch that has become the
standard over the recent years.

Contact either Hi-Performance Engineering or Dennis Kirk (the both have Web
sites) and obtain the catalogs to see most of the clutch offerings that are
available.  Contact Aaen Performance (they are listed in the F500 suppliers
list) and get their Clutch Tuning Manual, very informative and it explains
the theories behind the operation and tuning of the CVT transmission system.


Chuck McAbee
SEDIV #16

-----Original Message-----
From: Jan Schmidt [mailto:jschmidt at kumc.edu]
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2003 21:53
To: f500 at f500.org
Subject: [F500] Kawasaki 440 drivetrains


I keep seeing Kawasaki Invader snowmobiles for sale. They are listed as
a 440cc , liquid-cooled, twin-carb, oil injected motors. Is this engine
and trans the correct one for our F440 cars that already have the
Kawasaki set-up? These snowmobiles are dirt cheap and I sure wouldnt
mind having a spare motor/trans set-up. Also, I see the same vintage of
jet-skis that are listed as Kawasaki 440 with single carb. Same
question, is this a bolt- in affair for our cars? Thanks in advance.

Bill Schmidt 88 Red Devil (Kawa)
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