The question has been raised about possible changes coming over the next few months concerning Rotax and possible performance upgrades. Here is what I’ve been able to find out after talking with the two major importers of Rotax engines and the head of Rotax Max Challenge racing in the USA.
There is a new clutch upgrade available. We will have parts once they become available. Back to back testing has shown that the new clutch offers no performance change. This upgrade is to reduce failures of the clutch that have occurred primarily with master weight drivers. Senior and junior drivers have not experienced the rates of failure that masters have. I would not recommend that racers upgrade their clutch until they have a failure and then upgrade at that time. As a side note, we have never had a failure on one of our shop engines.
The other major change in a new cylinder. As most Rotax racers know, last year Rotax completed a cylinder exchange program. This program was a result of some cylinders being produced that did not meet specifications. As a result of that problem, Rotax is introducing a new cylinder where the ports are CNC machined to specifications. This move will result in cylinders that are closer to in levels of performance and will eliminate variances seen in the past.
This raises the legitimate question, will the new cylinders be better or worse than cylinders in the past. Rotax has introduced many changes over the years. I have a list of changes that are almost 100 items. Every change has been for two basic reasons, improve reliability and reduce manufacturing cost. The overriding concern is that a change does not impact performance. It would be foolish and detrimental for Rotax to introduce a change that would obsolete the 50,000 engines they have produced world wide. There is ongoing testing right now to make sure that the new cylinder offers no improvement in performance.
I have been told that the earliest the new cylinder will be introduced is March of this year but only after testing confirms that there is no improvement in performance. Early testing in Europe has show no improvement in performance. In fact, some claim the new cylinder is not as good as an old cylinder. This is more rumor at this point than fact. On one other point, I have no doubt that some dealers, for what ever reasons, will strongly recommend to their customers that they must have a new cylinder once they are available. I would be very cautious in getting caught up in this. I remember when the new airbox came out, there were claims that the new airbox was good for 2hp and you had to have one. But as we found out later, it made no difference at all and such claims were false. I strongly suspect that we will see a similar round of false rumors and sales pitches once the new cylinders become available.
I hope this clears up any confusion. If you have any further questions, please give me a call at the shop 303-781-7829.