the STM rage 3 is not the "best" and whatever clutch "guru" you talked to that said the rage 3 was better than a rage 6 is not a clutch "guru" just probably scared of having to tune extra weights out. i myself look at what the owner and rider needs and wants. for the guys who are slow speed technical riding, needing maximum clamping force at engagement for high loads like slow speed technical climbs up rocks hills ect, i prefer the rage 6 because of its additional clamping force it creates. for the guys who are just wide open trail riders with their foot in the floor all the time and very little slow speed stuff, a rage 3 will work fine. the rage 3 only has the 3 base flyweights, which by design dont make an incredble amount of clamping force at engagement. just the design of a flyweight primary, right at engagement they dont make a whole lot of clamping force, so trying to use a rage 3 and expecting it to hold maximum clamping force for slow speed technical climbing is gonna leave you with a slipping belt. BUT for the guys blasting wide open throttle on the trails that dont need a whole lot of slow speed clamping, a rage 3 is good.
the rage 6 is barely heavier than the rage 3, only a few ounces. so the rotational mass on the crankshaft is not a huge difference to worry about.
OEM = 14.2 lbs loaded with weights and spring
Rage 3 = 11.6 lbs without weights and spring on older model with 6061 T6 spyder
Rage 6 = 11.9 lbs without weights and spring on older model with 6061 T6 spyder
Rage 8 = 11.1 lbs without weights and spring on older model with 6061 T6 spyder
the new ones built for the maverick have a 7075 spyder for added strength. i cant say that i have weighed a new rage 3 and rage 6 with the heavier built sypder so i am sorry but i dont exactly know their weight.
but looking at the overall weights of each clutch you can clearly see that the rage series is lighter than the OEM clutch, and much better built. once you realize that their tunability is what we're after, you can see what a benefit they are to us. kris trying to push a rage 3 on everybody because it "fits' their riding style is not what i would do. i dont think a rage 3 fits everyone, matter of fact i KNOW it does not fit everyone. have all of you guys noticed that he was on here every single day, all day long pumping up the QSC left and right over and over when things were good and he was able to get the QSC clutches, then after his big group buy, and QSC stopped production and was unable to deliver, kris got quiet for a little bit, jumped ship and started pumping up STM left and right
the FULL STM does fit inside the 2014 cover on the 2 seater fine. its the 4 seater with the extra ducting that has to have the ducting modified. i am trying to fabricate a new inlet that will replace the factory inlet that bolts into the cover on the 4 seaters. i have only done 2 4seat machines so i have not had alot of time with the cover, both of the machines were brought to me as a quick install and tune only. i did not get to spend alot of tinkering time with the machines to be able to nail down an exact proper fitting coupler. but i have a design worked out that i am going to try on the next 4 seat machine that comes in. for any of you guys that have actually taken apart one of the 2014s, and see the new stud/nut design, i am waiting on the next 2014 to come thru so i can do a disassembly video on how to pull the stud/nut assembly out and back the stud out so that you can remove the clutch. the first one i ran across the other day, i did not even think about it untill i had it nearly apart, but i am going to do a disassembly video on them so you guys will know how to pull them apart. i have done the 2 seater 2014 with no probelms since it still has the box with 3 snorkels. the maverick MAX is the only one right now that i know of that is getting the new box with 4 snorkels. when you pull up the parts fische, the parts page shows both boxes in the diagram. i am sure they'll start adding the new box with 4 snorkels to all the machines, i am unsure when it will happen, but as i have seen so far, the 2014 2 seaters still have the original maverick box that has 3 snorkels.