In case you're looking in order to squeeze every bit of Yamaha Raptor 660 hp away from that old-school beast, you've probably realized it's a platform along with massive potential regardless of its age. The particular Raptor 660R was a game-changer when it first hit the scene in the particular early 2000s, bringing an enormous liquid-cooled engine to some world that was still generally dominated by smaller sized 400cc quads. This was the california king of the sand hills for a long time, and even though the seven hundred has taken the particular crown, the 660 remains a favorite for builders that love that uncooked, carbureted torque.
When you start talking about horsepower, it's important to manage anticipation. In stock form, a healthy Yamaha Raptor 660 usually places down somewhere between 35 and 40 horsepower in the rear tires. While that's plenty to get a beginner into trouble, veteran riders usually find themselves wanting more "oomph" whenever climbing steep faces or trying to keep up with modern 450 race quads. The good news is usually that this 660 engine is similar to a sleeping giant; it's choked up from the factory, with the few right goes, you can discover those numbers ascend significantly.
The particular "Big Three" with regard to Instant Gains
Most riders start their journey toward more Yamaha Raptor 660 hp along with what the local community calls the "Big Three. " These types of are the foundational mods that each Raptor owner should think about before cracking open the particular engine case.
High-Flow Exhausts
The stock wear out on the 660 is heavy, peaceful, and incredibly restricted. It's designed in order to meet noise regulations, not to earn drag races. Changing it out for a high-quality automotive aftermarket system—like something through Barkers, LTE (Duals), or Sparks—is the single best point you can perform. A dual exhaust setup is especially popular within the 660 because it appears symmetrical and helps that big single-cylinder breathe much even more efficiently. You aren't just gaining power; you're losing about ten pounds associated with dead weight.
Opening Up the particular Intake
You can't push more air out if you aren't letting plenty of in. The share airbox is an additional bottleneck. Most men will either get rid of the airbox lid entirely or exchange the whole setup for a Professional Flow kit with a K& D or Uni filtration system. By letting the particular engine gulp lower air, you're placing the stage with regard to a much more aggressive power competition.
Jetting the particular Dual Carbs
This is where things obtain a bit difficult. The Raptor 660 uses a dual Mikuni carburetor set up, which can become a bit of a nightmare to sync in case you don't know what you're doing. However, as soon as you change the wear out and intake, you must re-jet. In case you don't, the engine will run lean, get too hot, and you'll actually lose strength (or worse, melt a piston). Calling in the jets is definitely the "secret sauce" that ties the Big Three together and makes the Yamaha Raptor 660 hp gains in fact feel tangible with the thumb throttle.
Going Much deeper: Internal Engine Mods
Once you've tackled the bolt-ons, you're probably seated around 42 in order to 45 hp. If you want to push into the particular 50s or even the 60s, you've got to begin looking in the inner components.
High-Compression Pistons are usually the particular next step. The particular stock compression rate is actually conservative. Relocating for an 11: 1 or perhaps a 12: 1 piston (if you're okay with working race gas or a mix) can give the quad a lot more "snap. " This makes the motor feel more responsive and improves rpm across the whole RPM range.
Stage 2 or Stage a few Camshafts are another staple for your 660. A Stage 2 camera is ideal for all-around trek riding because this adds power with out sacrificing too very much bottom-end grunt. If you're a dune rider who usually spends all day at the top of the rev range, the Stage 3 cam can help the engine keep pulling where the stock camera would usually drop flat on the face.
The Legendary 686 Huge Bore Kit
If you really want to maximize your Yamaha Raptor 660 hp, the words "686 kit" are going to come upward eventually. This entails boring your cylinder and installing a larger piston, successfully turning your 660 into a 686cc monster.
When coupled with a good port and polish job within the head, a 686 package can transform the particular machine. Porting is frequently overlooked, but the particular 660 head has some rough castings from the manufacturing plant. A professional porter can smooth all those out, optimizing the particular airflow to the particular valves. Whenever you combine more displacement with better airflow, you're looking at the quad that may pull the entrance wheels off the floor in almost any equipment.
It's not uncommon regarding a well-built 686 Raptor to push 55+ horsepower . At that point, you aren't just quicker than your pals; you're keeping up with modified Raptor 700s plus built YFZ450s.
Supporting the Power: Dependability Upgrades
Generally there is an old saying in the particular ATV world: "Speed costs money; how fast do you want to go? " But on the Raptor 660, speed also requires a bit of precautionary maintenance.
One of the most famous "weak spots" on the particular 660 will be the one-way starter clutch . Because you increase the Yamaha Raptor 660 hp and compression, the strain on the starter clutch expands. If you're building a high-hp motor, do yourself the favor and change the stock one-way to have an upgraded L& A Design or even similar heavy-duty version. There's nothing worse than having the 60-hp monster that will won't start mainly because the gears are usually spinning freely.
You also require to consider air conditioning. More power equals more heat. In case you're pushing the particular engine hard, a good oversized radiator and a high-flow water water pump impeller are intelligent investments. It retains the engine temperature ranges stable, which stops the power change that occurs when the particular coolant gets as well toasty.
Dealing with the Newfound Grunt
It's simple to get enthusiastic about the Yamaha Raptor 660 hp quantities, but if you can't put that will capacity to the terrain, it's useless. The 660 has a reputation for being a bit "tippy" because it's tall and fairly narrow.
In case you've bumped in the power, you need to really look at: * Widening the position: Extended A-arms and back wheel spacers (or an extended axle) make a world of difference. * Suspension: The particular stock 660 shocks are okay, yet they have trouble with the added speed associated with a modified motor. Re-valving them or switching to automotive aftermarket shocks will let you actually use the power you've built. * Tires: If you're still running the stock "balloons, " swap them for a few Maxxis Razrs or even ITP Holeshots. You will need a tire that hits into the dust rather than just re-writing along with it.
Is It Still Worthy of Modding Today?
You might wonder in the event that it's worth throwing money into a 20-year-old quad to pursue higher Yamaha Raptor 660 hp figures. Honestly? It's absolutely worth it. There exists a certain character to the 660 that the particular newer fuel-injected bicycles lack. It's a mechanical, raw knowledge.
Certain, you could buy a Raptor 700 and have an easier time with tuning, but there's the sense of pride in taking the classic 660 and which makes it a sleeper that shocks people in the local driving park. The components are plentiful, the particular community knowledge will be deep, as well as the motor is remarkably overbuilt.
Whether you're just searching for a little bit more pep for your weekend trails or you're building a dedicated hill climber, the road to even more power is well-documented. Start with the particular breathing, move to the internals, plus don't forget to beef up the particular starter clutch. When you feel that extra torque kick in, you'll realize exactly why people are still obsessed with this platform two years later. It's not really just about the particular numbers; it's about how that strength makes you sense when you're pinned in third equipment, throwing a massive roost behind a person.