Blown 2 QD Belts

Indy · Jan 6, 2013

First one blew at 102.8 miles. Broke it in as per procedure, at 100 miles started driving it normally; was doing tight hard turns in deep snow when it blew. Polaris warrantied the belt.

Installed new belt with Polaris install tool. Cleaned out tub. Extra careful riding now as I want ensure I follow the break in exactly. Head out on hard pack trail.

Second belt blew at 109.1 miles. (Odometer reads 109.1 miles) The belt and pulleys were really hot.

I'm taking it to the dealer tomorrow. I'm going to ensure the following is checked:
-straightness and tension of track
-alignment of belt
-belt tension
-pulley cogs are smooth and free of burs, etc
-driveshaft straight
-brake is not dragging

Looking for ideas on anything else they should check? :violin:

winter brew · Jan 6, 2013

Lower pulley runout....maybe thats what you meant by straightness.

Indy · Jan 6, 2013

winter brew said:
Lower pulley runout....maybe thats what you meant by straightness.

Ensure that the track is not dog walking is what I meant by straightness, not sure the technical term. Would alignment of the belt be the same as "Lower pulley runout"?

AndrettiDog · Jan 6, 2013

I just don't get it. I have 300 miles and no problems with my belt. Is there a bad batch of them? Some sort of issue when they were installed at the factory? I'm on my throttle as much as the next guy.

sledheadd · Jan 6, 2013

I have been wondering the same thing about maybe a bad batch of belts. The belts that I have seen fail have all delaminated with some losing all cogs and some only losing 10 -15 cogs.

rmscustom · Jan 6, 2013

sledheadd said:
I have been wondering the same thing about maybe a bad batch of belts. The belts that I have seen fail have all delaminated with some losing all cogs and some only losing 10 -15 cogs.

Delaminated = too hot. I wonder if the brake is dragging on some sleds and cooking the belt with the top pulley. I know snow will sizzle on my brake rotor after a few miles with never touching the brake and its transfering the heat to the top pulley to the point where I cant hold my hand on it.

geo · Jan 7, 2013

I'm addressing the same thing on mine later today rm. I'll try silcone based brake fluid change first.

Yesterday I did a wide open (hitting 80 mph alot) 12 mile run back to the truck on a bumped up hardpack skidder road without scratchers down just to check engine temps (and it's fun lol).

Engine hit 131 a couple of times and that was it but the QD belt and both pulleys were very hot (never get that in the snow).
Maybe it is just the can?

Indy you have to have a warranty problem that should be viewable with the sled on the stand. Just watch the belt drive rotating at just above engagement.

Ken Climb · Jan 7, 2013

I wonder if your on to something with the brake rotor getting hot without even using it.
I know my brake has virtually NO freeplay. I could barely pull the lever in at all.
Almost 300 miles here no QD probs. Damm, maybe i shouldnt of said that!

rmscustom · Jan 7, 2013

I bled my brakes today, I'll see if that helped. I was gonna put two springs between the brake pads but when I got them in it seemed to tip the pads back towards each other and was going to make matters worse.

Anybody know how full the reservoir should be?
And would being to full make the brakes drag?
Geo, let me know if changing the fluid helps.

knifedge · Jan 7, 2013

--Maybe for 2014 Polaris will go back to their _Liquid Cooled Brake System_ they used for over a decade that was very popular back in the 80's and 90's. Problem was you could hardly pull the brake lever and it had zero feel to it(I changed out my brake master cylinder to a Wilwood and it worked awesome--cost $100 from SLP.

crash4 · Jan 7, 2013

How much run out is allowed on the lower pulley? Mine has some run out with the naked eye. Going to figure out how to rig up a dial indicator.

D8 · Jan 8, 2013

The heat is coming from the exhaust can 2 inches away. Polaris really thought a rubber belt would last with the exhaust so close. I am a disgusted 2013 Pro RMK Owner, I wish I purchased the regular RMK instead.

A heat shield of some sort might be the ticket.

backcountryislife · Jan 8, 2013

BugIto said:
I just don't get it. I have 300 miles and no problems with my belt. Is there a bad batch of them? Some sort of issue when they were installed at the factory? I'm on my throttle as much as the next guy.

I heard you ride like a panzy though... so you don't count

IMO if your runout is bad... you'll keep breaking them eventually, and if it's good they'll likely last a pretty decent while.

This isn't cutting edge tech here, but if you have poor tolerances (inconceivable from poo right???) you'll probably have issues.

rmscustom · Jan 8, 2013

D8 said:
The heat is coming from the exhaust can 2 inches away. Polaris really thought a rubber belt would last with the exhaust so close. I am a disgusted 2013 Pro RMK Owner, I wish I purchased the regular RMK instead.

A heat shield of some sort might be the ticket.

What problems have you had with the sled?

pura vida · Jan 8, 2013

crash4 said:
How much run out is allowed on the lower pulley? Mine has some run out with the naked eye. Going to figure out how to rig up a dial indicator.

Think it is safe to say of you have vissible run out it is significantly out of specs and you are going to have issues. The constantly changing tension on the belt is not a good thing. I would definitely take it in and see if you can have the drive shaft replaced.

Pv

Snow4life · Jan 8, 2013

Yea i dont get it either, i have about 350 miles on my sled with no belt problems, and i rode it like normal since day 1. Also i am on my second belt. My driveshaft broke at about 110 miles and when i picked it up at the dealership after it was fixed they said they had to put a new quickdrive belt on. So i have had 2 belts with no problems...

liberty · Jan 9, 2013

My sled now has a little over 200 miles, not a single problem. It 's been awesome! Next to no break-in. Driveshaft collar installed by dealer after 20 miles. My lower quick drive sprocket does have visible run out, but belt looks great. Also have not noticed any excessive heat from quick drive. I am running an HPS silencer. Which gives a lot of space between it and the belt. I don't understand why some people are having problems. I've talked to a lot of other '13 Pro owners up on the mountain and have yet to find anyone who's had a problem.

knifedge · Jan 9, 2013

liberty said:
My sled now has a little over 200 miles, not a single problem. It 's been awesome! Next to no break-in. Driveshaft collar installed by dealer after 20 miles. My lower quick drive sprocket does have visible run out, but belt looks great. Also have not noticed any excessive heat from quick drive. I am running an HPS silencer. Which gives a lot of space between it and the belt. I don't understand why some people are having problems. I've talked to a lot of other '13 Pro owners up on the mountain and have yet to find anyone who's had a problem.

--If you have visible runout, I would get that replaced under warranty, really.

paulharris · Jan 9, 2013

mine had visible runout in the lower pulley too. I think its the norm on these sleds if you take the time to look....sloppy driveshaft tolerances/separating driveshafts, cast pulleys, etc, etc. NOT good on a belt drive. Pretty unbelievable that Polaris released this system to the public

jaahn · Jan 10, 2013

No pictures, no truth!

Blown 2 QD Belts

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