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Simple Belt Knowledge
Understanding the snowmobile belt is a simple way to prolong the life of your snowmobile's clutch.
Many dealers will tell you that manufacturer designed belts are easier on clutches than aftermarket belts. In discovering this reason, the dealers said manufacturers patent the belt angle, width and length to match the clutch specifications.
Aftermarket belts, generally will be a bit wider and shorter (avoiding patent infringement), which lets the clutches complete the final shaping through sustained uses. One dealer mentioned that "100 miles of clutch wear on an aftermarket belt is equal to 300 miles of clutch wear from a factory belt." This is a judgment call, as many aftermarket companies make superb trail and performance belts. Check with your dealer.
Before installing a new belt, wash it clean of it's molding compound and rinse it in warm water. This compound, a fine dust, will accumulate and begin grinding on the Teflon or nylon bushings.