13 RMK Assault No Belt Drive?

[Skeld]

Assault has slightly different rails turned up more in the front with some of the holes being smaller I think, and a few more cross brace pieces. The rails are turned up to accomodate the skid being in the lower hole in the tunnel. No front cooler on the Assault, it is the same cooler configuration as the Pro RMK.

 

[suitcase]

NO front cooler on the pro also... I'm not totally sure the belt drive in the new pro is going to hold up to HP.

 

[Scott]

....
I had my nephew ride my Assault the other day on the trail as my 4 yr old daughter was getting tired. We rode for about 4 miles and I switched back and my sled was reading 191 degrees F. We were going to slow on the trail, and he is a newbie. I asked the Polaris rep at the 2013 demo at Ponds Lodge in IP for a Snow Check option for the 3rd cooler. he looked at me like I was from Mars. I don't know about anyone else, but I would sacrifice the 3 lbs for a little added assurance and flexibility in low or spring snow conditions. At minimum, Polaris could offer a cooler kit.
That is why I decided on a standard RMK for a 3rd sled....

True, but NO sled will stay cool when they are tooling along at 10 mph, 3rd cooler or not.
You could find a way to add a 4th cooler somewhere, but just going 10mph for a few miles will almost always overheat a sled. (I know you didn't say he was going 10mph, but I'm just using that as an example).

 

[milehighassassin]

I like the Assault Shocks and graphics.

Ideally what I want: PRO with Assault shocks.

 

[diesel-powered-microwave]

So there is NO front cooler on the Assault and the PRO?

 

[Scott]

I like the Assault Shocks and graphics.

Ideally what I want: PRO with Assault shocks.

I've talked with Dan Adams and Mountainhorse about that....The shocks have to be shorter on the Pro....and they are even a bit shorter on the 2013 Pro than on the 2012.

The day I demo'd the 13, I rode an Assault in to the riding area and the 2013 Pro on the way out. Also did some jumping and drops onto hard landings....There IS a difference with the standard Walkers and the Walker Piggyback shocks.

I guess that a pair of Zollinger shocks or Raptor shocks are the way to go if Polaris won't offer something.

 

[milehighassassin]

They do have to be shorter. I want a quality shock that allows me to be able to do the jumping and drops. Shorten the Assault shock by an inch or so and throw them on the Pro. Why can't I have lite weight and jumping ability?

 

[dawgwood1978]

Assault belt drive...

DAMN IT! This is a show stopper for me. I love my 2011 Assault, and already told my dealer I was up for a new one. I was expecting that the Assault would hve the drive. I guess I understand the extra stress on the belt with the Assault track is probably the reason why. My second choice was a standard RMK as a 3rd sled. My wife has a 2012 RMK and it is a great sled. the steel bars are warmer for her, and I like the highbeam control on the bars.

However, you have to buy a Pro to get the low inertia drive, according to the website.

I had my nephew ride my Assault the other day on the trail as my 4 yr old daughter was getting tired. We rode for about 4 miles and I switched back and my sled was reading 191 degrees F. We were going to slow on the trail, and he is a newbie. I asked the Polaris rep at the 2013 demo at Ponds Lodge in IP for a Snow Check option for the 3rd cooler. he looked at me like I was from Mars. I don't know about anyone else, but I would sacrifice the 3 lbs for a little added assurance and flexibility in low or spring snow conditions. At minimum, Polaris could offer a cooler kit.
That is why I decided on a standard RMK for a 3rd sled.


I am not complaining, I am just saying I'm not spending this year becase of this. To bad. I sold my dragon (my back up 3rd sled) and have a large credit at the dealer. I guess I will go pick up a check instead.

I'm not sure why the factory can't offer at least three ratios with this belt drive, at least for the spring orders. How hard would it be to have three belts and three different jackshaft drive gears? Aftermarket politics I guess??

 

[155Assault]

They do have to be shorter. I want a quality shock that allows me to be able to do the jumping and drops. Shorten the Assault shock by an inch or so and throw them on the Pro. Why can't I have lite weight and jumping ability?

I have the shorter Walker Evans remote reservoir shocks on my wifes RMK, They are good, but the Assault is better. It is more stable all around, and not signifigantly harder to side hill. Having both sleds, all of my friends 165-180 lbs prefer the RMK, my frinds over 200 lbs prefer the Assault. Pull ing it over is easy. Not as easy as the RMK, but compared to older sled it is splitting hairs, especially for bigger guys. It has a better balance point than the RMK and holding stable on its side is easier. The assault has longer A Arm allowing for a longer shock. You can change the A arms but they are pricey.

 

[harps500]

I'm not sure why the factory can't offer at least three ratios with this belt drive, at least for the spring orders. How hard would it be to have three belts and three different jackshaft drive gears? Aftermarket politics I guess??

Because it's expensive to develop and they will find bugs this first year they fix before expanding

 

[LoudHandle]

I'm not sure why the factory can't offer at least three ratios with this belt drive, at least for the spring orders. How hard would it be to have three belts and three different jackshaft drive gears? Aftermarket politics I guess??

It is Very easy to do but cheaper and easier than you guessed. With this system and to retain the tensioner-less design; you keep the same belt length, if you drop a tooth on the top gear you add a tooth to the bottom gear! Remove to bolts pull the sprockets and belt, install the bottom sprocket reinstall your same belt and new top sprocket, tighten the two bolts, done! The total tooth count must remain the same. I'd have to re-visit my notes but nearly twenty ratios are achievable from a 1:1 to a 3:1. It is an extreme shame they didn't/don't offer at least the mountain ratios this year and expand to the flat lander ratios as they put the drive on those sleds.

 

[clunker]

Well with Polaris leaving the assault without the belt drive I've turn to aftermarket co. C3 Powersports that's will be testing there belt drive system for Polaris proride sleds this next week they already developed one for the xp . It's a direct bolt on system and will be just as good as the Polaris drive .

 

[snosub]

It is Very easy to do but cheaper and easier than you guessed. With this system and to retain the tensioner-less design; you keep the same belt length, if you drop a tooth on the top gear you add a tooth to the bottom gear! Remove to bolts pull the sprockets and belt, install the bottom sprocket reinstall your same belt and new top sprocket, tighten the two bolts, done! The total tooth count must remain the same. I'd have to re-visit my notes but nearly twenty ratios are achievable from a 1:1 to a 3:1. It is an extreme shame they didn't/don't offer at least the mountain ratios this year and expand to the flat lander ratios as they put the drive on those sleds.

If you change only a tooth or maybe 2 you may be ok but the length of the belt isn't "exactly" the same length. Certainly you can't go from a 1:1 to a 3:1 and expect the same length belt to work.
I wonder how sensitive to tension the belt drive is.

 

[LoudHandle]

If you change only a tooth or maybe 2 you may be ok but the length of the belt isn't "exactly" the same length. Certainly you can't go from a 1:1 to a 3:1 and expect the same length belt to work.
I wonder how sensitive to tension the belt drive is.

You are just used to a chaincase. Do the math, it is indeed the way it works. It works the same way with a chaincase if you were to keep the same tooth count and the chain never stretched or wore out. Reference my previous post.

 

[snosub]

You are just used to a chaincase. Do the math, it is indeed the way it works. It works the same way with a chaincase if you were to keep the same tooth count and the chain never stretched or wore out. Reference my previous post.

ok, I did the math. Using your example of 3:1 (lets say 15 on the top and 45 on the bottom) you get a chain or belt that is 26.13" long. For 1:1 keeping same total teeth using 30/30 you get a chain/belt that is 25.74" long. Of course it is shorter because as the pulleys get closer to the same size the angle of the belt is flatter making the route around shorter. Anyway, if you put all the slack on one side you end up with a string tight belt on the 3:1 and on the 1:1 the deflection is 1 1/4", yes, over an inch. I am guessing that would be a tad bit too much.
The only reason the tooth for a tooth rule works for a chain is that you have an adjuster!

 

[racerjb]

So does the 600, 800 155, 800 163 pros with belt drive all have the same gear ratio?

 

[LoudHandle]

ok, I did the math. Using your example of 3:1 (lets say 15 on the top and 45 on the bottom) you get a chain or belt that is 26.13" long. For 1:1 keeping same total teeth using 30/30 you get a chain/belt that is 25.74" long. Of course it is shorter because as the pulleys get closer to the same size the angle of the belt is flatter making the route around shorter. Anyway, if you put all the slack on one side you end up with a string tight belt on the 3:1 and on the 1:1 the deflection is 1 1/4", yes, over an inch. I am guessing that would be a tad bit too much.
The only reason the tooth for a tooth rule works for a chain is that you have an adjuster!

I'm an Idiot! I spent days crunching numbers on the possible ratio's and checking out the Gates Engineering Manual and was very sure I hadn't overlooked anything but I apparently had overlooked the most obvious issue of all. My apologies, you are indeed correct, Thank you for slapping be between the eyes.

 

[Scott]

So does the 600, 800 155, 800 163 pros with belt drive all have the same gear ratio?

I didn't even look, does the 6 have a belt drive too?

 

[LoudHandle]

So does the 600, 800 155, 800 163 pros with belt drive all have the same gear ratio?

From all the rumors, engineers and test riders that have spoken to the topic,yes they only made one ratio for all the '13's.