Anyone going through Clutch Belts??

[MikeMetzger]

Looking at possibly pulling the trigger on a new Axys, however I'm curious if any of you Axys riders are going through clutch belts like I do on my Pro.... Its starting to get pretty old dropping $200 on a belt just about every weekend, and Im hoping the new Axys may have addressed this issue...

 

[AdrenalineAddict]

I have had the same results as you for 30 years, 7-10 belts a season. I switched to the new Gates Carbon series of belts at the start of the season. I have 900 miles on a 44C4553 on my 2014 and my son has 400 miles on his 2012 with no issues. I will never buy another Polaris belt again whether it's a 3211080, 3211122, or 3211115, they can't take the heat. Gates finally produced a better mousetrap, they have saved me roughly $1,400 so far this season. Another bonus is you don't see the performance heat fade like you do with the lower durometer Polaris belts.

 

[AndrettiDog]

Still on the first belt and not showing signs of slippage. 600miles. I never have had issues on any Polaris let alone the Pro or Axys. I wonder if your wet like snow contributes. I do a good job of keeping my clutch clean, adjusting deflection and watching spring wear on the primary.

 

[AdrenalineAddict]

A good friend of mine got a couple hundred miles out of his first Axys belt (pulled outside cord). Another thing regarding the new gates is lack of wear. My Polaris belts would typically wear .008" to .010" in a couple hundred miles my gates has only worn .003" in 900 miles!!!! I do feel belt life in NE Nevada has always been a challenge for those who ride hard. I know several who have been on the same belt for 1,000 miles, but don't forget that these are guys who ride the trail for 20 miles to their favorite beer drinking hangout, drink a 6 pack and then ride the trail home.

 

[ullose272]

I put a new belt on at the begining of the season. That said ive never replaced one due to a loss in performance. I usually get 4-600 miles a season.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Sage Crusher]

We rotate belts at lunch time every time we ride-
been doing it for years and makes the belts last and wear even -
So far 800 mile on the Axys and zero belt issues-

We buff the faces before each ride also- Just a part of the preventative ...


S/C

 

[wfieldin]

So is the the Gates Axys belt 45C4553 working out OK?

 

[AndrettiDog]

We rotate belts at lunch time every time we ride-
been doing it for years and makes the belts last and wear even -
So far 800 mile on the Axys and zero belt issues-

We buff the faces before each ride also- Just a part of the preventative ...


S/C

So really, it's like 400 miles for one belt.

 

[Dartos]

What makes you change a belt with only 200-300 miles on it?

I have 1100 miles on my current belt. Took it of before the last ride to inspect and didn't see anything weird so I put it back on, set deflection and rode it.

 

[MikeMetzger]

The thing is that some people ride a lot harder than others, I know guys that can get years out of a single belt, however they are so out of shape they get out of breath just getting the mail.
Im just a young gun with more energy than I have time, so when I get out, I RIDE HARD all day, no lunch and I KNOW its the reason I go through belts so quickly.
I did finally pull the trigger on a Gates Carbon belt, and its definitely lasted longer than any other belt Ive ridden, so we will see how long this one goes.
I was just wondering if he new Axys were a little better or not.....
Doesn't seem like my buddies on the Doo's go through belts like my buddies on the Pros....

 

[sledheadd]

I run a cat belt with good results plus they only cost about $60 a belt

 

[Red Mtn]

I run a cat belt with good results plus they only cost about $60 a belt

On the Axys? They are different you know. I haven't heard of anybody trying thee 048 Cat belt on the Axys yet.


I did try the 44C Gates belt from the Pro on the Axys and it freaking exploded with under 200 miles on it.


Other than that I am on my second Polaris belt, about 400 miles on each of them, both still look good and perform well. I will probably run the one in there until it fails or starts to fail.


I used to get about 500 miles a belt on my Pro riding it hard. If you are blowing them before that you probably have clutching issues.


If you just ride hard without ever taking a break and let things cool, that isn't a belt or machine flaw, that is operator error and you have to fix that yourself...

 

[MikeMetzger]

"If you just ride hard without ever taking a break and let things cool, that isn't a belt or machine flaw, that is operator error and you have to fix that yourself..."

I do think this is my issue. When you get 1 day a week to let it all out its tough to stop all damn day and let things cool. Especially after blowing $10+ grand on a machine that was supposedly designed for what I'm doing. Maybe the industry will eventually address this issue after they are done chasing down the lightest sled possible.

Anyone know if the Doo's are as prone to this as the Pros?

 

[rmscustom]

The thing is that some people ride a lot harder than others, I know guys that can get years out of a single belt, however they are so out of shape they get out of breath just getting the mail.
Im just a young gun with more energy than I have time, so when I get out, I RIDE HARD all day, no lunch and I KNOW its the reason I go through belts so quickly.
I did finally pull the trigger on a Gates Carbon belt, and its definitely lasted longer than any other belt Ive ridden, so we will see how long this one goes.
I was just wondering if he new Axys were a little better or not.....
Doesn't seem like my buddies on the Doo's go through belts like my buddies on the Pros....

Used to say the same thing... Fact is there is something wrong with your current ride. Gearing, clutching and alignment solved my problem. 1200 mountain miles on a gates carbon this year and I'm in the best shape of my life and my skills have never been better.

 

[diamonddave]

I agree with rms. I complained about my 2010 Dragon 5 years ago while I was too busy working to check it. 100 miles on an 1115. When I bought the Polaris SPX tool and checked it, I found it out of alignment.

My '12 Assault smoked it's first belt on first ride. Alignment was way out again.


I have yet to find a belt blowing '12 or '13 Pro that hasn't been out of alignment. Shim stack up, float shim stack up were all incorrect. The Polaris SPX tool has fixed them all.


These sleds need good sound motor mounts especially considering the style. A hard ridden sled is going to tear them up much quicker. IMO you should change them before 1,500 mountain miles.

If the sled has ever been wrecked or wrinkled tunnel....Well...alignment issues again.

 

[1500psi]

Axys

Here's what I heard allll the way to Revy Wednesday. "I know you ride a ski Doo but you realize a Pro axys is a far superior snowmobile right" ? he rides a 2016 axys 155.. So I take him and his buddy straight to the trees left of the Boulder cabin and I bet he and his buddy were stuck between 20-30 times a piece by 2pm. I quit counting. This area Isn't even steep or super tight and these guys can ride pretty good.. Snow was waist deep++. They were so freaking tired the one guy thought he had a illness he said a couple days later Lol. What I saw was him Worrying every morning where he's going to buy another belt cuz he blew one up every single day trying to follow ski doos. I bet two more ski doos get snow checked now. I'm soo freaking tired of hearing how great 155axys do in the trees I'm about to puke. It's so beyond even talking about.

 

[MikeMetzger]

Used to say the same thing... Fact is there is something wrong with your current ride. Gearing, clutching and alignment solved my problem. 1200 mountain miles on a gates carbon this year and I'm in the best shape of my life and my skills have never been better.

Just got it back from the shop and they said all is well and alignment is dead on...........

 

[sledheader]

Here's what I heard allll the way to Revy Wednesday. "I know you ride a ski Doo but you realize a Pro axys is a far superior snowmobile right" ? he rides a 2016 axys 155.. So I take him and his buddy straight to the trees left of the Boulder cabin and I bet he and his buddy were stuck between 20-30 times a piece by 2pm. I quit counting. This area Isn't even steep or super tight and these guys can ride pretty good.. Snow was waist deep++. They were so freaking tired the one guy thought he had a illness he said a couple days later Lol. What I saw was him Worrying every morning where he's going to buy another belt cuz he blew one up every single day trying to follow ski doos. I bet two more ski doos get snow checked now. I'm soo freaking tired of hearing how great 155axys do in the trees I'm about to puke. It's so beyond even talking about.

OH MAN! That must've been a $400 day for you! You and your ski-doo are so awesome!!!

 

[MikeMetzger]

Interesting........

 

[MikeMetzger]

Just for the record, I decided it couldn't hurt to at least try a regular Gates belt, that lasted half a day......... I will say because of the softer compound it ran very smooth, right up until it literally melted to pieces.... NOTE THIS IS FROM MY PRO. NOT AN AXYS.