Belt Break-in

[milehighassassin]

What do you guys do to properly break-in your drive belts? Wash them? Wire brush them? Heat Cycle?

Tips, Techniques and hints?


TIA

 

[cwbyup_22]

I wash them with hot soapy water, scrub them with a wire/hard bristle brush, then take it easy on them for 30 or so miles. I once had an old Arctic Cat Tech tell me that the only way to break in a belt is to turn it inside out and take it to a wire wheel on a bench grinder and lightly brush it until you see the white start to show through. I have never tried this, I have always wanted to but have been too scared of ruining a $150+ belt!! Anybody else heard of this or tried it??

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Mine goes right into the dishwasher(those with significant others best be sneeky about it)....I clean both belt and clutches in the dishwasher a couple times a season...I use cascade powder dish detergent and cycle thru on heavy duty pots/pans with heated dry..has always worked good and has significantly increased both belt and clutch life......I will also take a fine scotchbrite pad to all the sheave surfaces if they look at all glazed(normally not a problem if your cleaning belt/clutches in a timely fashion)....

 

[milehighassassin]

I wash mine in soapy water and then hit it with a wire brush.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

I put mine on...

 

[NOT2OLD]

Make sure you break in your spare as well.

K.

 

[winter brew]

Usually nothing. Sometimes if there is alot of obvious "parting agent" still on the belt from the mfg process I will use hot water and scotchbrite to scuff it off a bit. I don't break them in either, just take it easy for 5 minutes until the belt is up to temp and hammer down! Same belt all season on all our sleds.

 

[hatchers]

TRA - wash it, clean it again, hope for the best

non TRA - put belt on sled, ride

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

yep.. im rocking yami belt clutches.... even with the clutches visually out of alignment, they still last just as long as they did on my na 1000 doo with a tra vs my rx1 on boost.

I try to take it easy for a moment to let the belt warm up, flex a little, get stretched out, then BOOST.