Im having a really hard time deciding on the 2.6 or 3". My pros are 12's with Chaincase. I have only rode newer belt drive sleds for a short time. My question is this. Is there really that much of a noticeable difference between the two. I have no problem with making my 12 do what I want it too, but I have also experienced the *** whooping a 3" gives me. I know how much less my wife will be stuck less with the 3" ( she doesn't get stuck much now ) so we both win. I just wanted all the newest tech and was let down a bit ( very little ). I know I am over thinking this as the axys will be way above and beyond my pro's. Sorry for the rant, but buying these things 2 at a time is nuts. Especially after the new surf boat. Man my wife is awesome.
Belt vs Chaincase
- Thread starter Dootimes2
- Start date
When the 13 came out I went and demoed it and compared it to my 12. I had a tied and MTX weights in the clutch. I beat the 13 by 2 lengths up a hill. A buddy and I swapped and same results. I think people put too much thought into the belt drive. Does it help, yes. Is it a huge difference, no. Sometimes it is a lot of little things that add up so missing one isn't going to be a huge difference. They claimed it was a good difference in tipping them up. Well, I had to swap back and forth probably 6 times before I could maybe say there was an ever so slight difference. If you want the 3 now is the time to do it because it is only $200 difference. It is really expensive after the fact.
I bought my wife a T3 174 and she loves it. It has saved me a pile of stuck and she is ultimately having more fun because she is more confident and not stuck. I will tell you when she was riding a 12 pro and rode my 13 155 with 3 inch she hated it. The 3 was the only thing different.
Here is my 2 cents on it. I rode my 14 this year with the stock 155 2.4" track for 700 miles. All the guys I ride with are on 163-174 3" so it was a challenge to make it some of the places we were going. I now have 200 miles with the X3 163 on the sled and I'm ready to take it off but the snow sucks so much its not very high on the list. I'm ordering a new 163 with the 2.6, I'm also keeping my 14 and putting the 2.4 back on it. The x3 will go on the shelf. Eric
Here's my experience with belt vs chain. I bought two 12 pro 600's for daughters. I bought my wife a 13 600 pro. The 12's would whip the 13 in every way. So I traded the 13 in on a 15 std rmk 800 with a chain case friend of ours bought a 15 pro with belt. My wife std is more snappy and in a drag race wins every time. Now I know there are some sleds that rum a little better than others but this is my experience.
I don't think they are the exact gear ratio.
Pro rmk or the standard rmk aren't designed around winning drag races. Put them in deep snow on a hill, now we have a real world mountain sled comparison. And I'd put my money on the one with the belt drive. Now if you want a drag race, I'll hop on a 05 cat f7 and show you top speed.
My thoughts exactly.
I owned a 13 155 and rode it back to back with my 11 and the easier to tip business was negligible.
Except the 13 was on its 4th belt.
@ 1000 miles.
Original chain on the 11 @ 2900 miles.
I swapped from the QD to chain case becuase of durability. And my brother got the QD so i swap sled sometime to compare. I do feel a difference when in the deep snow pumping the gas on and off. With the QD it got more acceleration, and it is easier to control the belt speed. But a overall comparison i don't notice the difference. my 2 cent's
I think I noticed the difference in my '11 and '13 Pro's with the QDS. I'm not going to tell you I went more places but my '13 definitely felt lighter around and seemed to getup and move better. But that could be the conditions too. Now I have a TKI drive on that same sled. Great system!
I would worry less about chain vs belt and more about 2.6" vs 3". If your wife is going to drive your sled a lot, I would go 2.6". Unless she is the female version of Burandt or Adams, I think the 3" will just get hot on her and have a tendency to "tractor" making it harder for her to turn out or even turn for that matter. Just my $.02 though. I'm going with the 2.6" regardless of how the 3" is offered.
I would worry less about chain vs belt and more about 2.6" vs 3". If your wife is going to drive your sled a lot, I would go 2.6". Unless she is the female version of Burandt or Adams, I think the 3" will just get hot on her and have a tendency to "tractor" making it harder for her to turn out or even turn for that matter. Just my $.02 though. I'm going with the 2.6" regardless of how the 3" is offered.
Made the leap 2 new 163 x 3". Been around them enough to know that is what I wanted. Just wanted it with a QD. Oh well. Going to leaps and bounds better than the 12's regardless. And I really liked the 12's.
FWIW,
Until the reports of Q.D. failures are as few & far between as the CFI-2 cylinder skirt failures have become, I will remain an advocate of the antiquated chain case. LOL!
IMO, Polaris will get there but they've still got a bit of work to do at this point.....
Until the reports of Q.D. failures are as few & far between as the CFI-2 cylinder skirt failures have become, I will remain an advocate of the antiquated chain case. LOL!
IMO, Polaris will get there but they've still got a bit of work to do at this point.....
I had many failures with my QDs on my rentals from broken bolts, failed jackshafts, and melted belts. I was very happy when they brought the chain case back for the limited addition in 2015. That sled was awesome. Not a single renter came back disappointed that it had a chain case. Now I wish they would have added the second cooler to the 3" for 2016, it is a sled that could definitely use it. The weight wars seem a bit ridiculous when they start leaving out necessary parts or replace them with weak or unreliable parts. My opinion, chain case all the way for me!!
You said it All --- Applies to All Newer Sleds
" The weight wars seem a bit ridiculous when they start leaving out necessary parts or replace them with weak or unreliable parts"
I just keep towing this junk back to the Truck.
Its expensive Junk , and people keep buying it.
Walmart is still in business too because there is a Fool born Every Minute.
" The weight wars seem a bit ridiculous when they start leaving out necessary parts or replace them with weak or unreliable parts"
I just keep towing this junk back to the Truck.
Its expensive Junk , and people keep buying it.
Walmart is still in business too because there is a Fool born Every Minute.
weight wars
Caught this post in the email and, while example is Doo, Polaris does the same stupid and arrogant crap.
Essential Parts: I recently worked on a 2014 Doo SP Summit with 155 track--1900 miles and the drive sprockets were worn to junk--4 teeth never used and 4 teeth destroyed. Track is normal ski doo clipped every other. 155 track has 54 pitches---drive sprocket has 8 teeth. Being both even numbers--the drive sprocket only ever uses 4 teeth on the sprocket due to clipped every other--THE SAME 4 TEETH FOREVER! 1900 miles on a set of drive sprockets is not acceptable in my book. All as a result of not wanting the SMALL additional weight of 54 track clips---about 2.5 pounds when I weighed them. Take a healthy dose of EXLAX and you will loose more than that! Add to that the fact that the only way to get the sprockets is to purchase the complete drive axle assembly at mega $$$. Arrogant and stupid. And the consumer-snowmobiler buys into the program.
Caught this post in the email and, while example is Doo, Polaris does the same stupid and arrogant crap.
Essential Parts: I recently worked on a 2014 Doo SP Summit with 155 track--1900 miles and the drive sprockets were worn to junk--4 teeth never used and 4 teeth destroyed. Track is normal ski doo clipped every other. 155 track has 54 pitches---drive sprocket has 8 teeth. Being both even numbers--the drive sprocket only ever uses 4 teeth on the sprocket due to clipped every other--THE SAME 4 TEETH FOREVER! 1900 miles on a set of drive sprockets is not acceptable in my book. All as a result of not wanting the SMALL additional weight of 54 track clips---about 2.5 pounds when I weighed them. Take a healthy dose of EXLAX and you will loose more than that! Add to that the fact that the only way to get the sprockets is to purchase the complete drive axle assembly at mega $$$. Arrogant and stupid. And the consumer-snowmobiler buys into the program.
I thought they had the belt drives pretty much figured out now, as far as durability? I'm actually asking because I don't really know for sure. I was going to go with the belt just because its one less maintenance thing on the list, no changing or checking oil. Any added performance is just a bonus.
J
Jaynelson
Well-known member
The belt drive vs. chaincase thing is mostly brain damage.
Pick the track you want and let that dictate the choice.
My 2015 has the QD, and I think it's neat and great and all that, and I feel it provides a slightly throttle response improvement. But if I were buying a new Axys, and wanted the 3"....I wouldn't let the chain vs. belt thing hold me back.
Pick the track you want and let that dictate the choice.
My 2015 has the QD, and I think it's neat and great and all that, and I feel it provides a slightly throttle response improvement. But if I were buying a new Axys, and wanted the 3"....I wouldn't let the chain vs. belt thing hold me back.
Most are looking at this backwards.
3" track vs 2.6 will have a more noticeable decrease in response than chaincase vs belt drive.
3" track vs 2.6 will have a more noticeable decrease in response than chaincase vs belt drive.
my thoughts...
if a qd belt blows, grab the spare you have with you, change it and keep riding.
if a chaincase blows, your done until you can get it fixed. possibly ruining a trip.
and it does happen, there was a member on here not too long ago scrambling to find a chaincase and have it shipped to him so his trip was not ruined
if a qd belt blows, grab the spare you have with you, change it and keep riding.
if a chaincase blows, your done until you can get it fixed. possibly ruining a trip.
and it does happen, there was a member on here not too long ago scrambling to find a chaincase and have it shipped to him so his trip was not ruined
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