Drive belt issue ???

[FatDogX]

So I'm curious if this has happened to anyone ???

I was on out the new 850 (still in break in) and running a Gates carbon belt and had some issues.

Basically, I know I was over clutched a bit and ended up smoking the belt a little, not bad just a little. Shortly after this, I started getting a nasty vibration starting at around 4600 rpm's and up and no power!!!

Pulled the belt and the belt actually looked fine, so I put it back on and doubled checked the belt deflection. It was off a little, so I adjusted that and took off, but had the same issue?!?!?!

Out on the trail back to the trailer it wasn't as bad but definitely still there. Jumped off the trail and side hilled an area with good snow and wham it was back and not good!!

Ended up back at the trailer and started looking at stuff. Everything looked good, so I adjusted the clutch weights, threw on a new Polaris belt and checked the deflection. Took off and all is good!!!

Ran it back to the trailer and switched back to the Gates and took it for another rip. Well.....the vibration was back and power was down but again everything on the belt looked fine???

Changed it back out to the Polaris and it's good !!!

So something is really messed up with that Gates belt ????

Anyways, just curious if anyone else has had any issues like this???

 

[06redrevx]

I wonder if the carbon broke on the belt causing the vibration. Was it ever folded?

 

[MKULTRA]

I wonder if the carbon broke on the belt causing the vibration. Was it ever folded?

how do you carry a spare carbon gates without folding it?

 

[dktraw]

Tunnel bag or backpack

 

[Matte Murder]

Is the little bit of money you save worth even this amount of hassle lol?

 

[dktraw]

Hassle?? What hassle??
On my 800s the gates belt is not only cheaper, but it performs better for a longer period. plus gates will warranty them if they fail. The poo belt would fade out big time very guickly, the gates runs more consistent and holds peak rpm better.
with that said, so far the gates belt is not performing better than the oem on my 850

 

[FatDogX]

I wonder if the carbon broke on the belt causing the vibration. Was it ever folded?

No it was never folded, bought the Gates and put it on and moved the Polaris to the spare.

The gates only made it about 15 miles before this happened ??

 

[Matte Murder]

Hassle?? What hassle??
On my 800s the gates belt is not only cheaper, but it performs better for a longer period. plus gates will warranty them if they fail. The poo belt would fade out big time very guickly, the gates runs more consistent and holds peak rpm better.
with that said, so far the gates belt is not performing better than the oem on my 850

Same question for you? It worked on the 800, doesn’t on the 850 according to you AND Scott. Don’t you get 500-700 miles from a belt? How much of a savings could it be over a season compared to all the other money you are spending?

 

[dktraw]

Same question for you? It worked on the 800, doesn’t on the 850 according to you AND Scott. Don’t you get 500-700 miles from a belt? How much of a savings could it be over a season compared to all the other money you are spending?

As said in my earlier post, I did not run the Gates belt just because it was cheaper. there was other performance gains to be had, plus it lasted longer and had warranty.
Now moving onto the new 850. Why not try an aftermarket belt that saves you $100 per belt and only takes 5 minutes to throw it on and test it?
And yes, I am not currently running the Gates belt because it did not perform as good as the stock belt on the 850. I will not run it just because its cheaper, the performance I lost due to Gates belt is not worth it.

Also, I very rarely get 500 miles out of a belt, so yes, $100 per belt was worth it when you go through 3-4 belts a season.

And you didn't answer the question about what the hassle was to run the Gates belt.......for me there was no hassle. Throw new gates belt on, set deflection and run it. Don't you do that with a stock belt??

 

[tuneman]

I'd just take a closer look at that Gates belt. They tend to break off small chunks or even just crack and cause major vibration. Polaris belts explode, in my experience.

Here's a pic from last Saturday, while changing out a Gates belt. It vibrated like crazy, but I lost the entire outside third of the belt after about 200 miles. However, the snow that day was crazy thick and wet and I have a turbo. Clutches were hot, to say the least. I've since tweaked my clutching to help.

You could probably send it back to Gates for a replacement.

 

[dktraw]

FatdogX, I agree with tuneman that there is probably something wrong physically with that belt. if its new, then I would talk to Gates directly and see about sending it in for warranty.

 

[Matte Murder]

Are the primary and secondary clutches the same on the 800 and 850? Except for calibration?

 

[dktraw]

Are the primary and secondary clutches the same on the 800 and 850? Except for calibration?

Same clutch, bigger crank taper on the 850 is only difference I know of

 

[yamikilr]

Mooning a belt would cause your problems.....no?

 

[TRS]

Mooning a belt would cause your problems.....no?

^^^^^^
Pull the belt through your thumb and forefinger, if it hourglasses you will feel it. By your description “smoking the belt a little” it sounds like the issue.

 

[FatDogX]

^^^^^^
Pull the belt through your thumb and forefinger, if it hourglasses you will feel it. By your description “smoking the belt a little” it sounds like the issue.

I'll double check that but three of us looked at this belt and all three agreed it looked fine??? As far as my comment on "smoking it" it seriously was very minor, in fact it was more of a......did the belt just slip a bit and then the faint smell. Nothing major and this belt only lasted 15 miles ?!?!?

Has anyone contacted Gates and actually had a belt replaced under warranty ???

 

[Spaarky]

^^^^^^
Pull the belt through your thumb and forefinger, if it hourglasses you will feel it. By your description “smoking the belt a little” it sounds like the issue.

Tony did you get a chance to try the Gates on your 850???

 

[dktraw]

Fatdog, yes i warrantied a belt last year. Top section pulled off with 100ish miles. Sent old belt in and they sent new belt

 

[FatDogX]

Fatdog, yes i warrantied a belt last year. Top section pulled off with 100ish miles. Sent old belt in and they sent new belt

Thanks!

I'll have to give them a shout and see what they say.

 

[blkspd]

The belts didn't work for me. the first one went 50 MI before the top started coming apart . The second one lasted about 300Mi then going down the trail at 60 it blew up. All on a 850 .