Anyone try this new carbon fiber belt yet, results? Was looking at the article in Snowtech and it sounded promising. Just checking before I venture away from OEM...thx much.
Goodyear Gatorback belt
- Thread starter Falcon
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OEM parts?
I've told this story many times, and it's the absolute truth. To keep the view objective, I won't name company names. I work for a major manufacturer of sports products (atv's, cycles, etc.). They, of course, advocated using "genuine" OEM parts. The reality is that they didn't really make all those parts. As an example, I have a old can of "genuine" OEM engine oil, and the manufacturer's label peels off to expose that it was genuine "Mobil" oil. This is also the case with many OEM parts. You can spend $160 on an OEM drive belt, or pay $90 for the Goodyear belt. It's a safe bet that Goodyear actually manufactures both belts, but with different labeling. I just bought the Goodyear belt and got my digital calipers out to compare with the OEM belt. Width, circumference, cogs, thickness, etc; they are identical.
Snowmobile manufacturers build sleds. They're not in the oil business, or the shock absorber business, or the drive belt business, or the light bulb business, or the spark plug business. They DESIGN the sleds, and use the supplier parts to assemble their designed product.
Yes, some investigative study is needed sometimes when evaluating parts. That's why sites like this are useful in exchanging info and experiences to help us make educated decisions. I'd say in the case of the Gatorback belt, you are safe to go with it. Same dimensions, same materials, and most probably the same manufacturer (I have a reliable source).
I've told this story many times, and it's the absolute truth. To keep the view objective, I won't name company names. I work for a major manufacturer of sports products (atv's, cycles, etc.). They, of course, advocated using "genuine" OEM parts. The reality is that they didn't really make all those parts. As an example, I have a old can of "genuine" OEM engine oil, and the manufacturer's label peels off to expose that it was genuine "Mobil" oil. This is also the case with many OEM parts. You can spend $160 on an OEM drive belt, or pay $90 for the Goodyear belt. It's a safe bet that Goodyear actually manufactures both belts, but with different labeling. I just bought the Goodyear belt and got my digital calipers out to compare with the OEM belt. Width, circumference, cogs, thickness, etc; they are identical.
Snowmobile manufacturers build sleds. They're not in the oil business, or the shock absorber business, or the drive belt business, or the light bulb business, or the spark plug business. They DESIGN the sleds, and use the supplier parts to assemble their designed product.
Yes, some investigative study is needed sometimes when evaluating parts. That's why sites like this are useful in exchanging info and experiences to help us make educated decisions. I'd say in the case of the Gatorback belt, you are safe to go with it. Same dimensions, same materials, and most probably the same manufacturer (I have a reliable source).
Hey sledcaddie where can you get those goodyear gator backs for 90 bucks?
here's the 80 dollar site
Talked to thunder product he's out till after xmass, maybe. Said they compair up to the 1115, We'll see.
I've been running xs 809 and got a season out of one and with two, one week trips out west. In my opinion that's not bad. I would be changing a belt every year anyway.
here is thier site.
http://www.thunderproducts.com/GoodYear Belts.htm
Talked to thunder product he's out till after xmass, maybe. Said they compair up to the 1115, We'll see.
I've been running xs 809 and got a season out of one and with two, one week trips out west. In my opinion that's not bad. I would be changing a belt every year anyway.
here is thier site.
http://www.thunderproducts.com/GoodYear Belts.htm
$80 gatorback
Okay, so I rounded it off a bit. The belt for my 08 D8 was $78.00 plus 10.92 S&H, which comes to $88.92. And yes, it was from Thunder Products. You know, belts and tires used to have nylon cords, rayon, steel belts, aramid fiber, kevlar, and now...carbon fiber. Remember (this will show your age) when a sled would blow 2-3 belts a day? Now a belt will go multiple seasons if not abused or hourglassed.
Okay, so I rounded it off a bit. The belt for my 08 D8 was $78.00 plus 10.92 S&H, which comes to $88.92. And yes, it was from Thunder Products. You know, belts and tires used to have nylon cords, rayon, steel belts, aramid fiber, kevlar, and now...carbon fiber. Remember (this will show your age) when a sled would blow 2-3 belts a day? Now a belt will go multiple seasons if not abused or hourglassed.
I'm with you. Carlisle made the 1080 for polaris and carlisle's came with a one year warrenty. I just don't want to make a 180 dallor mistake plus its a ware item. I blew my 1115 after a year of hard use and had the same luck with the xs so the gates belt might be a little better and the same price. I'm going to let er buck.
Can anyone compare the Goodyear belt to the Carslile XS? I haven't been able to get my hands on one yet. I always liked how much tackier the XS was compared to the 1115. Seemed much less likely to have belt slippage issues. I also liked the old 080 polaris belt for the same reasons.
The 1115 is my spare since I consider it to be indestructible. Just not the best performing belt. If the Goodyear belt gives the same kind of performance as the XS it will sure be nice to have more options out there.
The 1115 is my spare since I consider it to be indestructible. Just not the best performing belt. If the Goodyear belt gives the same kind of performance as the XS it will sure be nice to have more options out there.
i wanna know how sledcaddie got it for 78$
Closer to $90 + tax for me.
Ordered 2 Gatorbacks from thunder products a couple days ago, after sales tax a little over 100 a piece, hope they work.
Ordered 2 Gatorbacks from thunder products a couple days ago, after sales tax a little over 100 a piece, hope they work.
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Gatorback price
Well, I ordered mine the first week of November, @ $78, really. I read a previous post that Thunder was sold out. So, supply & demand dictates a probably price increase. Or, when Thunder reordered, Goodyear had since raised their wholesale prices. It still beats the OEM price!
Well, I ordered mine the first week of November, @ $78, really. I read a previous post that Thunder was sold out. So, supply & demand dictates a probably price increase. Or, when Thunder reordered, Goodyear had since raised their wholesale prices. It still beats the OEM price!
I'm guessing some supply and demand issue, cause I haven't seen them yet. I agree about cheaper than OEM. My philosophy has always been, I don't mind if someone makes money off of me, just don't rake me over the coals.
Gatorback free gift
I see in the latest issue of Supertrax (page 52) a product evaluation article about the Gatorback. It also includes a web site (sporttoque.ca) that you can print a coupon for a free Gatorback hat with proof of purchase.
I see in the latest issue of Supertrax (page 52) a product evaluation article about the Gatorback. It also includes a web site (sporttoque.ca) that you can print a coupon for a free Gatorback hat with proof of purchase.
Kelsey at RK Tek has some time on this new belt.
Maybe he'll chime in here.
Maybe he'll chime in here.
R
RKT
Well-known member
Belt works well.. drop the rpms about 150-200.. but we are still doing testing on it..
Gatorback
Called Thunder products yesterday, they are not getting anymore this year and only order once a year the way I understand it, got on the Good Year web site and located a dealership that sells them 35 miles from me.
Called Thunder products yesterday, they are not getting anymore this year and only order once a year the way I understand it, got on the Good Year web site and located a dealership that sells them 35 miles from me.
stocking this belt
Maybe by next season, more dealers will be carrying these. Sounds like the demand for them is there if some are already sold out.
Maybe by next season, more dealers will be carrying these. Sounds like the demand for them is there if some are already sold out.
The factory belts on OEM from the Mountain sleds are actually made by MITSUBOSHI (not Mitsubishi) in Illinois.... www.mitsuboshi.com ...Not Polaris as Sledcaddie points out.
I've talked with the engineers at the different companies... Dayco, Gates, Goodyear, Carlisle etc... The Mitsuboshi made 3211115 and 3211122 belts are pretty much in a league of their own...The people at Carlisle told me directly that they did not offer any belts yet that would compare to the durability of the stock 3211115 MBL belts.
I have a case of the Goodyear belts in the garage and send two to RKT as well... the test info is coming back good on these.....
We'll know more as the season wears on!!
I've talked with the engineers at the different companies... Dayco, Gates, Goodyear, Carlisle etc... The Mitsuboshi made 3211115 and 3211122 belts are pretty much in a league of their own...The people at Carlisle told me directly that they did not offer any belts yet that would compare to the durability of the stock 3211115 MBL belts.
I have a case of the Goodyear belts in the garage and send two to RKT as well... the test info is coming back good on these.....
We'll know more as the season wears on!!
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At least Carlisle was honest with saying that they don't have a belt to compare with the 3211115. Honesty is a good thing, instead of saying we have a belt that can hold up just as well as product X, just to sell more products. Carlisle has great products, and after hearing what mountainhorse said, its nice to know that they are up front with people about that.
