NEW 2013 PRO WEIGHT REDUCTION.. WHERE WOULD IT COME FROM?

[mountainhorse]

If the weight has been dropped by 20 lbs (435-ish to 415-ish)... I'd like to see where that came from?

In leiu of any real info... I'll throw out some food for thought.

Any weight reduction would also have been looked at very carefully by P.I. in terms of durability for reasons of warranty claims and customer satisfaction.

IF the belt drive is a reality on consumer offerings... I'm sure that it has/will be well tested. P.I. would not risk the PR/image damage from something that could fail in the consumers hands... after all, there have been an insignificant amount of issues with broken HYVO chains on Polaris machines, Period!... I'm sure they wont risk people breaking belts because they jump or land funny...

I'd really be impressed if Polaris had enough confidence to install this same belt drive in all their snowcross sleds as that would be a true litmus test for the durability of a factory belt-drive system.

10 lbs from the drive train with a belt would probably involve a lighter brake disk and caliper, aluminum drive sprockets, lighter drive shaft... of course there is no oil or steel chain (maybe that means they finally ditched the center driver that us west coast people have issues with ) IMO... -10 lbs from just a belt drive... WOW!

I hope for safety sake (and a bonus lower CG of rotating mass)... that the brake rotor would be mounted to the driveshaft rather than the jackshaft!! The liability issues of someone getting injured (or worse) from a runaway sled due to no stopping ability from a brand new design that broke a belt are HUGE!! I wouldn't mind breaking a belt here or there... but not being able to stop the sled if it did...I would mind that!

The other 10 lbs... hmmm here are some possibilities that I see... but are pretty limited...20 lbs is a lot afterall...

• some weight from the seat
  
• lighten up the fuel tank, OR.. a lighter integral seat/tank combo that ditches the support (maybe they have been looking at the trail tanks design)
  
• lightening up the PFA (pump/flange assembly)
  
• cromo A-arms
  
• narrow up the spindles (thinner profile of the extrusion)
  
• running board edge coolers with the cooler only in the back of the tunnel... shed some of the weight of the tunnel roof extrusion and coolant weight.
  
• lighter hood/body work
  
• going back to the WE airs?? (that would be "interesting")
  
• I highly doubt Ti springs unless that makes the PRO another $500 more costly... Or basic Float shocks....
  
• maybe a slight rail re-design
  
• Hollow axles
  
• tubular/swedged tie rods and drag links
  
• alloy bellcranks
  
• lighter secondary clutch
  
• lighter primary clutch
  
• no longer install the mountain strap on the pro tapers (good for one lb)
  
• thinner hifax (like on the Doos)
  
• smaller windsheild

.

 

[mountainhorse]

I'd be surprised if the front suspension width on the PRO Models was NOT narrowed to 38 inches or so... this would also shave a few ounces...but require re-tool for front arms (which have been basically the same since 2005)

I'm sure the people at Polaris have a lot more tricks up their sleeves...

To you people at Roseau that are reading this... Keep up the good work.. now back to it lol...

OH... and PLEASE.. offer a two piece throttle block that is easy to remove without taking everything else apart!!











.

 

[pura vida]

my guess is the 20 lbs loss is internet rumor and it won't be quite that much. and yes, please give us a two piece throttle block and get rid of the thing from the 90's...

pv

 

[AkLogan]

... I'm sure that it has/will be well tested. P.I. would not risk the PR/image damage from something that could fail in the consumers hands.
Almost stopped reading there. member all the dragon motors?

How is it a big deal that the break has to be on the driveshaft incase a belt blows but it does not matter that it is on the jack shaft with a real chaincase?

Not disagreeing i really hope it all works out cause i will most likely have a 2013 next year. If they do something with the head light that can get rid of a lot of weight to.

 

[2XM3]

aluminium aircraft heims would drop a couple pounds, i'm thinkin maybe a lighter track? if you went with titanium and carbon fibre you could pull 20 pounds easy, a-arms and skid parts in titanium is almost 15 right there, all the bolts another 4-5...but the cost...ooooooo not good

 

[JonezyBones]

Beeing on a rumor/idea thread I know they was working on a track that is 3lbs lighter. Series 5.5 maybe? Heard it was a 2.5 inch track and it was lighter because of how camoplast designed it.

 

[mountainhorse]

How is it a big deal that the break has to be on the driveshaft incase a belt blows but it does not matter that it is on the jack shaft with a real chaincase?

... If they do something with the head light that can get rid of a lot of weight to.

Logan,

For me... the chains have a time tested history of NOT breaking on Polaris sleds for the last 10 years.... of course, there are some that have... but the number is insignificant and mostly due to to poor maintenance or abuse.

The Brake on the driveshaft is just plain better from an overall safety perspective.... especially on a belt-system that would be brand new in the consumers hands.. plus expose Polaris Industries to a smaller liability consideration.

Yea... the headlight could be simplified a bit... but beam pattern or cost may be the tradeoff... But for sure, there is room there if they took it.





.

 

[Gone Sleddin]

Smaller coolers

 

[cateye5312]

weight reduction

From a listed weight of 431 lbs to a listed weight of 417 lbs is only 14 lbs not 20. Most of that would come from the belt drive.

 

[RMK-King]

Smaller coolers

and 4 sets of scratchers.

March 4th is the Polaris release date.

 

[Mafesto]

We've obviously read the speculation of a belt drive......

What do you guys think the possibility is of a Direct Drive?
The last sled to have it was a Polaris after all.

Just a thought.

Or would a tunnel dump muffle the exhaust enough that they could shave weight off the can & stay in compliance?

 

[dragonflats]

I heard they changed the running boards

 

[Reg2view]

Heavy hood with all the fix'ins. That could be improved upon.

 

[Pownar]

We've obviously read the speculation of a belt drive......

What do you guys think the possibility is of a Direct Drive?
The last sled to have it was a Polaris after all.

Just a thought.

Or would a tunnel dump muffle the exhaust enough that they could shave weight off the can & stay in compliance?

With all the aftermarket pipe/can combos shaving so much weight, i think Poo could even shave at least 5 and still have a can that passes noise regulations.

 

[mountainhorse]

If they can.. they will... the noise regs are pretty tough.

 

[2XM3]

Small powerful led headlight in the nose perhaps.

Has anyone actually weighed a chaincase,gears and chain? Then weigh the entire belt drive assembly?

 

[André]

Small powerful led headlight in the nose perhaps.

Has anyone actually weighed a chaincase,gears and chain? Then weigh the entire belt drive assembly?

yes the hood is realy heavy, i think they should go with a light weight ledlight, like they have on the rzr xp.

the hood and beltdrive would deffinitely loose alot of weight.

 

[F-Bomb]

but the spare blower belts I have to carry might off set the gains...of course MY LIGHTER WALLET will help the weight ratio some

 

[Scott]

With all the aftermarket pipe/can combos shaving so much weight, i think Poo could even shave at least 5 and still have a can that passes noise regulations.

I'm sure you must be familiar with the difference between the 2010 muffler and the 2011. They went with a pretty nice light exhaust on the Pro for 2011. They shaved a bunch off of it.


And if I remember right, folks last year weren't seeing any performance gains by adding aftermarket cans. I think some said they felt a LOSS of power.

I think I remember FBomb going BACK to his stock can.....is that right Rob?

 

[Pro-8250]

Logan,

For me... the chains have a time tested history of NOT breaking on Polaris sleds for the last 10 years.... of course, there are some that have... but the number is insignificant and mostly due to to poor maintenance or abuse.

The Brake on the driveshaft is just plain better from an overall safety perspective.... especially on a belt-system that would be brand new in the consumers hands.. plus expose Polaris Industries to a smaller liability consideration.

Yea... the headlight could be simplified a bit... but beam pattern or cost may be the tradeoff... But for sure, there is room there if they took it.





.

I agree. On all the Polaris sleds I have had over the years I have never had an issue with the chain. Why not go to a one head light hood?
I don't remember this being brought up, but is there a way to make the carbides lighter? Composite maybe???