2013 sleds
- Thread starter alwaysright
- Start date
indy_500
Well-known member
Looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Belts stretching, belts blowing, etc. etc. What was wrong with the chaincase? Isn't there a reason they've been using it since sleds were invented? Not saying it won't work, but I'll stick with my chaincase. Do I like new technology? Yes, but reliability must come first. Just my opinion... Could totally be wrong on this but just don't like how it looks. Can't tell me that belt is stronger than a chain.
I will take the belt drive any day. You ever see what happens when a chaincase explodes because of a broken chain? Nasty stuff and can be quite dangerous because most times it locks up the track solid. The Pro Rmk gets more appealing with every release!
G
G
Guest
Yami - BNG maybe with auto start. No Turbo. No Supercharger. No weight loss. Maybe power steering on the utility sled. Sign up now!!!!! And I'm a Yami guy. For the summer, anyway. P.S. What's the matter with belt drive? Crazy Mountain has been doing it for ten years.
Indy, timing belt drives have been around for years. Harley has had them on their bikes seems like forever. They are very dependable and much lighter, and probably stronger than the current chain drives of today. Have you ever been jumping or ditch banging and have your chain break because it had come loose? Happened to us out at Cooke City.....not fun changing a chain in the powder below Lulu pass, lol. The new compound timing belts do not stretch, hence no need for a tightener. It is a precision fit between the two pulleys. At my company we have been using timing belt drives on our paper converting machinery for years. And I will tell you this, there is way more torque applied to our paper machine belt drives than any snowmobile will ever produce. It is proven technology and along time coming to be offered from any of the OEM's.
mojo, I believe the Indy Lites did not use a chaincase back then. The secondary was mounted on the drive axle I think, could be wrong on that tho.
indy_500
Well-known member
Timing belts have nowhere near the constant change in speed and the stress put on them.
Simple concept & maybe a good idea but I would need to see a few years out in service before I would buy one regardless of who built the sled. That would make 2 spare belts to carry along. The way that system is designed, blown belt equals no brakes. That alone is a step backwards from placing the brakes on the drive axle.
Indy, do you think Polaris (or any of the other 3) would put something out before it's fully tested for durability? lol
raceinsnow
New member
Yes I do believe they do use us for testing,look at what is happening with arctic cat and what happened with the polaris 800 motor in 08- 10.
How about the drive belt on a supercharger for a top fuel drag car...
Do you carry a spare chain on your sled? The drive belt on your clutch is a much softer compound and not near as strong as a timing belt. No need for spares on this technology. Pound for pound the belt is much stronger and more forgiving to torque stressing than a chain that will stretch and become loose.
I was being sarcastic.
techsledder
Member
Indy, I'm not looking to start an internet fight with you. Really I'm just asking you to do some simple research and fact checking prior to making baseless "gut feel" claims on good technology that has been used in heavy machinery and production systems for many years with success. If you need more education on the synchronous belt drives out there a good place to start is at Gates.com & <cite>cptbelts.com</cite>. There are multiple use cases and white papers there that'll share factual engineering data and they'll show you the advantages of synchronous belts over the chain drive.
Last edited:
raceinsnow
New member
I like the idea of having a belt instead of a chain but if there is a problem with the belt or if it falls off I would like to have the break assembly on the drive shaft so I could stop.
No I do not, nor have I ever broken a chain. But the durability of the belt system will need to prove itself. The system looks simple & light. Only time will tell.
Things to think about:
How often do LH drive axle bearings fail? Now, how often do RH bearings fail? Perhaps the RH side lasts longer because there is oil seeping into & lubricating the bearing. No chaincase equals RH bearing failure will increase to the rate of the LH failures.
I ask the same question about the upper or jackshaft bearings. The LH one lasts a lot longer than the lower bearing, but they still fail more frequently than the one in the chain case. Again, no chaincase equals RH bearing failure will increase to the rate of the LH failures.
For years, the brake assy was on the jackshaft just inboard of the chain case. Cat moved theirs down onto the drive axle with the introduction of the ACT drive. With the reintroduction of the chaincase on the 2012s, the brake stayed on the drive axle. Bottom line, failure in the ACT drive or chaincase & you still have brakes. Truthfully, I have never had a failure, so I have never lost my brakes. But it can & does happen. Place the brakes on the drive axle & resolve this remote but possible issue.
As for weight, there is only so much you can remove. The rider still has weight, fuel still has weight. And without some weight, there will be no traction. Put a skinny guy and a fat guy on 2 identical machines and the skinny guy will have better top speed, no doubt. But for me (and I emphasize FOR ME), I want quiet, comfort and economy. I don't care about performance.
techsledder
Member
Also C3 powersports in Canada have a pretty highly acclaimed Synchronous belt system for aftermarket Doos and I think the IQ Poos. That system is used on many turbo'ed doo 1200cc machines with no problems that I have heard of. It's not a cheap kit thought. But a new gates belt they are selling isn't any more than today's currently priced OEM dirve belts. How much does it cost to replace a chain drive after a failure on a sled?
Also forgot CMX's system http://www.crazymtn.com/sifiso/pages/aftermrk.html
Also forgot CMX's system http://www.crazymtn.com/sifiso/pages/aftermrk.html
Last edited:
allen_shores
New member
We also use these belts(Gates Polychain) in the paper converting industry. They are almost indestructible. We had a 3" wide belt that a 1/2 x 2.5" bolt was dropped in between the belt and pulley. It popped the image of the bolt right out of the belt. As far as I know it is still running today. Were are talking like 4 or 5 years. This belt is driving a roll of paper board 70" in diameter 65" wide, accelerating, and braking with a 30 plus HP motor. There should be no problems with this belt drive system.