Belt life question?

[snow_monkey]

In the past I have changed my belts seasonally. This is the first time I let a belt stay on a sled for any length of time. The belt has been on my indy 500 for the last 5 years and I have put about 1,000 miles on the sled in that time. I would assume the rubber deteriorates regardless if the belt is being used or not. She started to smell like burnin bannana peels on the the last ride in the deep and soon as conditions improved it went away. Belt looks ok but I think the rubber is getting hard and time to replace.

 

[indy_500]

There's sleds out there with a lot more miles on belts than you think. 7000 on the original belt on my 99 indy 500. 8000 on the original belt on my 93 indy trail. Granted, these are smaller engine sleds. The bigger the motor, the harder on belts, typically.

 

[catalac]

Yeah, I had a 99 ZL 600 for quite a few years and never changed the belt. The snopro 600 I have now has the original belt also.
Unless you are very hard on the throttle all the time, or your sled is froze to the ground or trailer, then belts will last alot longer than they used too. Thats why I carry a spare. I just wait till she goes.

 

[Dave_B]

On my last two sleds, I think I got about 2,800 miles on each of them.

 

[lvr1000]

Yeah, I had a 99 ZL 600 for quite a few years and never changed the belt. The snopro 600 I have now has the original belt also.
Unless you are very hard on the throttle all the time, or your sled is froze to the ground or trailer, then belts will last alot longer than they used too. Thats why I carry a spare. I just wait till she goes.

last belt i had blow cost me close to $400, $150 belt, $220 for the side panel it took out, and $26 for the reverse sensor it destroyed (behind its metal guard) ,hearing that turbo screaming before the belt blew,priceless. later ţhat day i broke the helix in the primary, had to buy a new clutch, no parts and 2 more days to ride. now I carry a spare clutch