I have a 2011 Polaris HD. This is my second one since 05. I am sold on Polaris but I have a trust issue with the belt system. I duck hunt and I often drive to the blind in app 18-24 inches of water. My 2011 began to slip and jerk so I knew that the belt had gotten wet so now I don't trust it to go back out into the water. I have since been on a Honda sxs-4 which is shaft driven. It performed great and I love the four seat /bed design. My problem is that I am going to update my UTV and I would really like the Honda but the Polaris has the ride and more power. What too do???

 

The only thing I hate about the Honda over any other brand is the 38hp 680 with a 3speed ,not even sure it has a low range but if may for this year.

The only way a belt gets wet is if the belt Housing has a leak (easy fix)or you went over in water depth of the Air intakes which are mounted rather high then you just drain the belt and it dries out rather quick.

99.5% of all 4x4 ATVs and UTV are all Belt drive.
Any 4x4 over 40hp are 100% all CVT belt Drive.
If anything I would look the new Wolverine Yamaha 708cc DOHC coming out that's replacing the old 686 47hp Viking.

Here is the specs of it. http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/en...cleCode=451014 I,m guessing the thing has to be in the 55+hp range.
Unlike Polaris ,Yamaha Belt Housing do not spring leaks.

 

Depending on how deep you went into the water, the problem could be as simple as the belt housing cover needing resealed.

The plus side of getting a belt wet is you can dry it out.

Get a shaft drive and the seal leaks, you might not get out as cheaply.

 

I took my belt housing apart and put some tacky grease in the seal area. Do you think that is the best technique or should I have used silicone? I'm scared to try it since I have done that so
I'm not sure that it even works. I wasn't deep enough to get water into the air intake for the belt, I was only about ankle deep in the floor of the Ranger. I haven't changed the tires or anything it is still stock.

 

If its not your cover seal #11 its common on Polaris ( only) for the seal #14 behind the drive clutch to wear out. I had to do mine 2 years ago.

 

Almost forgot to add my opinion.

No, that dress doesn't make you look fat.












Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

Thanks for the information I'm leaning towards the Polaris but I'll keep doing some research.

 

you can always raise the CVT intake if that's where the water is entering from.

Edit: sorry, just saw post #4. In that case I'd look for a faulty seal. Some of the newer machines have upgraded CVT boxes so it may not be a bad idea to compare parts from yours to a new ranger to see if any water tightening updates were made.

 

I'll look into that. This is the first of three Polaris atv/utv that I have ever had a problem with water getting to the belt. It could be a bad part or not installed properly. Thanks for your help and I will probably be asking some more questions once I get close to making a decision.