I am seriously considering purchasing a Prarie 650. I found a ATV rental place that rents Praire's and I picked it up yesterday and returned it today. I thought it had a fabulous engine, felt like a sport ATV in a Utility package and was very impressed except for one thing - the belt whined and squealed so bad it way too bothersome.
It went up hills unlike anything else I've ridden, but coming downhills even in low range it would start slow but then pick up speed an almost free wheel and really go.
Is this a common thing or is a bad belt or misadjusted? If it is a bad belt or midadjusted how much work is it to keep it correct?
Just in case your wondering - I own a Rincon and we raced them and it didn't matter who rode what, the Prarie is faster, by several bike lengths.

 

The Prairie's belt normally "sings" but not really a whine, kinda like the sound a bus makes pulling out.

If it was a constant squeal from the CVT box then the belt was probably glazed or way too loose. If it "squawked" when you pulled out the most likely the deflecton was too great and it needed re-shimmed.

Most people report that their belt deflection was too great from the factory and once adjusted properly it lasts a long time. Mine has just now started the "squawk" and I'm debating on fixing it myself or paying a dealer to do it.

 

A whining noise from the transmission is normal. The squealing and engine braking not holding properly indicates a very loose and and probably smoked belt. Many of the 650's came from the factory with the belt too loose, combined with this machine being a rental unit, it's very hard on the belt. P.S. - post the results of your races on the Honda forum and watch the flames start to rise!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

4 wheel rider
The rental unit needs some belt work, even so it was the baddest thing you ever rode. Typical problem with 650's, i bought a belt last spring and someday i will replace it , but i figure it squeals a little but works great ,well maybe before winter comes yeah right! been saying that all summer. When new the belt sound like wooo weeeee im freeee im frreee .
hey nova kaw i was in NS this summer , rode at( watch spelling )panuke lake , hants co.part of halifax co. old stomping grounds, where do you ride.
Raymond

 

I use to own a Prairie 650, and all the advice the guy's have given about the belt "Squawk" is true. As far as the "Free Wheeling" down hill, something to consider is whether you where completely off the throttle or not. Surprisingly, it has better engine breaking if you give it just a little bit of throttle, especially while in low range. I'm not for sure what causes this, and I'm sure someone else on the Forum can explain it better than me, since I haven't ridden it in a few months. My Prairie 650 seamed like if you let off the gas completely while in low range on a very steep hill, that it would try to free wheel more, but when I gave it a little bit of throttle, the clutch would engage to the engine properly and really provide GREAT engine breaking. It must be that when you are completely off the throttle, the clutch is trying to disengage like when you are setting at idle, but when you give it just a little bit of gas, the thing will literally just crawl down the steepest inclines. Hopefully this makes since, and maybe someone else can explain this better. Glad to here that it beats the Rincon in a drag race, I think the Rincon could have been better.

 

When my belt becomes very slack and glazed, the engine braking gets very marginal. The engine braking actuator can't develop enough pressure on the drive clutch to keep a loose, glazed belt from slipping. Roscoe69, my riding area is about 1 hour southwest of Halifax starting from the Bridgewater area. If you know your way around you can ride probably 100 miles in any direction.

 

3TV, you described it a little better than I did. Mine would never truly free wheel, but as you stated, it would pick up a little momentum when going down very steep hills while off throttle. But I noticed that if I would give it just the slightest amount of throttle in those situations, it would have better engine breaking. I'm not for sure why?

 

MuddHound
Where @ in Grundy, Maybe we can get together and ride. We usually ride Westfork.

 

Flea, I'm from right below Grundy.

I've never ridden Westfork before. What's it like and where's it at?

I usually ride 6 & 20 Mile Branch or Harman (and everything that ties into them) I occasionally ride 618 too. I'm up to going about anywhere as long as its worth the trip and the crew is cool.

Some guys down this way are trying to work out a 100+ mile ride I'll let you in on it when I get details. Best I've done is about 80 in a day.

 

I am actually looking into the Prairie 650 and the Kodiak 450. I noticed that you have both. What would your recommendation be? Thanks for replying