A co-worker wants to get rid of his 2007 polaris hawkeye 2X4 (with an extra set of tire and wheels 25") for $3000.00.

How strong is the CVT transmission?

how strong is the rancher 420TM (5 speed with reverse) transmission?

what about the yamaha/kawi/suzuki transmissions?

I know nothing about the different type of atv transmissions.

i would appreciate all the help that i can get.

decisions like this is hard for me, it was easy making the decision on my rincon, i got an excellent deal on it.

i don't mean to burden everyone with all the sudden questions, but help is needed and appreciated.

God Bless!!

dcc

 

Polaris, Can-Am, Kawasaki, all use a tranny that 'slips' the belt at idle, meaning that belt tension is slackened off at idle. They are very similar to snowmobile transmissions. Yamaha, Suzuki, Arctic Cat all use a type of tranny that keeps the belt under constant tension at all times. Generally most ppl say the Yamaha/Suzuki/Arctic Cat type is the best, and prolongs the life of the belt compared to óther designs, requiring less maintenance and adjustment. However with proper maintenance the others shouldn't have much trouble, provided the quad is used appropriately and low range is used when the going gets tough. My buddy had a Twin Peaks 700 which was basically a Kawasaki Prairie 700, sold it recently with over 5000km's (yes I'm from Canada, not sure how many miles that is...) and only changed the belt once. And it didn't really need a new one that badly.

I think (not sure, some-one correct me if I am wrong) that Polaris has a lifetime waranty on their tranny belts.

The Honda Rancher 420 uses a manual transmission. It is like a motorcycle or dirt bike, it doesn't use a belt. It uses gears, so you have to manually change gears by way of foot shifter or electric shifter (if that model has that feature). I haven't heard of or seen any Ranchers with any unusual transmission problems. The automatic belt quads (at least the Kawasaki tranny) change the gearing for you, by way of narrowing or widening the pulley at the engine drive. Narrowing it stretches the belt out, raising the drive ratio and vice versa with widening it. It makes the gearing constantly variable, within the maximum and minimum limits of that particular transmission.

The Honda Rincon on the other hand uses an automotive style automatic transmission. It is automatic, and doesn't use a belt, but it has 3 gears that it shifts between. But I am sure you know that.

Keep in mind I don't believe the Polaris Hawkeye has a low range, don't know if thats important to you.

Sorry this is so long, and hope this helps you out somewhat. And I am by no means an expert, so don't take what I say as such.

Any other questions, feel free to ask!

-Krait

 

The hawkeye's cvt is just like a yammi with the belt under constant tension. Its geared low ontop fo that.

 

When the CVT sheaves come together it doesn't "stretch" the belt. It just pulls the belt higher on the drive pulley and lower on the driven pully.

 

Yes thanks for that Jumbofrank, I didn't mean to say stretch. Was just typing and not thinking it all the way thru...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

Do you know if the Hawkeye's tranny is under constant tension like Mcderry said? I thought it was like most other Polaris', could be I'm wrong. I wonder that Polaris would use a different design for the Hawkeye tho.

-Krait

 

I do that all the time Krait. I knew what you meant but didn't want anyone else to get confused. From what they're saying on the Polaris forum all the Hawkeyes, Sportsman 300s and 400s do have the belt under constant tension. The guys are saying that they're geared a little lower so they've eliminated the low range. No need to switch between high and low and they all say it works great. It sounds really sweet and maybe Polaris will make all the automatics that way.

 

Yeah I've been perusing other forums and it does seem that the Hawkeye does use a different tranny, keeps the belt under constant tension. Also most ppl seem satisfied with the gearing, saying it doesn't need low range. However I wonder how the 300cc Hawkeye does for power.

The 400, on the other hand, is actually a 455cc, and since the older Sportman 450 used it and had adequate power in a much larger & heavier chassis, I would think the new smaller version would be plenty fine power-wise.

-Krait