I'm wondering if any one manufacturer makes a CVT that is designed to last longer than the others.

My Prarie-400's CVT has 3500 miles on it and when I opened the cover to see what the nocking noise was I found that every item that could be replaced on the drive pulley needs to be replaced.
The driven pulley is more concealed so I didn't pull it to see how things were in there.

Do all CVT's go to pot when the get high miles on them?
Are the cvt's like carberators were one or two manufactures makes them for every one? or are they brand specific?

Do the yamaha, polaris, suzuki, artic cat or bombardier auto systems last longer mile wise than the kawasaki's?

I still like my ride, it still runs great and was running great before I got curious to what the noise was?
I'm just wondering if any other manufacturer makes one that doesn't wear out as fast as mine did.

 

So No one want to venture a guess on who's cvt will last the longest?

This could way very heavily on the decision of what quad to buy next, that is if longevity is a deciding factor.

 

Well from what my dealer has been seeing the suzuki cvt system seems to be much better than Kawi's. The suzuki system has an internal mechanism,(within the engine) that keeps tension on the belt always, no slipping. They are finding that when they check a new vinson with 3000 kliks+ , no problems and the belt still looks mint. The kawi's seem to need a new belt every 750 kliks.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] IT could have something to doo with all the power being unleashed by the mighty Vtwin[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
A buddy who has a SP500HO has a lifetime warranty from polaris for belts.An aftermarket belt for polaris is like only 27 bucks. The kawi belt from the dealer is 150[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img] I hope that there is an aftermarket alternative available soon when the time is needed

 

my Kodiak has constant belt tention too. i hope it lasts forever (the belt) because i hear the kodiak belt's are very expensive (cdn)

 

Permafrost, So Suzuki's cvt is better than Kawasaki's, I wonder if they will ever trade ideas between the two manufacturers now that they merged. Has your friend with the 500HO put enough miles on it yet to need any belt maintenance?

Rincon, I would be real interested to see the insides of a Kodiak or Grizzly cvt after 3500 miles, there is a guy on my deer lease with over 5800 miles on his grizzly 600 that has never removed his cvt cover, but boy it sure sounds like he needs to. His quad has more noise coming from the engine/cvt than his exhaust.

 

That would be nice Dave if they shared all the goodies, i think we can expect some potent new weapons from these 2 manufacturers soon[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]. My bud with the 500 HO has had no problems with his belt, other than when he buried it in the swamp this spring and had to ride with a wet dirty belt, which in turn wrecked it. He has over 1500 miles and the dealer replaced it for free

 

Being that Suzuki makes engines for Arctic Cat, I wonder if Arctic Cat clutches are used on the Suzuki quads. Artic Cat and Polaris clutches use the Comet design. The Cat clutches can use Comet tuning components. They, however, are made of a better grade of aluminum and are more durable.

I spray on Comet clutch lube on the bushing areas of the my clutches. It is a dry lubricant that does not cause dirt to stick. Using compressed air to remove dirt from the clutches will keep them from wearing as fast.