I have a 2004 prairie 700 with about 55 hours on it and I just had to have the belt replaced. I have not rode it very hard or in any mud. I usually ride in high range. I noticed a strange knocking noise coming from the belt housing and it would jerk when you took off on it especially at slow speeds. I took it to the dealer thinking that it would be fixed under warranty but they said the warranty did not cover the belt. Is this true? I always thought a warranty covered everything especially in the beginning. They told me it looked like the belt had been put in a bind at some time or another. I have really taken it easy on the 4-wheeler. Has anyone else had this problem and is it true that the belt is not covered under warranty?

 

Kawasaki has a way of slipping out of it;s warranty obligations my friend. Change your belt to a dayco HP2017, and move on. I hope you did not buy the extended warranty?

 

I have heard good and bad things about the dayco so i just bought a oem belt for 60.00 even. I didn't wanna install no junk parts on my atv. You may just need to re-adjust your belt j-dog. Pull the cvt cover off and take a look at the belt and the slack in the belt.
Or you can take it to the dealer and tell them to inspect it for free. I would pay for nothing unless your warranty doesn't cover it. But i would push it to get it fixed for free.

 

the warranty does not cover wearable items or "maintenance items" which is what I am sure they consider the belt.
So unless it was somehow assembled wrong or did not have the correct adjustment in the begining the factory wouldn't cover..........that said I am not sure what average belt life is but I would put up a stink about it.... I would think it is there burden of proof that the machine was abused.......If you get nowhere with the dealer call kawasaki customer service if it is worth the hassle to you.

 

Jdog, smoked the belt on my Prairie at about the same hours. I have a problem with the parking brake engaging when I'm on the brakes hard going down steep hills. I think I might have gotten the brake locked on while trying to go up a steep grade. Anyway, I've read other places it helps if you use low range while going slow (under 30) and on hills.

For those looking at Prairie 700s (saw several posts, can't respond to all) know that besides this belt issue, which is starting to look common, mine had serious overheating problems right out of the box and is the second one from my small dealership to have these issues....