My dealer told me when i purchased my prairie to ride in low when below 20mph to save the belt. I read somewhere on here to use high if above 10mph. I want to prolong the life of my belt. I usually ride between 10 and 30 mph on the trails. I use low when climbing rocks and going down steep hills, other than that it's in high. I like the torque of the low but don't want to wear out my belt prematurely. What's the real deal here? I also read that low is more for steep hills and towing and what not, carrying loads. When trailriding to you guys generally stay i high?? I don't want to constantly stop to switch from low to high if i hit a straight want to "juice" it.

Thanks in advance.

 

If your quad has the "EBC" (Engine Brake Control) you don't need low gear when traversing downhill, only when pulling or towing. Even if you dont have the EBC, and you're in low gear, the engine's rpm shouldn't go above 4,000 rpm. Your dealer is full of crap when he told you to use low gear below 20mph to save the belt. Sounds like he wants you to tear up your engine so you'll have to bring it back in for service. It doesnt matter, Keep your gear in high all the time untill you actually need low gear. Low is only for torque. When trail riding a new quad, keep your speed under 20 mph for the 1st 50 miles (break-in period), then under 35mph for another 25 miles. Then you can give her hell! The break-in period is crucial to the quad. Belt wear on the other hand is contributed to daily wear such as towing and top speed. The faster you go and the more you tow or pull, the faster the belt shims wear.

 

I have the '07 36 Prarie and I've burnt one belt doing some towing. Anything over 12 kilometres per hour (approx 8 mph) makes your engine scream while in low gear...I can't imagine getting anywhere near 20 mph without needlessly red lining you machine...so no you can't use it up to 20 mph in low. That being said when you are on decent trails that you can use high range, every time you come to a ditch that you have to slowly drop your wheels into and then lug out of it, if this is done in hi range you'll slip the belt and possibly burn it. I drove into a hunt camp this fall and for two hours I was constantly having to speed up and then drop to zero so that I could get by the next culvert washout. You cannot go so slow into a short hole that when you try to lift out of the other side of the short hole the belt will definitly do double duty slipping away as it tries to pull out of the hole while in hi range. Use low everytime you have to lug out of a steep bump when you have no speed.

 

Well harry1, I have the 650cc 03 model and I'm here to tell ya the my 650 Prarie goes up to 15 mph in 1st gear. I never use it except when I'm traversing downhill or climbing a steep hill with a load exceeding 1500 lbs. Other that that, I'm always in high. Even going slow or fast into a 3 foot mudhole or coming out of it I'm in high gear. My quad already has 38 pds. of tourqe just in high. So. maybe the 362cc Prarie differs in gear range than the 650cc prarie. I don't know, it My high mileage may contribute to the higher rang gear box, I'm not quite sure. I do know that I never use low til about 2000mi. or so on my 650cc. I have 5k on it now.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: quadzilla420
Well harry1, I have the 650cc 03 model and I'm here to tell ya the my 650 Prarie goes up to 15 mph in 1st gear. .</end quote></div>


All well and good about the 650 but the question pertained to a 360 as stated in the subject line.
At approx 15 kph or approx 11 mph the 360 is spinning like it's hell bent on self destruction. Your's is a different beast to say the least.

 

um whats low ???..lol.if you keep your belt tight u shud have no proplems i got 3500 miles on my first belt ...the the belt when set right sud sqeel a bit at idile in gear

 

well i agree with your dealer but id say only use low at 12-15 mph. It sounds like you are using low at the right time now. I use it going consitantly slow on trails, tough trails, rocks, mud, pulling, pushing, etc. Go over to www.nyrocatv.com and under the tech tips section, under prairie(same cvt as the 650and etc) and it will tell you how to check, adjust, and maintain your belt. It will also tell you to use your low gear as much as possible. By the way, using low on trails wont burn your motor up, its meant to do it.

 

i agree with those here who say use it when needed. stay high...

When slowly climbing or downhill, coming out of mud or pulling something, otherwise, let it rip...

two years old and still the original belt....

best of luck and fun...