breaking 650 Kaw news
#11
You can't deny that belts fail fairly often on snowmobiles though. Everyone I know carries a spare belt with them on their snowmobile, and wouldn't even consider going for a ride without one.
That's not a problem with snowmobiles, because belts are so easy to change. On a quad it's not so easy, at least not with the systems that are currently available.
In theory using a belt has a lot of advantages, but they need to come up with a way to make it easy to change the belt, yet secure against water and dirt.
That's not a problem with snowmobiles, because belts are so easy to change. On a quad it's not so easy, at least not with the systems that are currently available.
In theory using a belt has a lot of advantages, but they need to come up with a way to make it easy to change the belt, yet secure against water and dirt.
#12
Tim1, you reminded me of the contests they used to have with snowmobiles in Kamloops, B.C.. There was a prize for the person that could ride their snowmobile the farthest up the North Thompson river. They would get a long running start on the sandbar when the water was low in the late summer. Many machines were pulled from the river without having gone far, but one year the guy that won went until he ran of of fuel! Now that belt was working!
#14
hiofcer, I hear your concern about belt drives. I was worried about them before I bought my Prairie in /97 too. They aren't perfect, but I talked to several people that had them, and was told that they were fairly reliable. So far mine has been fine. In fact, I took it in for the Prairie recall, and although mine had low mileage on it, the old belt looked like new. The newer quads have kept getting updated versions of the belt drives. There are so many different designs out there now that they should know how to make them reliable. I'm assuming that the Polaris you had was an old version, although I know that "once bitten, twice shy"---BUT--- the new Polaris's have a "lifetime" warranty on their belts, so they must have confidence in their transmission's design. I read an article on the Arctic Cat transmission, and it sounds like it doesn't put much strain on the belt at all. As far as Kawasakis go, the original Prairie design was apparently similar to their successful Mule belt drive system which had been out for many years. In /99 Kawasaki improved the drive on the Prairies. The only problem with the Kevlar belt they were using was that if it did break, it was so tough that the pieces could lodge in the drive mechanism and lock up the transmission, which was potentially dangerous. I asked the dealer here how many belts he had heard of failing, and he said virtually none. (Hopefully he is honest). He told me that one had broken on a Prairie in the States and that the person got hurt when he went over the handlebars---a freak accident---but that Kawasaki didn't want any lawsuites so they recalled the belts and changed the material. I sure hope they built the system on the 650 for very long life. If they are a weak spot on the machine, they won't sell many, and I'm sure that Kawasaki is well aware of that.
Since all makes of ATVs have belt drive systems (except Honda), why not ask on the other forums how many people have had problems with their belts or transmissions on /99 or newer machines? Mention that you are asking the same question on all qualified forums (so that no one gets their nose out of joint). I'd be interested in the response too. I'm guessing that there aren't too many, and I can't believe what some guys put their expensive ATV's through! I'm too cheap to abuse mine, so the belt should last a long time! If it does fail, it should be a lot cheaper than repairing a geared transmission, and in the meantime it is a lot more enjoyable than having to shift gears as far as I'm concerned, so I'll take my chances.
Since all makes of ATVs have belt drive systems (except Honda), why not ask on the other forums how many people have had problems with their belts or transmissions on /99 or newer machines? Mention that you are asking the same question on all qualified forums (so that no one gets their nose out of joint). I'd be interested in the response too. I'm guessing that there aren't too many, and I can't believe what some guys put their expensive ATV's through! I'm too cheap to abuse mine, so the belt should last a long time! If it does fail, it should be a lot cheaper than repairing a geared transmission, and in the meantime it is a lot more enjoyable than having to shift gears as far as I'm concerned, so I'll take my chances.
#15
If these sled belts are so superior, why didn't they use them to begin with? I have nothing but trouble with my Prairie. When I had a Scrambler it was a major pain, too. What brand name are these belts and can they be fitted on my wheeler? The last one that came off my Prairie was made by Mitsubishi.
#17
#19
if anyone is burning up belts in anything ATV or sled then there is a problem with driver error or the machine needs to be serviced. it is pretty much that simple. Using low range is a real thing don't use it burn belts. Yeah I carry an extra belt on my sled and in all my years of sledding only burned one once on my 1987 Yamaha Exciter , never have on my Polaris Indy's.
#20
Snowmobiles are harder on belts than the Kawasaki 650 will be. The mountain sleds develop over 100 hp that more than twice the HP rating for the Prairie. Mountain sleds are harder on belts than flat lander sleds.
Hopefully Kawasaki will learn something from Polaris & offer a lifetime warrenty on their belts.
Hopefully Kawasaki will learn something from Polaris & offer a lifetime warrenty on their belts.