Just wanted to relay something that happened this weekend. My dad's Prairie 650 (w/ about 70 miles and 10 hours) has some problem with the belt drive or something.

He was starting it up on Sunday morning and as he was trying to start it, after turning over and puttering then stalling a few times, the machine made a Hard clunk noise from the drive belt enclosure right as it stalled. The display immediately went out and began quickly blink along w/ the reverse and neutral lights. He got it started and idling, but a belt drive failure/protection fuse/switch seems to have tripped. It starts and drives around fine, no sign of a belt problem but the engines rev limiter (like it does in reverse when the override switch is not pressed)seems to be on in every gear, H-L-N and Reverse. It studders when giving it gas but idles fine. It just came back from the first dealer service a week ago and he is severly disappointed in it.

I think the belt may have 'jumped' or had a little too much play in it or something and it tripped the failure/protection switch. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem? or does anyone know of anyone else has had this happen to?

I hope it's an easy fix...hate to see him disappointed in this machine. My 650 (purchased and serviced at the same time) is running great w 155 miles and 15 hours. Other than burying it in the mud twice, which I think the machine should have made it through, I have no doubts about its capabilities. It is one BAD *** ATV...

Parker

 

It sounds like your switch is flipped. The machine goes into a mode like your describing, it limits rpms. All you have to do is take off the belt cover and flip the switch to on and check your belt while your in there.

 

You need to remove the belt drive cover and inspect the drive system. You can have the Dealer do it if you think he knows the Prairie 650 systems well enough. If the belt drive needs adjusted, it is a warranty issue. To remove the cover, all you have to do is unplug two connectors and remove the bolts. Follow the instructions in the service manual for belt deflection inspection and on reseting the switch if everything checks OK. It almost sounds as if you had a foreign object caught in the system?

 

If the switch in the belt cover housing is switched back, will the blinking lights on the dash stop blinking?

 

Is it an easy job to open up the housing or is it a mess inside? How do you reset the switch???

Parker

 

It's easy to do, just remove the bolts and disconnect the switch for the sensor. When you get the cover off just flip the switch back over to on, it's marked on and off right on the switch.

 

If BFD switch still gets tripped, when belt is good...
Folks, BFD stands for something else here. Belt Failure Detection!
Have your dealer install a "slipper kit" which will prevent false activation of the switch. Or you can make one and glue or rivet it inside the CVT housing, about 1/2" behind the switch. Now, is this info BFD?!

 

Samething happend to one of my buddys. There is a sensor just above the belt and when the belt is loose and it hits the sensor it will do exactly what you discribed. It only took the local dealer less then 5 minutes to reset it. Has ran perfect ever sense.