I seen the pics here of the belt issues and it just got me thinking about my two Sportsman 450's (2006).
I have over 2600 miles on mine and never did have the Belt cover off yet!!
Never had a slippage issue or needed to drain water out of the RED plug...
Now my question is should I break the factory seal on the gasket just to check for damage or wear?

My guess is Yes!!!
But I really don't want to break the seal...
Will it be water tight again?I think someone said it was rubber not a gasket material...Correct.......Thanks......Caper........ .

 

Good pts. Caper! I never checked mine either whether it be the SP450 or my new 800. Of course I
don't have that mileage yet on both but I have been thru think mud and water etc. I am curious
to know what if? Question though, why doesn't these clutch belt covers water proof? Unless it needs
air pressure to escape?

R'

 

What is your question again?........Caper........

 

Remember, they have an air duct at the top.

You can take the cover off, and if you don't feel comfortable with the gasket, you can use a sealer. (like Permatex)

Changed the belt on my old boss when I put a new primary in it. Don't think it needed it, but I was there. No real signs of wear, kind of a black dusting on the sheaves. I'd call it normal wear.

My nephews scrammy had the belt shred. Can't really say why. I'd lean toward his own negligence, but then at the time, I hadn't done anything to mine, and it was older.

Guess it's kinda like a fan belt. You never know when it's gonna break.

(great, just set myself up for that to happen)

 

Yes I know I should check it...........I bet there are many Polaris ATV's out there older with more miles and never had the belt cover off yet...
I have the Polaris Factory Manual for them also .......With my Sleds I changed the drive Belt every Year and saved the old one for a spare on the trail.......
I guess I should buy two just to have them.........Caper...........


It would be intresting to see the oldest/ most miles Polaris atv that still never had the cover off yet......

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: RticKwad

Good pts. Caper! I never checked mine either whether it be the SP450 or my new 800. Of course I

don't have that mileage yet on both but I have been thru think mud and water etc. I am curious

to know what if? Question though, why doesn't these clutch belt covers water proof? Unless it needs

air pressure to escape?



R'</end quote></div>


They have two tubes one for air intake one for exhaust for cooling of the belt housing.This Video explains it good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...V_1-XI&feature=channel

caperinmuskoka

You do not have to change the seal if the belt turns out to still be fine. Just put the cover back on but change those cheap plastic ties at the tube with steel hose clamps when you put it together.

 

We do run deep water up over the cover up to the base of the seat quite often on our trail system ...
Do you know if it should seal back up tight......Or will it be a trial and error thing?.....Caper..........

 

The two belt intakes are high up front, by the air box intake. if your that deep to let water enter the belt housing intakes then the air box is taking water also. Its a matter of what happens first ,the belt gets wet or the carb or throttle body sucks in water, drowning the motor.

 

Just worried about the cover not the intakes or air box................Seen many of the older ones take in water and then belt sllipage........
My co-workers 1998 SP500 has been rubbin the cover and worn a hole in it........I told him the clutch needs service and the buttons are worn to where the drive clutch at low idle rubs......Then when he give it a little throttle the clutch moves in and the rubbin stops.........Caper

 

If the belt housing is installed right and the tube hose clamp is tight then the only possible way for the belt to get wet is through the intakes that are mouned high. If a belt housing has a hole in it, then he should get a replacement.