You guys were right and replacing the belt fixed the "stutter" and everything has been great....until this weekend. I tried to drive up on a rotted log and smoked the belt before the front wheels even engaged. My first thought was my fat butt was the problem but then thought these things push snow. I do ride slowly and sometimes ride hours not exceeding 10mph. There was a little play in the clutch when I changed the belt. Do you think perhaps the clutch is not working properly and causing the burn? Is the clutch sold as a unit or is there parts that I should be looking at?
Any other suggestions besides buying a machine w/o CVT?
Thanks

 

Sounds like your 4x4 system is not working correctly . Your front wheels should of engaged as soon as your back wheels started to spin ( slip ) .

 

Were you in Low range? If not, being in High range at 10 mph or below is just as likely a culprit. It would do exactly what you're talking about. The gearing wouldn't get the back tires spinning because of the torque needed to get over the log. It would probably "smoke the belt" before the rear wheels got enough spin going to get the front to lock up. The belt would be taking all the torque and could fail especially if you were driving around at 10 mph in High and going up hills or over obstacles still in high. Just my own thought.

 

Thanks!

I don't beleive my back wheels ever spun.

So you think I should be in low range at slow speeds? Ever since the low range made me slide going down a long loose hill I have been reluctant to use it too often.

 

Using low range when you are going slow is the best way to prolong belt life. Part of it is that the transmission is taking the load and not the belt. Also, it spins faster so cools better. One of the tricks if you just have the rear EBS system is to put it in low AWD and give it a little bit of gas if you get sliding. The ADC system is tons better in the newer Polaris machines.