Bought a used 425 Magnum and have seen posts about using high range too much. They say follow instructions in owner's manual, or you will destroy belts quickly. I did not get an owner's manual, so could anyone tell what it says on the subject?

Thanks for info,
Carl

[This message has been edited by SCinc2 (edited 11-29-1999).]

ANY pulling,pushing,towing,or hill climbing,regardless of weight, should allways be done in LOW gear.As a general rule of thumb,if in doubt,use low.I made the mistake of thinking my big 500cc engine could handle any task I thru at it.No problem with the engine,but I did burn up some belts.Now,I know,and belt life is no longer an issue with me.GOOD LUCK------BILL

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SC,

General trail riding up to 15MPH, towing, and things like hill climbing, use low range. Have fun!

On the smaller machines High /low is not such a big thing ,I rarely put my 300 in low and it is a 94 with 5300 miles on it and has never had a belt replaced. The bigger more powerful machines are another story ,use low any time you get into a situation where you feel the Transmission "Stall" the instant it stalls go to low or you risk belt damage. Bill said it well when in doubt use low range.

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Kevin Gowdy aka Kagey 1999 Polaris Magnum 500

Thanks for the info guys, that all makes good since and shouldn't be difficult to follow. Hopefully, I can keep from causing myself problems.

Carl

As Jack Schultz mentioned in another thread, most of the belt problems from stress in high range have cropped up since the introduction of EBS. I will say though, I burned a belt on my ’97 Sportsman (no EBS) by trying to pull a dead Yamaha out of the mud in high range. Totally my fault, I thought he was in gear and trying to drive out when I was pulling. There was something about him not being able to start his machine or get it in gear with the foot shifter buried in the mud so I was pulling dead, stuck weight and didn’t know it. I don’t remember. It was at night and a little confusing but either way I should have been in low. I got him out of the hole though! My wife put over 2000 miles on her 425 Mag before we traded it and it never had a belt problem.

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FloodRunner, on the Wisconsin River

Thanks, FloodRunner, your info is very helpful. Its sounds like my machine may not be too sensitive to belt problems, since it does not have EBS. I was about to decide I was going to have to stay in low range to go anywhere, but from your post and all the others too, all I have to do is follow some good 4 wheeling sense and get in low when it gets a little tough. Thanks

Carl

My rule of thumb, If I ride at 10 mph or more consistently I use high range. Conversely if riding below 10 mph consistently I use low range. As mentioned in previous posts going up steep hills or going through mud needs low range. If in doubt use low range.

Good luck
Dave Formstone
SP500 EBS