I was towing a lightweight trailer with 5 solid-wood boards up the hill to my cabin. I had to stop at a steep place because the wheels started to spin and dig in. After I fixed the problem by stuffing rocks under the wheels I tried to continue to go uphill when I once recognized that white smoke came from the engine and it smelled like burned rubber. Just a few Mls later (on a flat and paved road without trailering), the belt has been torn apart. Its an almost new machine, and I really didnt work hard with it. That was the first time towing a trailer with a weight of approx. 700 pounds.

Is that normal at a Polaris? Or what did I wrong? The trailer was not too heavy and I did not tow more than 70% of the total towing capacity of my SP500 HO.


Rgds Martin

 

Did you tow it in low, as recomended?

 

Yes, I tow always in low.

The steepness (is that the right word, sorry) of the gravelroad is approx. 30%.

No problem at all for my 4X4 truck. I just prefer to pull with the ATV because of the narrow and windy serpentines which are much too small to go around with my truck without going forward and reverse two times in the curves. Know what I mean?


Martin

 

I think the steepness was to great. The owner manual says not to tow more than a certain grade. I think 30% is to high. That is probably your problem. I have not towed anything with mine yet but I will soon. I hope I don’t have a belt problem.

 

Svalbard11,
This on is a puzzler, I know I personally have drug (not towed) close to 1000lbs up steep grades, and as of yet (touch wood) not smoked the belt. My sportsman is quite old (97). I am wondering if it is possible if you primary and secondary clutches are not aligned properly? Just throwing out ideas.....

 

maintaining a constant foward speed is the key. stop,go,stop,go will only leed to trouble. creeping barely engages the clutch which will leed to burning the belt to.
i've NEVER had a problem towing heavy loads with my SP500. in fact, i pull logs 2000 feet uphill to flat ground and the only thing i notice is the cooling fan cycling. i haven't tried heavy loads behind the 700 yet.
(use that free belt warranty now!)LOL
-MT

 

I have a 2002 sportsman 500ho and have twice towed quad's and rider 4-5 miles to check points or finish lines at poker runs. This has been all types of terrain, hills ,mud and rocks. I use low range and never go over 10-12 miles per hour. I have over 500 miles on the quad and the only time I have had the belt smoke was trying to go over large trees in high range.The belt still works fine. You just might have had a bad belt or as somebody else said might have clutch problems(I had a 335 sportsman and had a clutch go bad at 700 miles)

 

My money says you had it in high by mistake.

 

Smile....

Heh man, you are in Texas and have probably no idea what kinda mountains we have over here. No chance to go in high, even not without a trailer. Tell your money, GRIN

Martin

 

Was it turning the break in period? That did a belt in for me.