Let's start with a question: How long are CVT belts actually supposed to last?
Depending on who you ask, the answer you'll receive may be a couple hundred miles or a few thousand. Either way, there is certainly something wrong if you're going through 3 or 4 belts in a weekend. So, why is there always that one guy who seems to spend half his time at the dunes swapping out belts?
How is he able to so consistently shred those costly strips of rubber, tensile cord, and adhesion gum that channel horsepower to the ground? How does he outsmart the collective minds that engineered these belts to perform under extreme heat and through hours of heavy use by destroying a belt in only a few hours?
Let's find out how by looking at these 3 easy ways to absolutely destroy your belt:
Never Consider Clutching Calibration - After adding modifications to your UTV, like larger tires, heavier rims, or bolt-on additions - don't worry about clutch performance. It's not like changes in horsepower or additional weight will alter clutch performance and result in an excess load for your belt at a much higher temperature. Oh, wait...
Always Run Your Machine In High Range - Just remember, if you want to shorten the life of your belt as quickly as possible - never ride in low range. Operating your machine in high range at low speeds or in extreme conditions will result in belt slippage and greatly decrease the life of your belt.
Allow Your Belt To Cool Down? No Way! - It's a simple concept: when it's heat vs. rubber, rubber loses. Regularly expose your belt to heavy loads and high temperatures for hours on end without stopping, and you'll toast your belt in no time. Another great way to cook your belt is to shut off your engine right after ripping up a dune and let those hot clutches clamp down and sear your belt.
While this is far from a complete list of ways that you can quickly destroy your UTV's belt, it is a brief look into the wide range of factors that can shorten (or lengthen) belt life. Driver tendencies, vehicle mods, and regular maintenance steps all play a role in how long your belt will last. (Feel free to leave a comment below, if you feel we left something out!)
If you'd like to avoid blown belts and keep riding - we can help!
Our Belt Temperature Gauges allow riders, like you, to monitor belt temperatures in real-time, and keep an eye on how average temperatures fluctuate as you ride. You'll know when to back off a bit to let your belt cool, and be able to watch out for large temperature spikes or increases in average temperature, either of which may indicate that your belt is about to bite the dust.
Ride safe out there, and let somebody else deal with the headache of always blowing belts.