Arctic Cat ATV Belt problems

[chris1395]

I'm wondering if anyone has had similar issue to this? I have a 2010 Arctic Cat 450 H1, it is low mileage and barely driven the first 3-4 years since new, only the past 2 years has it started getting miles put on it. Anyways I've disintegrated 2 belts in it in the past year. The first OEM belt went out at 150 km on the odometer, which was last year and I figured ok, before I had it, the bike was used almost entirely for plowing and sat most of the warmer months, so I speculated that would be hard on a belt. OK so I replaced it with a Dayco belt, and about 8-9 months later after I put about 500 km on the bike this belt blew up. Now these belts haven't just worn out, they explode into dust. It's a job to get all the rubber chunks out of the intake and exhaust breathers, and I make sure it is clean as I know excess heat would do that, but the breathers aren't plugged. The second belt didn't have much plowing but some, and it was almost all flat road and trail riding miles. I've ordered a kevlar Gates belt now and am going to try that, the clutches look aligned, there is no creeping or anything else going on. I don't have an offset tool or anything to check it but just eyeballing it with the cover off and running on a stand seemed ok last time. Last time I also cleaned the sheaves with methyl hydrate, some say that's a bad idea as the aluminum can absorb solvent and release it back out softening the belt. This time I washed the clutches in hot soapy water and scrubbed them with fine steel wool to remove all the rubber residue and I always wash new belts before putting them on. The sheaves are smooth, but not shiny or glazed over and no ridges in them.

My brother took the bike out after I put the last belt on and rode it kinda hard so this time I'm going to make sure it gets an easy break in period of 75-100 km before it gets WOT.

Other than that what else can I do to fix this? Anyone had issues with Cats? I don't want to do new belts with every oil change, and one of these times it's going to leave me somewhere it won't be an easy tow home

[last5oh_302]

Sounds like you have other issues going on unfortunately. I have almost 5000 kms on my Cat belt and it's the original with lots of life left.
Sorry I can't help but the one huge rule of thumb is always go with an OEM belt. Those dayco belts or any other aftermarket belt for that matter have definitely caused issues.
When you were plowing on the original belt were you plowing in low?

[chris1395]

Sounds like you have other issues going on unfortunately. I have almost 5000 kms on my Cat belt and it's the original with lots of life left.
Sorry I can't help but the one huge rule of thumb is always go with an OEM belt. Those dayco belts or any other aftermarket belt for that matter have definitely caused issues.
When you were plowing on the original belt were you plowing in low?

The belt could be the issue, the Dayco belts have mixed reviews. I've always ran aftermarket on my sleds but I know atvs are different, more heat inside the case. I'm not certain if it was plowed with in low all the time before, but I suspect that's what killed the first belt plowing in high at least some or most of the time.


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[last5oh_302]

The belt could be the issue, the Dayco belts have mixed reviews. I've always ran aftermarket on my sleds but I know atvs are different, more heat inside the case. I'm not certain if it was plowed with in low all the time before, but I suspect that's what killed the first belt plowing in high at least some or most of the time.


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Often times, when misused (like my mechanic buddy did when he burned out his wet clutch on his Grizzly that has 900 km's on it) like plowing in high, the wet clutch can go before the belt. These belts don't slip like other slip and grip designs do, meaning normally these belts last for a long time. In your case at least, it doesn't sound like a wet clutch problem which is good $$$$$!.
I say buy an OEM belt and see what happens.

[rf2]

Other than that what else can I do to fix this?

Buy a Honda.





Sorry, I had to

[last5oh_302]

Buy a Honda.





Sorry, I had to

Nah..LOL

[delmer]

I agree with what others have said - go with an OEM belt. I've found that this is one area that spending the extra is warranted.

[patvetzal]

Nah..LOL

You drive in the deep ruts what do you expect? My Sportsman is over ten years old, blown a few belts but always with tracks on in high range. When I see muddy ruts I pick the easy route, weither towing my boat, collecting sap or just exploring.....not as showy but more likely to get there and home....

Dont confuse riding "hard" with riding fast.....

[last5oh_302]

You can't always lift yer skirt and go around Pat.

[sawbill]

Dont confuse riding "hard" with riding fast.....

I go around. I prefer to call it riding 'smart'.