Welcome to the first episode of DB Cooper’s Tips for a Successful Getaway!
Today we will be discussing belts. No, not the ones you loosen after your fifth helping of Aunt Betty’s homemade Thanksgiving stuffing. I’m talking the belt that drives your UTV. The one that engages when you step on the go-pedal. That magic piece of material connecting your primary and secondary clutch. (Anyone with a Honda or a Yamaha YXZ1000 can skip this article)
Your belt is a critical part of your UTV getaway. Without it, it’s very difficult to, well, get away. So here are a few tips to make sure your escape is as successful as possible.
- Belt Break-In: This is perhaps the most critical step to belt efficiency and longevity. If done properly you can maximize your belt mileage and proper functionality. There is a plethora of belt break-in procedures available on The Google. Most of them are somewhat similar although they may vary on mileage/time and high or low. The biggest thing with belt break-in is do not jump in your new UTV (or one with a new belt) and stomp it to the floor. What I’ve found that works well is cruise in low range as much as possible for the first 5 miles, vary your speed, and don’t do anything extreme (mud or rocks) that might result in the belt slipping.
- Heat: Heat is the enemy of your belt. When a belt heats up above 200 degrees it can start to change the properties of the belt. As it cools back down it can harden and lose elasticity. Neither bode well for the life or efficiency of your belt and can greatly hamper your getaway. There are a few things you can do to help prevent heat damage. In the sand run without a clutch cover (just avoid mud and water). When running with a cover on make sure your vents are open and nothing is restricting them. Make sure you are running an appropriate speed for the range you are in. General rule of thumb is if you’re running under 35 MPH stay in low range. If over 35 MPH, run in high. This rule does vary slightly from machine to machine depending on modifications, clutching, and gearing. I run a belt temperature gauge on my Turbo S (manufactured by Razorback Technology) to easily monitor belt temperature.
- Keep it Clean and Dry: Much like the Wicked Witch of the West, belts do not like water. Granted they won’t shrivel to nothing, but if they are wet they tend to slip. Slipping causes hot spots and glazing, and creates more heat. After each ride open your clutch cover and blow out all the dust/dirt/water/etc. This is also a good time to inspect your clutch sheaves and belt.
Following these three simple steps can help insure you have a successful getaway.
Until next time…