ROCKERDAN
OCD Sledhead
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2005
- Messages
- 7,503
- Location
- Huntsville Ontario & Niagara NY
- Country
- Other
- Snowmobile
- '18 RTX 50th "Winder"
My dealer has told me his cats basically don't blow belts while winders do.
HCS shows barely any posts on belts all season. While here TY was littered with posts on belts almost exclusively.
So lets go over the differences again......
-Gearing
-Belt
-Primary
-Secondary
-J-shaft
Anything else different?
It seems like its not just one thing that can improve winder belt life compared directly to the cat. I still think its a combination of things, mostly being gearing and belt.
Its not a heat issue IMO, as the cat runs far warmer clutching/belts then winders. That is one thing that had been talked about early on, cooler setup was always the winder. If your winder runs hot clutches then get that offset checked.
Has anyone simply geared down to 24/50 with a winder and improved belt life? We know many of the 19 winders will now have 24/50 gearing, so this will be something to watch, as it seems YAM engineers have taken this approach now. I planned to go back to stock 21/41 gearing but wonder if I should go further?
As for belts....Can we somehow mod our setup to accept a wider belt? Or a cat belt?
I just am not sure the heat or chassie theory is the answer, as there seem to be many cats out there with good belt life, for sure on stock tune and even some with bigger tunes. I agree with the big tunes we will always have shortened belt life, but it would be nice to not ride these sleds and worry about it constantly when you hit the flipper.
Dan
HCS shows barely any posts on belts all season. While here TY was littered with posts on belts almost exclusively.
So lets go over the differences again......
-Gearing
-Belt
-Primary
-Secondary
-J-shaft
Anything else different?
It seems like its not just one thing that can improve winder belt life compared directly to the cat. I still think its a combination of things, mostly being gearing and belt.
Its not a heat issue IMO, as the cat runs far warmer clutching/belts then winders. That is one thing that had been talked about early on, cooler setup was always the winder. If your winder runs hot clutches then get that offset checked.
Has anyone simply geared down to 24/50 with a winder and improved belt life? We know many of the 19 winders will now have 24/50 gearing, so this will be something to watch, as it seems YAM engineers have taken this approach now. I planned to go back to stock 21/41 gearing but wonder if I should go further?
As for belts....Can we somehow mod our setup to accept a wider belt? Or a cat belt?
I just am not sure the heat or chassie theory is the answer, as there seem to be many cats out there with good belt life, for sure on stock tune and even some with bigger tunes. I agree with the big tunes we will always have shortened belt life, but it would be nice to not ride these sleds and worry about it constantly when you hit the flipper.
Dan
AnythingButLast
Lifetime Member
I dont have a belt life issue but I've added vents and running 24/50 gearing since the first season. Belt temps are measurably lower with the infrared gun so this is only helping extend my already good belt life. There is more stress without question on higher gearing so that has to be factored in for sure as a difference.
And the idea of too much chassis flex might matter to an extent. Yet the cat versions should have identical chassis flex and supposedly have few belt issues so that should be automatically moved to a very minor issue and way further down the list of problems. Alignment/calibration/gearing/temperature are still the most likely causes.
I've run 2 seasons at 270hp aggresively with the 8dn. Havent blown a single belt. 3500 miles. Checked alignment and offset day 1 home from the dealer and mine couldn't have been much more perfect (lucky me)
And the idea of too much chassis flex might matter to an extent. Yet the cat versions should have identical chassis flex and supposedly have few belt issues so that should be automatically moved to a very minor issue and way further down the list of problems. Alignment/calibration/gearing/temperature are still the most likely causes.
I've run 2 seasons at 270hp aggresively with the 8dn. Havent blown a single belt. 3500 miles. Checked alignment and offset day 1 home from the dealer and mine couldn't have been much more perfect (lucky me)
number1kyster
TY 4 Stroke God
From what I have seen on HCS, big tunes are causing problems with the Cat secondary clutches. Either way, on the internet, belt life seems better in the Cat version. I think they took the lessons they learned with their previous turbo sleds and applied them to the 998. Lower gearing and a turbo specific belt are probably making the difference.
I can't help but wonder what the sales figures are for each version though. I put 700 miles on this season and from what I saw on the trails, Sidewinders out number the cat version by 5-6 to 1. I can't help but wonder if there are more reported issues with the SW because there are far more of them out there?
I can't help but wonder what the sales figures are for each version though. I put 700 miles on this season and from what I saw on the trails, Sidewinders out number the cat version by 5-6 to 1. I can't help but wonder if there are more reported issues with the SW because there are far more of them out there?
Byam
TY 4 Stroke Guru
We are not hearing complaints from CAT guys blowing belt because they are use to it since many years....We have lots of cats up north with big tunes including myself, i think the belt blowing issue is more a yamaha thing than a cat thing. i have over 4000 miles on my 270 tuned cat and last weekend i pushed it on the lake for 30 miles with many times over 110 mph and the belt looked great. if you visit hardcore sledder you do not hear of many complaints on cats blowing belts.
That's the truth. Cat are blowing belt to..... the primary they recall is still cracking sheaves.lol
I know their secondary has a LOT more cam angle than the SW and about 3%more OD
Btw stock for stock they are carrying the lunch
Personally i have a lot more problems whit clutches parts, than blowing belt
Last edited:
Doowithblue
TY 4 Stroke Guru
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18- RTX LE
Cat helix- 58-49 @. 15 with a 155-220 compression spring (which is fairly light)
100% agree there are way fewer 998 cats out there
100% agree there are way fewer 998 cats out there
hibshman25
Vendor
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2005
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- Lebanon, PA 17042
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- 2017 sidewinder ltx dx
2018 snoscoot
@hibshman25 - Travis, looking for a Summer project? Haydays is right around the corner.
I've got quite a list of stuff already to work on. Been following all the belt stuff all season, but still not sure what to think beings I'm still on my original belt at 3000 miles on my stock winder. There are a few stock winders that had some issues, but honestly I think as a whole the problem is not as big as a forum can lead to people to believe.
lovesledding
Veteran
you never get use to blowing belts lol, look at all the posts here. my 13 1100 turbo blew belts at will but this new cat is the deal, i dont have to worry about belts anymore and it feels greaaaaat
actionjack
TY 4 Stroke God
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- 2017 SideWinder LTX-LE
X2.I think as a whole the problem is not as big as a forum can lead to people to believe.
snowbeast
TY 4 Stroke God
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- 2015 apex xtx traded for a 2017 sidewinder L-tx-le
- yes
- YOUTUBE
- yes
what is the top speed by gps on that gearing you have,and the 8dn belt will also help lose some top speed as well.I dont have a belt life issue but I've added vents and running 24/50 gearing since the first season. Belt temps are measurably lower with the infrared gun so this is only helping extend my already good belt life. There is more stress without question on higher gearing so that has to be factored in for sure as a difference.
And the idea of too much chassis flex might matter to an extent. Yet the cat versions should have identical chassis flex and supposedly have few belt issues so that should be automatically moved to a very minor issue and way further down the list of problems. Alignment/calibration/gearing/temperature are still the most likely causes.
I've run 2 seasons at 270hp aggresively with the 8dn. Havent blown a single belt. 3500 miles. Checked alignment and offset day 1 home from the dealer and mine couldn't have been much more perfect (lucky me)
AnythingButLast
Lifetime Member
I saw 116 mph gps with the setup on a longer open pull. I'm sure it was just into the overdrive at that point and probably within 2 mph of about maxed out. More than enough for me for aggressive trial riding.what is the top speed by gps on that gearing you have,and the 8dn belt will also help lose some top speed as well.
And usually when my group of buddies lines up to race we do 500 ish ft to 660 max. So they still have no chance unless on another turbo sled. I'm far enough ahead by that point they'd need a decent bit of extended distance to overcome me and pass anyway. May have to try a long lake pull with a buddy to see roughly when they can overcome me. Most my buddies are on 850s and 800s and they at best hit 116 gps but need a fair bit more distance. The 850 seems to hit 111 gps fairly quick compared to everything else in the group.
I still have 21 41 and 22 41 gearing here on the shelf and a few other setups if I were to ever purpose need more mph. Speed runs have never been and will never be my thing personally. Aggressive trail corner to corner and drag races snow/snow hill and grass so I'll never need much more for 500 ft that I do sanctioned
ryama
Expert
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2009
- Messages
- 209
- Location
- Kitchener Ontario
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- Canada
- Snowmobile
- Sidewinder R-TX
- LOCATION
- Kitchener
Could this issue be related to power, and more specifically the way the power is delivered. Seems that a lot of us don’t have a belt issue. I have noticed in this thread stock machines, and my PT tune don’t blow belts.
But some of the quick spool guys are. Not trying to start a tune battle here. But is it possible that the way the power comes on contributes to this failure?
But some of the quick spool guys are. Not trying to start a tune battle here. But is it possible that the way the power comes on contributes to this failure?
snowbeast
TY 4 Stroke God
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- Snowmobile
- 2015 apex xtx traded for a 2017 sidewinder L-tx-le
- yes
- YOUTUBE
- yes
Did your sled come with that gearing? What length track do you also have. ThanksI saw 116 mph gps with the setup on a longer open pull. I'm sure it was just into the overdrive at that point and probably within 2 mph of about maxed out. More than enough for me for aggressive trial riding.
And usually when my group of buddies lines up to race we do 500 ish ft to 660 max. So they still have no chance unless on another turbo sled. I'm far enough ahead by that point they'd need a decent bit of extended distance to overcome me and pass anyway. May have to try a long lake pull with a buddy to see roughly when they can overcome me. Most my buddies are on 850s and 800s and they at best hit 116 gps but need a fair bit more distance. The 850 seems to hit 111 gps fairly quick compared to everything else in the group.
I still have 21 41 and 22 41 gearing here on the shelf and a few other setups if I were to ever purpose need more mph. Speed runs have never been and will never be my thing personally. Aggressive trail corner to corner and drag races snow/snow hill and grass so I'll never need much more for 500 ft that I do sanctioned
AnythingButLast
Lifetime Member
No I have a 17 LTX LE 137" 1.25 lug so I had the 21/41 for the first season. Got a 22 tooth to have. Never saw the benefit as I dont have the room very often on my local trails to see 130 gps. So got the 24/50 tail end of this season. I have a Storm 150 track that should be arriving soon. The hp level will pull the extra height just fine so I dont expect to lose any mph at all with that. Only to gain a lot better low end grab and corner to corner for my typical trail conditions.
Doowithblue
TY 4 Stroke Guru
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- 07 Mach z x (sold)
18- RTX LE
oh I beg to differ on that. Lend me your sled for a day.
Doowithblue
TY 4 Stroke Guru
- Joined
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- Age
- 57
- Location
- Waterloo ON
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 07 Mach z x (sold)
18- RTX LE
Could this issue be related to power, and more specifically the way the power is delivered. Seems that a lot of us don’t have a belt issue. I have noticed in this thread stock machines, and my PT tune don’t blow belts.
But some of the quick spool guys are. Not trying to start a tune battle here. But is it possible that the way the power comes on contributes to this failure?
Hey man hit me up next year if you want to ride I'm in Waterloo
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