What is the average Belt Life?

[NewApexGT2006]

I know this might be a tough question to answer based on conditions, individual rider, and maintenance/running condition of the sled but I'm going to try and ask anyway to get a rough idea or baseline.

On average how much time/milages should one expect to get out of a belt?

How critical is the proper belt deflection setting?

When riding w/ a couple of my SkiDoo buddies when I wasn't refueling, or towing them due to multiple blown motors they introduced me to the concept of belt deflection. On their sleds it's a quick 5 minute adjustment by turning some bolts and they advised it should ride above the secondary slightly. From researching this in my book it looks like we need shims/washers and is more complicated that something I want to get into.

I asked my dealer about this and they told me it wasn't critical to worry about and mine is right where it should be. entire belt is slightly below the secondary which doesn't agree with what these guys are telling me on their Skidoo's.

What impact on performance is this going to have? From what I have read in the forums here it sounds like no change on top-end but less punch. Anything else to be concerned right in regards to deflection?

My dealer also suggested depending on condtions/rider the belt should be changed every 2000-2500 miles.

 

[Smokey]

I have close to 7,000 miles on my belt. (04 RX1) I will be changing it next season cus I think I am pushing my luck. Belt deflection. I added washers and got it even with the top of the secondary. Any higher was not possible because I get belt squeel at idle.

 

[yamadoo]

The shims are actually a pretty easy way to adjust the ride height in the secondary. Add a shim and you allow the secondary to close the thickness of the shim further, and that raises the belt, which lowers the gear ratio you experienc at take off.

I do not know how senitve the Apexs are to this, Not very I suspect. I know my prior Yamaha's would slightly 'bog' at take off, as though in to high a gear, but just slightly. Not near as sensitive as my and friends Polaris, there would be a major BOG..
If you are trail riding no big deal. If racing everything adds up and I would shim it to slightly above the secondary, to high/ tight if creeps on idle.
I too have a new apex and wonder how many miles before I lose either bottom and/or top end performance. Man I love this sled

Yamadoo

 

[Yummy]

My experience and what I do is changing after 5000 miles and keep it as a spare. But the problem now I have is lots a spare belt!!!!! But that' s ok and I can live with that.

Also, always use OEM Yamaha belt and forget about other make.

 

[hondo]

5,720 miles on last years belt and using it as a spare this year.

5,715 miles on this years belt and am still riding.

05 RS Venture total 11,435 miles, on two belts.

Comparing different brand clutches is definitely comparing apples and oranges.

They are not the same.

 

[LazyBastard]

I'm lucky to get 500 mi out of a belt. Damned thing is geared too high out of the box, burns on engagement with any resistance.

 

[Highmiler]

Blowing belts

If sled doesn't bog when taking off, then no need to adjust belt deflection. As belt wears, it gets thinner, thus sinking into the rear clutch sheaves and creating a bog as illustrated earlier. Only then should you adjust belt deflection. My mountain just developed a clutch bog last weekend and it's about time because the belt has almost 16000 miles on it. My 05 has 7400 on the original belt and still haven't had to do any adjustments yet.

 

[welterracer]

I ride it like its stollen.. so my belts dont last very long..

For maximum performance.. i change it every 1500 miles or less. and keep old one for spare..

You will know if the belt is going bad if the engine starts to rev higher than it did when the belt was new..

 

[snowbeast]

I have an external belt adjuster on my secondary,its worth the monet $40.00 bucks but the yammi clutch system does not like to ride to high,like a poo,cat or doo,as it will squeel so if it is just slightly below the top it is fine.

 

[NewApexGT2006]

Thanks for all of the replies and good information.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

I shim mine to be even with top of driven clutch....just simply remove the driven clutch,remove the 3 bolts,remove the stock thin shims and add 3 thicker washers,typically the ones from depot(6mm) are slightly thicker then stockers....i added them and belt sits perfectly even....check your measurements to be within spec in manual for belt width.

If its too high like on a DOO it will squeel,even i found to be best on apex.

If you use the belt longer,and need to add another shim to get it to top of driven,you will find that the driven wont close any further,do to the poor casting residual where they come together in bottom,so you will then need to take apart secondary and dremel off the casting residuals to clean it up..then your all set to run belt to its minimum wear spec.

dan

 

[S pump]

I ride it like its stollen.. so my belts dont last very long..

For maximum performance.. i change it every 1500 miles or less. and keep old one for spare..

You will know if the belt is going bad if the engine starts to rev higher than it did when the belt was new..

I'll give you 20 bucks for those 1500 mile belts, they're just boke in now.

 

[waldo1]

The problem that I see if you ride real hard or at top speed alot is the cord on the side of the belt will start to come out - at that point it should become a spare. I just changed mine on the apex at 1400 miles. You should always warm your belt up for about 10 minutes before giving it hell - my kids never do that and is the cause for the cord coming out. My clutching was off a little also when this happens. I also wash a new belt with dawn soap and a scrub pad - after its dry, sand them with 150 grit paper.

 

[Yamahammer485]

You should replace your belt if it looks damaged in any way includings cogs, inner fibres to keep it strong are showing, or it has burn marks, cracks or is too narrow. There is a specification for this in your manual to go by.

Before using any belt, I clean it with soapy water, and let it dry overnight, then take it easy on it for the first 30 kms, then its good. I like using the Ultimax 3 belts as they are the only ones I have had any luck with, all they do is wear down at a regular rate. I had a yamaha belt as a spare and when my Ultimax3 looked liek it was wearing out and was nearly wore out width wise, I switched it to the Yamaha belt. Then a week later, the yamaha belt blew on me and delamainated. This has been the second Yamaha belt to delaminate on me out of the two I have ever used. I hate these belts, they always burn on me, even when riding, if I pin it or something while already moving at lets say 40km/h, it will smell of burning rubber, and trying to make it over a snowbank or something with that belt will result in a big cloud of smoke becuse the belt burns. Not once have I had a problem with the Ultimax3, ill be sticking with this from now on. Also, when it blew, it took out my speedo cable too, and theyre not the cheapest thing to replace.

Also, everything is stock as far as power and clutching go and the clutches are routinely cleaned regularily and properly, just incase anyone was wondering.

 

[waldo1]

yamahammer - Thats odd - I find it to be the opposite - Dayco 3 belts suck and explode every time on higher hp machines, taking out all the aluminum stuff around it. I run only yamme belts - The hottest sled i have has 240 hp and did blow a belt on it last week at 500 miles but it was taped for almost a mile before that.