Belt driven utv's?

[JDGREEN4ME]

We were considering replacing an old atv with a utv on the farm. Does the blet hold up? Drove the Kubota RTV 500 and that got me to wondering how dependable the belt is. How often do they have to be replaced?

I haven't had any issues with my '04 HPX belt drive yet. I do have the enclosure on mine also and haven't had any "water" issues either.

 

[timswi]

I haven't had any issues with my '04 HPX belt drive yet. I do have the enclosure on mine also and haven't had any "water" issues either.

Don't know if someone said it, but most of the new UTV's are shaft driven. The RTV500 is shaft driven as well. I'm not big on belts, they tend to go at the wrong times.

 

[Milo]

The belt is very efficient, quiet, and simple. It's also very durable, at least in the Mules that I'm aware of. (I can't speak for Polaris' or others)

I have the small Mule 610 which features an enclosed CVT belt. Jinman described it well. It is shaft driven to the front differential. I guess I may have to change the belt at some point. But thinking about it, I changed the hydro fluid on my Kubota B7500 (50 hours) and likely will do so at least once or twice more before the Mule will need a belt.

 

[KentT]

Don't confuse these belts with a v-belt used on a water pump, cooling fan, alternator, etc.

These UTVs use what's called a continuously variable transmission (CVT), that uses two pulleys whose sheaves move in and out, varying the working diameter of the pulleys. They use wide, stiff belts with lots of fiber in them, which only "pull" using the angled sides of the belt.

These drive systems have been around a LONG time, in heavy-duty applications. Allis-Gleaner combines used these type of drive systems in the 1960s for example. With the high quality compounds and fibers (aramid, kevlar, etc.) that are available today, a CVT is very reliable, simple and inexpensive in comparison to hydraulic/hydrostatic (ie.what we think of as "automatic" transmissions), and likely just as reliable.

Many small cars are using them, for exactly these reasons:

CVT - what the Continuously Variable Transmission is and how CVT works

Bottom line, don't let "belt drive" drive your buying decision...

 

[milkman]

Quote from your referenced article:
Though there are several types of CVTs, most cars use a pair of variable-diameter pulleys, each shaped like a pair of opposing cones, with a metal belt or chain running between them.

They operate the same but the cars don't use the same type of belt as the UTV's but your're right they are reliable.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

Don't know if someone said it, but most of the new UTV's are shaft driven. The RTV500 is shaft driven as well. I'm not big on belts, they tend to go at the wrong times.

what utv's changed over to shaft drive? as for as i know the ones who was belt drive still are belt drive the only two that i know of that are not belt drive is the rtv's and honda big red.but everyone else is still belt drive.

 

[cat2]

I have a 4x2 gator, over 1,800 hours on it. Never replaced belt yet

 

[KentT]

Quote from your referenced article:
Though there are several types of CVTs, most cars use a pair of variable-diameter pulleys, each shaped like a pair of opposing cones, with a metal belt or chain running between them.

They operate the same but the cars don't use the same type of belt as the UTV's but your're right they are reliable.

The Audi CVT pictured in that article looks VERY similar to the CVT in my Rhino. Don't know what the Audi's belt is made of, but the variable sheaves look very similar.

I have two 1969-model garden tractors made by Simplicity that use a similar variable speed setup, except that it doesn't have an internal centrifugal clutch -- they use a clutching idler pulley instead. I use them all the time, and they're very reliable...

Here's a movie of one of them driving a 42" snowblower in about 12" of snow.

YouTube - 1969 Simplicity 3112V Blowing Snow

 

[whistlepig]

I have had my Polaris Sportsman with a CVT belt system for 5 years now. Of all, on the ATV forums, they bash the CVT belt system on the Polaris the most. "It slips when wet.", "It wears out in three weeks.", "It requires frequent adjustments." I was pretty concerned when I bought my Polaris five years ago. The CVT system simply works. It doesn't slip when wet. I've had mine in water up to the spark plugs. Mine has pulled very heavy loads for five years and still has the original belt. The belt has never required adjustment. Hydro is better. Hydro is heavy.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

the belt problems with the rangers was mainly due to the motor mounts breaking the belts hold up really good and last a long time anyone who has a ranger or rhino and says the belt slips when it gets wet they need a snorkel kit.lol