Belt driven utv's?

[tom4018]

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?

 

[2fast2]

to paraphrase your question:
Do Gators hold up on the farm?

Sure do.

Even in Ireland!

 

[tom4018]

to paraphrase your question:
Do Gators hold up on the farm?

Sure do.

Even in Ireland!

More than Gators use belts; Mule, Ranger and some of the off brands. Kubota is hydrostat so it got me to thinking.

 

[Sockwell]

Have had three ATV's or UTV's that were belt drives. I've been in water holes where the water was over the gas tank and have never had a belt slip. Maybe I've just been lucky. I currently have a 2004 Ranger 4x4. I've used it several times to haul up to 500# of seed and fertilizer to spread on our food plots. I've also used it to pull an old Farmall pull disc. No slippage or wear issues. It does happen, but I think problems are rare with the better name brands.

 

[2fast2]

Sorry Tom I only answered part of your question.
The Gator XUV calls for belt replacement at 800 hours, inspection recommended every 200 hours.
I fully expect that other people will chime in with reassurances about the belt drive. It was my biggest concern before my purchase but so far, at 80 hours, it has been zero problems.
Of course, those people with hydrostatic drive will tell you that is best, etc. There is no "best" design or everybody would be going that way. Different strokes for different folks, but this drive concept has been used very extensively and very successfully.
Now if you told me you wanted to buy this for muddin' and planned to have it under water and mud more often than not, I'd suggest direct drive of some sort. Farm use seems to be a non-issue for the belt drive system even when driving though wet fields and mud, crossing streams, etc. Everything within reason, however.
Good luck with your research.

 

[Donegal_TDI]

to paraphrase your question:
Do Gators hold up on the farm?

Sure do.

Even in Ireland!

I take it you mean me

Yes, even in Ireland, the land of the terminally damp.
We had 2 weeks of sun early June,
since then it has rained **** near every day,
ground conditions here are terrible.
Had to break up my cattle last week, 2 cows and 2 calves in every field,
rather than have the whole lot in one.

As regards the Gator, it has been a reliable companion since I got it.
Belt=non-issue
Only time it slips is for about 5 seconds after I wash it each evening.
In fact I like the belt,
nothing complicated,
simple=reliable.

Just replaced battery yesterday,
do a lot of night driving,
puts strain on electrical system.
Anyway, Gator, so far so good ~ 300hours

 

[Dargo]

What you are talking about is what is known as a Salisbury clutch system. There are many name brands now and they have been around for decades. I used a Comet brand on a very fast machine that had nearly 100 hp and it worked just fine. I have a 700cc Suzuki King Quad that is still on the original belt and it has just over 1200 miles on it.

My RTV1100 has a hydro transmission and no belt. Obviously it works just fine as well. I wouldn't let a belt drive be a deciding factor on buying a UTV or not. I'm totally comfortable with either.

 

[2fast2]

Haha, yes I meant you, Donegal TDI!
I wonder if a higher output alternator would be a good idea. I notice a change in the engine sound just when I turn on or off the stock headlights. I think you have many more electrical components.
Another idea would be plugging into a Battery Tender every night upon return, which would probably keep your battery happy and healthy for many years.
I use a couple Battery Tender Plus models for my vehicles that get intermittent use. It won't overcharge, which is important too.

 

[jinman]

The litter collectors around the perimeter of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport use Kawasaki Mules. Two years ago, I asked the operator how many hours he had on his Mule. He said over 3,500. I then asked what maintenance was required in that time and he said only fluids and filters. The Mule has a snorkel air intake going to the belt drive and an dual air filter (prefilter/filter). Not only is it cooled, but it is spotlessly clean in there. I can't say about all brands, but I have 500 hours on my Kawasaki Mule and don't expect to ever have to change a belt. I'm sure many others are just as reliable. If you pull heavy loads, that might change the performance or life expectancy.

 

[Donegal TDI]

Haha, yes I meant you, Donegal TDI!
I wonder if a higher output alternator would be a good idea. I notice a change in the engine sound just when I turn on or off the stock headlights. I think you have many more electrical components.
Another idea would be plugging into a Battery Tender every night upon return, which would probably keep your battery happy and healthy for many years.
I use a couple Battery Tender Plus models for my vehicles that get intermittent use. It won't overcharge, which is important too.

I really think I need to adjust idle speed up a tad, just a tiny bit.
Has a huge effect on the voltage if I press the throttle a little bit at idle.
Must read the book to see how it's done.
Unless one of you genius's out there have already done this?
(edit)
Checked the manual,
no details on how to adjust idle speed.
Anyone have a detailed manual for the 850d in pdf form?

 

[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