mikeyd
Gold Member
Can the other UTV's with only a belt for a transmission be outfitted with tracks or is it too much strain on the belt or lead to premature failure?
belts?
- Thread starter L_Nicholson
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Skipholiday
Platinum Member
The belts are very tough. Out of 4 utv's I've never broke the 1st belt.mikeyd said:
You can get tracks for atvs as well as almost any utv.
Many rhinos rangers and gators run them. With all wheel drive thats allot of torque to the ground.
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mikeyd
Gold Member
I guess thats what I am wondering, with all the problems guys are already having with the belts wearing out and getting wet and slipping w/o enclosures even without tracks, can these belt machines realistically handle the additional strain from the drag of the tracks. Seems like the only people who feel safe running the tracks are RTV owners because of the durable hydro transmission. I know the track manufactures will sell tracks to whoever wants them but I have yet to see anyone on this forum with a belt machine running tracks. Anybody out there with a belt machine with tracks want to chime in as to belt life with a track setup?
Skipholiday
Platinum Member
I haven't heard of the problems you are speaking of with the belts. All the gas xuv's rhinos and rangers have belt enclosures.mikeyd said:
How do you come to the conclusion that the only ppl that feel safe running tracks are rtv owners? (because one rtv owner post a pic of an rtv sitting in snow with tracks?)
The cv trans is proven tough and reliable. They have been around far longer than the rtv.
I wouldn't say the hydro tranny is anymore or less durable than the cv trans. Just different types. Both are subject to problems.
Do you remember this thread of the rtv with tranny hydro track problems? http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/112802-1100-rtv-mattracks-beware.html
The rtv is an excellent machine. But it is not the do all for all vehicle.
YouTube - Rhino Mattrack Kit Video of Rhino with tracks.
OP
L_Nicholson
Silver Member
So please correct me if I'm wrong... but it seems each machine has its strengths and weaknesses. So lets hear the opinions out there and please this is not meant to be a "mine is bigger than yours discussion"
I'm sure this will be like buying a tractor with a front end loader... you can't figure out how you managed without one for so long. My application for the vehicle that I know of now will be farm related. Hauling feed, hay, kids, maintaining fence lines pulling a trailer and handling livestock and hauling out deer and hauling family to the deer stands. I would suspect that each machine out there could do these things but I'm sure a couple might do this a little bit better. I'll be traveling in fairly steep areas at times with clay type soils and along rowcrops so the ground will get pretty soft at times.
In regards to the RTV 900 and the "issues" I've read here and elsewhere about the seeming lack of power on hills and in the towing department... has this been experienced by any owners here?
Robert in NY: I'd like to here from you as well because I know you are out there doing your research too!
Thanks guys for understanding my concerns ... When I pull the trigger on one of these I don't want to wish I had bought something else a year later.
I'm sure this will be like buying a tractor with a front end loader... you can't figure out how you managed without one for so long. My application for the vehicle that I know of now will be farm related. Hauling feed, hay, kids, maintaining fence lines pulling a trailer and handling livestock and hauling out deer and hauling family to the deer stands. I would suspect that each machine out there could do these things but I'm sure a couple might do this a little bit better. I'll be traveling in fairly steep areas at times with clay type soils and along rowcrops so the ground will get pretty soft at times.
In regards to the RTV 900 and the "issues" I've read here and elsewhere about the seeming lack of power on hills and in the towing department... has this been experienced by any owners here?
Robert in NY: I'd like to here from you as well because I know you are out there doing your research too!
Thanks guys for understanding my concerns ... When I pull the trigger on one of these I don't want to wish I had bought something else a year later.
TOMMYHPX4X4
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2005
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- Tractor
- gator hpx 4x4
the only utv that ever had a problem with belts breaking is the polaris rangers700(xp's). and it is a motor mount issue from what they say. some say it is fixed but there are still brand new units that the belts are coming apart on if you buy a polaris it's a good thing to buy a spare belt and keep it in the storage box with the tools st change it . as for as i know the motor mount thing is fixed but the belt it will come apart anywheres from 7 hours to 250 hours of use. with the xuv and hpx the only thing you have to worry about is the belt just wearing out i have never heard of anyones belt breaking or giving out. when a hpx or xuv belt goes bad it's because it glazes up on the side and causes it to slip.
Deerlope
Veteran Member
milkman said:
Born and raised on a dairy farm may be the reason for being up early. May also be some old army memories that don't ever go away. I never did the math for the PSI but the dealer said it was less than a human foot. The front track is about 38" X 14" per side.
Deerlope
Veteran Member
Some UTv's may not have an aggressive tread pattern but you can get them for any of them. My tracks weigh 900 lbs (4) thus far I have hit a few rocks and no problems. I watched just a bit age a Polaris with Soucy tracks on yourtube pulling a groomer in Canada. They weren't having any problems. I cannot speak about other UTV's because I have only had an RTV. Therefore I have nothing to compare with.
mikeyd
Gold Member
You are right,The salsbury type clutch is very old technology, it has been around for nearly 50 years. I have read many complaints with this assembly, but as Tommy points out, mostly with one brand. I have read numerous complaints on another brand lacking an enclosure which causes the belt to get wet and slip. This is the same set up as a snowmobile. Most snowmobiles are sold with an extra belt under the hood because failure is expected. Does anybody know if the belt type UTV's come with an extra belt? How many of you carry a spare?
I have seen and heard from several real owners of RTV's with tracks on the numerous sites I visit, never seen or heard from an belt machine owner who has one with tracks. Thats why I asked the question. The snowmobile clubs use the RTV with tracks almost exclusively to groom trails.The two clubs in my area use RTV's although all the major manufactures are nearby.The only issue I heard of with the tracks on a RTV1100 was a design flaw with the tracks and not the machine.
I have trouble believing that a single belt is as durable as a hydrostatic transmission, which is a tractor transmission, but, I am always willing to listen to reason, thats why I would like to hear from a belt owner with tracks so I could have the benefit of thier experience.
The initial inquery was whether there was another brand with the durable Kubota hydrostatic type transmission or some other type of trans that was not belt driven. My question was aimed at hearing from the belt owners who have tracks to see if the belt is realistically capable of handling the tremendous drag of the tracks or perhaps they might warn against it. So, again, I would like to hear from a real owner of a belt machine who is running tracks so we all could have the benefit of thier experience.
I have seen and heard from several real owners of RTV's with tracks on the numerous sites I visit, never seen or heard from an belt machine owner who has one with tracks. Thats why I asked the question. The snowmobile clubs use the RTV with tracks almost exclusively to groom trails.The two clubs in my area use RTV's although all the major manufactures are nearby.The only issue I heard of with the tracks on a RTV1100 was a design flaw with the tracks and not the machine.
I have trouble believing that a single belt is as durable as a hydrostatic transmission, which is a tractor transmission, but, I am always willing to listen to reason, thats why I would like to hear from a belt owner with tracks so I could have the benefit of thier experience.
The initial inquery was whether there was another brand with the durable Kubota hydrostatic type transmission or some other type of trans that was not belt driven. My question was aimed at hearing from the belt owners who have tracks to see if the belt is realistically capable of handling the tremendous drag of the tracks or perhaps they might warn against it. So, again, I would like to hear from a real owner of a belt machine who is running tracks so we all could have the benefit of thier experience.
mikeyd
Gold Member
TOMMYHPX4X4 said:
How long does a belt typically last until it glazes up and causes slippage? Are they as easy to change as on a snowmobile? Do you have to take the enclosure apart? Is it something that can be easily done on the trail when it breaks down. Does it start to smoke when it goes bad? Any chance of a fire hazzard?
