Up in Vermont/New Hampshire for the weekend and ordered a gates belt to try. Washed the belt, installed, and set deflection. Now...time for the meat and potatoes. This belt ROCKS! Tightened up my belt to shelve to about 0.010. Engages much smoother, wack the throttle and it immediately jumps to 8,350-8,400 all day long. Pulls super hard. Gained about 2 sled lengths just with this belt. Unbelievable, if you don't have one, buy one!
Gates belt review.
- Thread starter AxysRider
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- Sunny Manitoba
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- 50+
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- 2020 IndyXC 850
I've had a Gates belt for almost a year now. I'm definitely impressed with it.
Brock
Well-Known Member
That's good about the gates.
The problem with the stock polaris belts are the inconsistency of compounds from one belt to another. You can have a good one or a junk one.
The key to any belt is break it in nicely before you hammer it.
The problem with the stock polaris belts are the inconsistency of compounds from one belt to another. You can have a good one or a junk one.
The key to any belt is break it in nicely before you hammer it.
- Messages
- 615
- Age
- 72
- Location
- Sunny Manitoba
- Country
- Canada
- Years Snowmobiling
- 50+
- Snowmobile
- 2020 IndyXC 850
A few of my buds with 2016 sleds are asking me if 8400 is too high. Wonder if this has to do with belt inconsistency?
Definitely agree Brock. I usually take it easy for the first 50 miles. With gradual increase of the throttle so that the belt breaks in over the full travel of the clutches.
Nortrider
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- Fort Kent Maine
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- 1994- now
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- 16 pro s ltd
I purchased a gates the other day and when I put it on it was to tight in the clutch. it would squeal and sometimes take off by itself. If I shim the spider it should be all set right?
Brock
Well-Known Member
Nortrider
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- Fort Kent Maine
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- USA
- Years Snowmobiling
- 1994- now
- Snowmobile
- 16 pro s ltd
So what should I be looking for then?
You want to set your deflection properly by adjusting the belt so that your track barleys creeps at idle when on a stand. Or you can just try to go by the Polaris recommendation of 1 1/4 inches of deflection. The gates belt is wider so you'll need to turn in your deflection adjuster from the stock poo belt setting.
moresnow=happy
Member
tried the gates belt for the first time today and impressed. belt does squeal a bit at idle i still have to set deflection..
as an added note when i set deflection i lift the sled from the running boards as if i was setting track tension. not sure if this makes a diffrence when setting deflection?
as an added note when i set deflection i lift the sled from the running boards as if i was setting track tension. not sure if this makes a diffrence when setting deflection?
- Messages
- 615
- Age
- 72
- Location
- Sunny Manitoba
- Country
- Canada
- Years Snowmobiling
- 50+
- Snowmobile
- 2020 IndyXC 850
Yup you're doing it right.
Dr.Notadoo
Well-Known Member
First thing gates belt has to measure 45.1/8 around the outside, second front clutch side to side no more then.020, in the secondary the belt should sit out near the outer cord with about 1 1/4. This will give you the best under drive for takeoff
haulnash
New Member
I tried to install the Gates in my '16 Pro-X SB, and its a no-go without shimming the spider. Length is the same as the 1177, but it's a good .050" wider. It will not roll around the base of the primary with the stock shims under the spider. I may try to use it later, but for now I have 2 Poo belts that will have to do.