Actually i think Polaris says something crazy like 25 hours dont they? Maybe they changed it. I know Can-Am says 10. That's another reason I change them and keep the old as a spare..so I have a good broken in spare lol. What I do is Clean the clutches with alcohol, wash the new belt hot soapy water( Dawn)and let it dry completely. Install it and heat cycle a belt a few short rides with normal flat ground riding..no full throttle, no towing or extended high speeds..just a normal cruise around with normal slowing down, stopping and speeding up..maybe 2 hours total.. then I let 'ER rip..no science to my break procedure but it's served me well.It says to break it in for 10 hours and not drive fast, is that really necessary?
It's not wasted money..keep the used belt as a spare..that way you break the new one in on your terms versus while out on the trail..if you do t have a spare belt( ie you really need to have to have at least 2 belts anyway..one spare) then you are asking to be stuck somewhere unnecessarily. Change it while it's still good and then if you need to throw it on because you toast a belt so be it..nothing wasted.I have 2500 miles on my belt and is running strong. No need to change it unless it is out of spec. At $180 a belt no point in changing out just because.
I just tend to keep a new spare so I don't have to change it twice if I did blow a belt. I can use put the new spare on and then buy another new one for another spare vs. Changing out then used spare after I get home with a new belt.It's not wasted money..keep the used belt as a spare..that way you break the new one in on your terms versus while out on the trail..if you do t have a spare belt( ie you really need to have to have at least 2 belts anyway..one spare) then you are asking to be stuck somewhere unnecessarily. Change it while it's still good and then if you need to throw it on because you toast a belt so be it..nothing wasted.I have 2500 miles on my belt and is running strong. No need to change it unless it is out of spec. At $180 a belt no point in changing out just because.
I hear ya..changing a belt before it blows is easy. I rotate them often enough that my spares don't have to be changed when I get home..but I get no everyone will want to do that. Makes my life easier in my mind lol..deal with a shredded belt mess in the middle of the night when it's pitch black and freezing an it can make you a little cautious,.maybe overly soI just tend to keep a new spare so I don't have to change it twice if I did blow a belt. I can use put the new spare on and then buy another new one for another spare vs. Changing out then used spare after I get home with a new belt.It's not wasted money..keep the used belt as a spare..that way you break the new one in on your terms versus while out on the trail..if you do t have a spare belt( ie you really need to have to have at least 2 belts anyway..one spare) then you are asking to be stuck somewhere unnecessarily. Change it while it's still good and then if you need to throw it on because you toast a belt so be it..nothing wasted.I have 2500 miles on my belt and is running strong. No need to change it unless it is out of spec. At $180 a belt no point in changing out just because.
You'd probably change your tune if you you rode alone and miles from a real roadThats the way I am. When I carry a spare I want a new one and only want to have to change it once if the old one fails.
Exactly why change them before they fail if at all possible..my spare IS broken inThey are a breeze on the xp's. Easy to get compared to the 800. I'd wait till it shows signs of failing personally.
Get a new one tho and be ready. Soak it really good in Dawn Dish soap as mentioned before to get the shine off of it. That's really what's needed during the break in. Helps speed up the process.
Have to change them out when sledding all the time and its usually down in a deep hole or bottom of a drainage. They always fail at the most inopportune time. Then you are runnin the crap out of it to get back out. Talk about "break in"Sounds good in theory but in practice you really can't do it.
I break mine in in a plastic tub :rofl3: