I see people talking about the belt...I have run Rhinos since they came out and have never had a belt actually break. They get loose and I know it is time to change, but break? How often does this happen?
I too am picking up my first RZR next week....
The clutch system is different...it isn't a "constant tension" .
I think that there are a few things that contribute to catastrophic belt failure on the Polaris' CVT..
1)...most people don't inspect the belt often enough..even after they think they may have hurt the belt..once it has a defect and abnormal wear continueing to run it can cause it to fail.
2) not using low range when appropriate..guys use high range when climbing hills,pulling someone ect..when they should be in low. It isn't that the belt can't handle the load..it is more that the clutches are not calibrated for that load at a low RPM and allow the belt to slip when the RPMS are low and the load is high....slip means ALOT of heat and that will kill a belt. With the clutch set up I have for the turbo I can climb stuff in high without slipping the belt that I could not before..and that it is all in the clutching..but at the same time a stock motor would just bog when climbing the same hill if clutched like mine. Also using low keeps the belt cooler via the clutches moving air..more RPMS more air flow.
3)..getting the belt wet and letting it slip..when a belt gets wet i will spli like crazy..if you don't dry it before trying to move the machine you are doing damage to the belt..again via heat and friction.
I think the belts are plenty tough enough....maybe even too tough/large for the stock RZR HP..if clutched so they don't slip at low RPM/high loads then the engine will bog. I've watched mine when it was stock in that scenario,high range going up a hill at say 5-10 mph and the belt flutters..not being pinched hard enough by the primary weights to pull it tight..more pinch means less RPM(more upshift) and that means bogging for a stock engine.
All in all..take care of the belt,learn how to inspect it..learn how to drive it..if the engine sounds like it is straining you should be in low range and it should last and last and like anything else replace it BEFORE it fails.
