What is all the hype?

[Longhairfreak]

There is no way a belt drive is more efficient than a chain.

 

[ABMax24]

You're about 7 years late to the party....

 

[Longhairfreak]

You're about 7 years late to the party....

People are still eating it up. PS I was at the first party and nobody listened.

 

[venom]

Rotating mass and the ease of replacing a belt vs a chain. Also aids in a lighter wallet.

 

[Longhairfreak]

I would never give up the ease of changing a belt over efficiency. I've never blown a chain in 37 years of sledding.

 

[banditpowdercoat]

It's funny that almost all Industrial High HP motors, saws, pumps, pretty much everything use a belt. Most all the saws in sawmills throughout the world use a cog belt.
Many high performance engines use a timing belt over a chain.
Many low performance engines use a timing belt too.


You must know something that countless engineers don't

 

[Longhairfreak]

It's funny that almost all Industrial High HP motors, saws, pumps, pretty much everything use a belt. Most all the saws in sawmills throughout the world use a cog belt.
Many high performance engines use a timing belt over a chain.
Many low performance engines use a timing belt too.


You must know something that countless engineers don't

Try pulling a chain driven track over with one hand. Then try the belt drive. Then tell me what I'm missing.

 

[banditpowdercoat]

Try pulling a chain driven track over with one hand. Then try the belt drive. Then tell me what I'm missing.

RPM. At slow speed gears or chains will seem easier but when RPM increases, so does centripetal force. This acts on the belt the same as a chain, but reduces the belt to pulley cog friction.
Another huge thing is rotational mass. A lighter object can be accelerated much faster. Rule of thumb is for every Lb of rotating weight you remove is equivalent to 5-10Lbs. This figure varies as the distance from the center changes. So the pulleys may not be of that much lighter, the top one anyways, but the belt is much lighter than the chain and that does free up a bunch. Plus the weight saved form the chain case, the oil.


This was all stated 7 years ago too when it was started. Now where did I park my time machine

 

[Longhairfreak]

What is the difference in power loss between the 2?

 

[ctd]

Then you have a 60lb plus track you are trying to accelerate & decelerate not including the load 3" lugs create. Do you think the efficiency of either belt vs chain matters?

 

[S.W.A.T.]

Is there ever any belt slippage? I could understand the difference if the is.

 

[sledneck_joe]

Is there ever any belt slippage? I could understand the difference if the is.

No, they are cogged belts.

 

[banditpowdercoat]

Then you have a 60lb plus track you are trying to accelerate & decelerate not including the load 3" lugs create. Do you think the efficiency of either belt vs chain matters?

Why do you think tracks come clipped every 2nd or even every 3rd bar??? Ya it matters.. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Is it needed? No A chain works and has worked. But it's so old tech. People scream for better and more. Then things change so it can happen and they bitch and moan.

Humans are funny

 

[lilduke]

I agree with ya lhf. cant see a belt drive making any difference

 

[dabensmiller]

0 Broken chains
4 broken belts
16 seasons of riding, i know my choice. I put the C3 belt drive on my XM, after 1100km and two broken belts, i switched back to the chain, i never noticed a difference in performance. The other two belt issues were on Pro RMK's, stock 800 and 600.

 

[niner]

Never broke a belt on my 174 turbo pro with stock belt drive but I am switching it out to a Kurts gear down belt drive this winter for a better ratio. Proper gearing makes the biggest difference not chain or belt drive.

 

[lilduke]

I've blown up 2 chain cases in 25years, it gets messy when it happens. doesn't happen often enough for me to spend $ on a belt drive. if it came stock on the sled that would be different

 

[Longhairfreak]

Then you have a 60lb plus track you are trying to accelerate & decelerate not including the load 3" lugs create. Do you think the efficiency of either belt vs chain matters?

Absolutely. Every little bit helps.

 

[powpowpowpow]

I would accept a beltdrive if even it was slightly less efficient than a chain. Fed up with chaincase oil, and with doo the crappy magnesium backing plate that strip when barely tightening the cover.
Gearing changes are a breeze with the beltdrive, so its more of a convenience factor.
And I've never blown a chain. And never will as chain days are long gone for me.

 

[lilduke]

torque wrenches are your friend...