How to Check for Clutch Belt Wear on a Polaris ATV

Video Transcript

On behalf of Expert Village my name is Tom Roland with Cottonwood Motor Sports and I am here to talk to you about doing service on a Polaris Quad and this is a fairly representative of a macho, many of them. Two of the basic rules of thumb on Polaris's that really make a difference on how long the belts last. Polaris recommends anything less than about 10 miles an hour you should be in low range. It will pull in high range. It will go in high range but the problem is the clutch never really gets a chance to work in and out. It basically runs in this low part and it wears the low part of the clutch all the time and when it is running in low range, the clutch starts to go like this and the belt starts to ride outer and it makes the clutch last longer and it is also easier on the belt. So that's the main rule of thumb. If you are going slow, use low range. If you are going to be going slow very long, then it is fine to put it in high range and go. The other thing is if you are on a Polaris and you want to stop it is fine to stop and maybe leave it in gear with a brake locked and get off to open a gate. But if you are going to stick still for a long time, you would be way better off to put it in neutral because when it is in neutral, the belt is doing this. It is turning all the time in neutral. When you stop and put it in gear, the belt stops because the back clutch isn't moving anymore and the motor sits there and turns and turns and turns in one spot against the belt because the belt is not moving but the motor is. As a result, it can make a hot spot on the belt and it is harder on the belt and harder on the clutches too. It is way better in neutral where it can all be free to flow without any issues at all.

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