When do you replace an ATV drive belt?

The average lifespan of an ATV/UTV drive belt depends on the way you ride, but there are obvious signs that you need a new one. If you smell burnt rubber, hear noise from somewhere under the CVT cover, or find your clutch slipping, you might have a failed drive belt. If you’re too late and it breaks, you’ll find cords and shredded rubber bits wrapped around the CVT clutch, and clogging air ducts. It’ll be a mess and you need to remove all of it when you go to replace it. 

Before you are caught in such a sticky situation, check the deflection of the belt, and follow the OEM specs for the service limit as part of your regular inspections. It varies a bit depending on the model and year. As the belt wears it gets narrower and the gap gets bigger between the belt and the clutch sheave. This causes a harsher engagement as the clutch needs to close farther to grab the belt. 

When you inspect your belt check if anything is in need of adjustment, or if you have cracks, glazing, sheared cogs, or uneven wear. Worn edges mean the belt is not fully riding up the pulley face. If one side of your belt is noticeably more worn than the other side, you could have a misaligned clutch, in which case you should fix that as soon as you can so your new drive belt functions as it should.

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