Snowmobile belts are made in a way that their functionality will remain the same, so it is safe to say that they can be considered to be universally made. However, at the moment you try to buy a new belt, it will be better if you buy a high-quality snowmobile belt, they could be expensive but will last longer than their cheaper version. 

So either your belt is in a pretty bad shape, it blew out, or you might suppose it would be a great idea to change it. In this post, you will find the necessary information on snowmobile belts being universal, who long the lifespan is, and even some brand recommendations.

In case you want to buy a new belt for your snowmobile, there are some factors to take into consideration.

What is a snowmobile belt, and why does your snowmobile need one?

A drive belt might be the most important part of the equipment on your snowboard’s drive system; the snowboard belt works as a direct link between the engine’s power and the snowmobile track. 

The belt connects the primary and secondary clutches. The belts will always remain stationary if the engine is idle, but as soon as you apply some control on the throttle, the primary clutch will start to rotate the belt, which will cause the secondary clutch to move.

A throttle is a machine that controls the flow of fuel or power to the engine.

Are snowmobile belts directional?

Yes, snowmobile drive belts are directional; even most of them have arrows on the top to indicate the direction in which they rotate. It is very important to check these arrows very well to make sure you are installing the belt in the right direction and avoid any issues.

How often do snowmobile belts break?

The drive belts of snowmobiles are often exposed to hostile conditions. They have to endure cold, heat, stretching, and spinning; these factors might affect the performance and life length of the belt. 

The expected life of snowmobile drive belts is about 1,000-3,000 miles before needing any replacement. The lifespan of a belt will depend on many factors, like the quality of the belt, the conditions when you ride, the snowmobile performance, and even the clutch settings. 

If you have a snowmobile with moderate performance, the belt might endure even 4,000-5,000 in some rare cases. But snowmobiling might mean lots of adrenaline rushes, races, and even backcountry rides, which can cause the belt to blow, and this is more common than expected.

Belts are continually being updated so that the belts nowadays last considerably longer than they did just a few years ago, but this makes them more expensive than expected. Most buyers will feel tempted to buy a cheaper option, but this might not be the best idea as they will not last long and might break in the worst possible moment.

How to know if the snowmobile belt is bad.

Some of the symptoms of a snowmobile belt being bad are simple to think of. If your notice your snowmobile or belt are showing one of these signs, you might even suspect something is wrong with the belt, here you can see some of the symptoms of a bad belt:

  • The snowmobile will start to operate slower or harder than usual.
  • A bad belt might slow the acceleration, starting when riding hills or more rugged ground.
  • One of the critical signs is the loss of RPMs.
  • The belt is “glazed”, meaning it looks smooth and shiny; it has a melted look.
  • You might notice some signs of wear, tear, cracks or holes.
  • The belt might be broken.
  • When riding, you might notice a burnt rubber smell.

What is the best snowmobile belt?

It does not matter if you have decided to ride your snowmobile as a hobby or professionally; you want the best machine parts for your ride available in the market. 

And to make your life a little bit easier, here we give you a list of the best snowmobile belts out there:

Most economic snowmobile belts.

If you are searching for a replacement drive belt that will not break the bank, below you have some options that might suit your budget:

Most expensive snowmobile belts.

Suppose you are looking for a high-quality product. In that case, you need to take into consideration that this will make the product a little pricier than other regular snowmobile drive belts out there. Here we have a few of the most expensive snowmobile drive belts out there:

Why are snowmobile belts that expensive?

A few years ago, you could get drive belts for your snowmobile for around $40. Nowadays prices can be even three times that or more. The increase in the price is due to the snowmobiles these days having more horsepower and the technology used in the manufacture. 

Belt technology has improved to the point that producers can now create a better belt with more exotic materials like Kevlar, a Dupont product. This improvement helps belts be more reliable and long-lasting. 

The technique used to make these belts last longer and are constantly updated to make them resist hostile environments of heat, RPM, and torque even more.

These days, belt design means stronger and longer-lasting cords and keeps them from crowning or getting squeezed by clutches by using Kevlar. But this and other expensive techniques increase the cost of production, which affects the final price of the belt in the stores.

Final words

Whether you do snowmobile riding as a hobby or professionally, you will have to change the belt from time to time, but if you wondered if they are universally made, the answer is yes. 

So if you see some holes, cracks, signs of wear and tear in the drive, if there is a smell of burnt rubber, or there is a change in the operation of your snowmobile, you might want to change the belt as soon as you can to avoid it from breaking in the worst moment and condition possible. You will even prevent any further issues on your snowmobile by changing the belt on time.

If you would like to have a longer lifespan, go for the pricier options as they are better quality than a cheaper one. 

We hope this post has helped you clear any doubt and decide on the drive belt you want to get for your snowmobile.

Sources:

https://outdooralive.com/are-snowmobile-skis-universal/

https://www.westshoremarine.ca/cheap-vs-expensive-snowmobile-belts/
How Long Does a Snowmobile Belt Last? [Maintenance Guide]
How Long do Snowmobile Belts Last?
https://www.westshoremarine.ca/cheap-vs-expensive-snowmobile-belts/

https://www.snowmobile.com/how-to/inside-modern-snowmobile-drive-belts-1564.html

Jet skier, fly boarder, snowboarder, snowmobile rider, kitesurfer and rock jumper. If you’re going to have an hobby, pick a fast one. Anything fast can and should be made faster. That’s the attitude Ryan brings to his content here.

Summers on the lake, winters in the mountains. No better way to enjoy youth.