KEVLAR RACING BELT

Posts: 138

My son installed a Kevlar racing belt on his buggy (just like my buggy but I have stock belt). The second time we went out in the desert his belt shredded. This was after three attempts to climb a steep and rocky hill. Not sure if that had anything to do with it. I tried the same hill twice and gave up. The hill was loose and rocky and the buggies lost traction about half-way up. Just sat there spinning. The belt did not break until about an hour after the hill climb and on the flats.

Don't know if he got a defective belt or what, but I am not impressed with this high-dollar belt.

Posts: 4286

I have not had any luck with the kevlar belts, I only carry gates powerlink and have only had 1 belt failure in over 2 years

Posts: 238

I'd say you were lucky the belt shredded. If it didn't... something metal would have. My opinion. I'd rather spend $20 for a new belt then a couple hundred for a new engine.

Posts: 138

Hello Eric;
My son bought some parts from another supplier (even tho I told him to buy from you) and got this belt accidentally for no charge (which is what it is worth). I am running the Gates belt I got from you sometime ago and have close to 800 miles on the belt. I agree MikeK, that the belt needs to be the weakest link in the drive system, so nothing expensive breaks first.

Posts: 648

we have observed on several occasions that the Kevlar belts cannot take high heat as well as a gates belt. the Kevlar holds very well to a point but once they over heat, thats it. We have held hare scramble/ endurance competitions lasting 2 to 3 hrs. Those using Kevlars experienced belt failure.they just couldn't take the heat generated by the prolonged stress. The situation you described is a perfect example.. the Kevlar belt over heated trying to make that hill. A gates belt is more prone to slip under the same conditions but is more forgiving in those extreme heat / stress situations. I prefer to have a belt start to slip , telling me I am over stressing the cvt and should back off rather than have it totally fail , leaving me stranded. The Kevlars, because they do grab so well, will wear down the pulley surfaces faster also. They tend to cut grooves or ripples into the pulley faces. We have stopped using the Kevlars all together, we just make sure to keep a fresh Gates belt on, keep the pulley faces clean and polished and have experienced no more premature belt failure.

Posts: 138

Good inputs ckau, Thanks.
I will remember your advice and use the Gates belts only.

Posts: 411

Shrug in my opinion a slipping belt creates heat more then one that grips. . I'm still running my stock belt though. I don't think the kevlar is the problem. What brand was it? Just because it looks like a duck and quacks like one doesn't mean its a duck.. Same goes for quality. I don't think the kevlar is the problem perhaps the manufacturer is the problem not the materials. I'm going to be torture testing a hammerhead performance kevlar belt very soon. I will torture test it with high loads because that's the only way I ride! I will let you know how that works out. Usually if you get generic brand parts your going to get generic quality.

Posts: 138

Darren, you are a WILD man on that buggy! Great video.

Posts: 411

Thank you sir. I'm glad you liked it. We are making another one this week hopefully. I'm picking up a new roll bar today so we can start recording again. I have 7 days off right now but I need to get my web site completed this week too.