I have a mountain sled and I can't even see the justification for that application. I've helped work on more belt drive issues than I have chaincases.

Tom at TKI is a great guy and produces awesome quality parts and I would get a TKI if I ever purchased a belt drive.

 

i have a TKI belt drive going on my 2019 xc 850 129. we are a TKI dealer. i will let you know? proper belt tension is key here. i have sold a number of these on Polaris rmk's , ski-doo summit, and even one arctic-cat. not one issue at all. and some of these do a lot of trail riding. no blown or even worn belts etc. i plan or racing this sled. so it going to get tested right out of the gate. just got it today. just sold a doo belt drive kit with shot last week.

 

Please do keep us updated. My OCMD (Obsessive Compulsive Modding Disorder) mind is venturing into thoughts of better response (via reduced inertia) and improved efficiency for my 2017 ZR 6000 R XC...

 

I have a belt drive Renegade. It’s an 18 xrs. It’s not a tki so I can’t help you there. It’s a specialty performance. It has been problem free and so far so good. The 850 rips and is a fun sled

 

I haven’t come across another belt drive trail sled

 

My only concern about belt drive on Polaris is we already have enough issues with bearings but now those bearings will be exposed

 

Where's the popcorn emoji when you need it!
Please keep us posted, I also suffer from OCMD and would gladly spend $720 on this.

 

Hey Matt! If and when my Assault shows up I am also seriously considering this setup. Looks like a killer setup from TKI! The only person I've seen with one installed so far is Johnny Caputo. Try reaching out to him. I won't be able to give you any feedback until next winter 🤦

 

Trail sleds will be tough on that belt.
Drags be fine but those launches and landing will take those belt cogs off!!
Especially if studded heavily!

 

i jump a lot. we will see how it holds up. if i trail ride this we never run studs. racing it yes. we have two tracks one studded one 1.5 storm for trail's. with the belt drive and those bearing's now exposed. no different then the clutch side. other the both sealed on the case side. what you have to do is pick the seal out of the chain case bearings clean out the bearing it will only have oil in it. greased gets washed out ( this should tell you something about sealed bearings? add grease pack full on that side and replace the seal. wipe off excess. the directions even tell you to do this. tom has very good directions.

 

I have herd belt drives have been run in the xc mod class for sometime and they hold up fine

 

I’m piped, clutched and studded. So far so good

 

Bringing this thread back to check on any real world experience from last winter with the TKI belt drive? @northstarrick did you get any good miles in with yours?
A buddy and I are really curious with our Assaults and the potential benefits...
TIA,

 

Tom posted on Facebook he will be at haydays to answer any questions you have.

 

Tom's a quality guy with really well tested products. Biggest advantage for the TKI in a trail sled is likely easy gearing changes, FWIW. I've owned poo quickdrives and they've got the tech down now, but you still need to pay attention to belt breakin. Nope, never owned a TKI, but very familar with them from others I ride with and the design and belt quality is solid. Performance-wise - could be pretty thin gains if you're at low elevation and pumping out more hp and less drag, but it would be fun to run against a benchmark sled, before and after. See second sentence above.

 

my take on belt drives is this: technically there is a performance increase due to less rotating mass. but can you feel it? doubtful. otherwise they'd be much more prevalent and there'd be multiple posts across the forums discussing the improvement. agree with reg2view's statement regarding the ease of gearing changes which would be the reason to get one if you're into that.

 

One reason I steered clear of the 146 Matryx Slash was because of the drivebelt and not knowing how it would handle long trail days or lake runs compared to my SBA 850.

Gearing and lug length will limit speed compared to a SBA. Biggest 'issues' running this rig - you want to carry an extra belt (another $250, easy to carry in the drive belt holder - but DON'T fold it) and QD install tool(s) if you blow one on the trail. If estart you have to pull the battery holder, unless you're running the CV Customs kit. Pay attention to the mileage service limit. No brakes if the belt goes. I do own a 22 146 850 Khaos Slash. FWIW if anyone else is considering the Khaos Slash.

 

TKI belts are $100 basic tools for TKI as he runs a tensioner set-up. the only belt drives i see blow belt's are QD Polaris sled's.

 

o.k. i did not install the TKI belt drive on my sled last year. but did install it on a 22 xcr for a customer. i think he maybe put 500 miles on it? not one issue. now i did have to turn a bolt/nut around on the tensioner piece because it hit the chain case? you can feel the difference between the belt drive and a chain. just rolling the track around by hand there was less resistant. customer said it rolled way better he could feel the difference. hopefully this year i will put one on my sled early. i already have porta tree #'s on mine. so any improvement should show up in E.T. and maybe MPH? now i do have 15-16 belt drives on mtn. sleds Polaris, cat, and ski-doo. not one blown belt on any of these. and the all the ski-doo sleds guys said they would never be without a belt drive on there summits. one sled has 5000 miles on the original belt. in N.H. and M.E. you have to do a bit of trail riding to get to the steep/deep stuff.

 

I think the complete loss of brakes at high speed is the biggest reason poo has not introduced QD to trail sleds, coupled with mileage service limits. Mountain sleds are ridden at slower speeds and lower miles per season. High mileage trail sleds owners would not like the service limit, and some/many would likely just ignore it. Now, a driveshaft brake mount would eliminate this risk. This could be how Poo introduces QD to trail sleds. The belts are not cheap, either, so mfg cost is likely not a driver. The Catalyst could help motivate the entire industry to belts vs. chains on premium trail sleds. In the end, the gains are marginal for trail sleds, but, when has that ever stopped an OEM from selling pretty fresh metal and plastic.

 

TKI belts are $100 basic tools for TKI as he runs a tensioner set-up. the only belt drives i see blow belt's are QD Polaris sled's.

Yup, cool product and TKI has the goods. I'd never recommend anyone convert a Poo chaindrive to QD. That would be more than kinda dumb with TKI out there. Look at all the guys in the west who have swapped out QD for TKI for all the right reasons. After the 23 Summit chain JCF, TKI should be close to sold out on SD conversions. Good for Tom. Haydays should be kind to him.

 

Biggest problem I see is the gearing options, nothing listed taller then 1.74

 

It will also be interesting to see how the belt drive works on the new cat contraption. Maybe that will get Polaris to bring it to the trail sleds if it works better than a chain

 

If they do make one for trail sleds hopefully they will enclose it!!
Way things seem to come loose and bounce around under hood hate to see what exhaust spring would do if it found it’s way to belt!!!

 

I doubt they will. No reason to. Polaris hasn’t enclosed their belt drive and the new cats is open.

 

If they do make one for trail sleds hopefully they will enclose it!!
Way things seem to come loose and bounce around under hood hate to see what exhaust spring would do if it found it’s way to belt!!!

Seen the impact. Chunks or shreds the belt, of course. Saw gear damage, also. Same for nuts and loose rivets left floating around from the factory build, which I see too often on new sleds after they leave the dealer. Helps to have a good dealer or gets $$$. Happens with primaries, too. QD belt is thin, very rigid, and does not appreciate unplanned contact. They also throw off alot more fiber-like material than you think during breakin. But the OEMs are in the business of selling new belts and gears, too. Number 1 issue is not following belt breakin procedure. As in, do not exceed 50 mph for the first 100 miles, and don't rachet track. Change QD every 2000 mi. They have a very distinct whine for the first 50 mi or so. FWIW for those who haven't been there, yet.

 

If a person can't exceed 50mph for the first 100 miles for belt break in, I don't think that will be a go for most (in otherwords, it won't be followed in the real world). Will be interesting to see what Arctic Cat's recommendation will be for break-in.

 

A gentleman on the procross forum put one on a 2016 800 (I believe) and had awesome success with it. I do not remember his name on HCS.

 

It may have been fortune46x. He had one on his 800 procross and his 2022 rxc. What year his 800 actually is can be debated. It’s in a brand new 2020 chassis partly assembled right now. I think it may have started as a 2012 and went to a 16 chassis at some point.

 

Just seems like a two piece plastic cover would save alot of headaches!

 

can not cover a belt drive. (HEAT)