[Mtjag]

We had a two foot snowfall yesterday and I plowed three (ours and two neighbors) pretty intense driveways today. The grade of these driveways and the amount of snow (plowing uphill and downhill) apparently put a lot of pressure on our 570 Ranger. I plowed all of these in Low range and the machine didn't hesitate through any of it, but when I stopped at the top of the hill from plowing uphill through 24" inches of snow and some 30+" snow drifts and backed up, I got some whiffs of what smelled like burning rubber and steam. I think the steam was from backing into a snow drift and that's when I got the smell. Just wondering if any of you get that and does it mean I burnt the belt. It didn't seem to be a problem the rest of the time I was plowing and I didn't smell it after I returned to the garage.

Here's a video of plowing downhill from this morning.

 

[FuriousJ]

Sounds like you may have smoked the belt a little.

 

[alloutdoors]

Something you might consider next time following some challenging work is to just sniff along the air intake for the belt housing. Unless I’m wrong it’s the small grill opening just past the back seat on the passenger side facing outward.

 

[Tnarb]

I haven't noticed it yet but I also haven't worked mine like that. 24" of snow is one heck of a lot of snow especially if it is heavy. I would bet the belt was getting hot and smelled a bit or possibly burnt a little. I have noticed this on snowmobiles plenty of times when working hard them in deep snow and it was almost always caused from heat.

 

[Mtjag]

Thanks for the replies. Well, I'm going out to try to move some of this snow completely off the drive as we are expecting to get more snow tonight/tomorrow. I'm going to try to stack some of it so it will be a good test to see if that is the problem. Question: does the belt actually slip or is it the clutch that slips under pressure? Just wondering if I removed the belt housing would I find some rubber debris?

 

[chris400ho]

might be neat to put a temp gauge on the belt system. I have seen them talked about on here but never looked into them. you could easily see if you were getting the belt too hot or not. I would not be surprised that the belt is getting hot. just think how much power is being transmitted by that belt. the machine, plus all that snow plus the hill going up, all that going through the belt. remember belts work by friction, friction equals heat. I would keep a spare and check it periodically, your usage is going to put more wear on a belt than other people. some kind of clutch kit and that duraclutch I have read about might be good for you if you start having belt issues. as long as everything appears the same I wouldn't worry too much. if you burn it I would think you would know it. oh, the belt is the clutch, the belt is slacked off at idle, and when the rpm's go up the pulley faces move in and grab the belt and off you go. YouTube has some videos on how they work.

later!! Chris

 

[RJ]

If you pull the clutch cover, take the time and blow the clutches off with an air compressor. You would be surprised at the belt dust that accumulates on them. I do mine once a year as basic maintenance.

Not always present, but check the primary sheeves for a black ring of belt goo. That will let you know if she was slipping pretty good. I clean them up with a scotch brite once a year also.

 

[smithjn12]

ALCON,
My 570 has been in the shop for two weeks. This is the second go round. I smelled rubber burning the first time I ever took my 570 Midsize out. It only has 80 miles on it. They were able to duplicate it at the dealer by putting 50 pounds in the bed and going up a steep incline. They told me today they took the cover off the belt and checked it and the clutch and found 0 issues, same as the first time. They are working Polaris to figure out what the issue is. It has been out of service a total of 3 weeks since I bought it new 27 September, 2014.

 

[trailcutter]

have you added any mud flaps to the backend of machine? I put some on mine about 2'' from exhaust and could smell burning rubber,put a piece of tin on them and are ok now

 

[Mtjag]

have you added any mud flaps to the backend of machine? I put some on mine about 2'' from exhaust and could smell burning rubber,put a piece of tin on them and are ok now

Well, Trailcutter, you may have solved my mystery. I did add mudflaps in the rear this week before the snow. Interestingly, we smelled the rubber and had the vapor when I backed into a snowbank.
Today, I went out to move more snow off of our driveways and pushed the Ranger hard again but didn't have any issues and no smell. So, I'm thinking it was the combination of backing into that snow bank while turning around and the mudflap hitting the exhaust from all the snow pushing against it. I am really impressed with the power and traction of this Ranger. I was piling up crusty snow today with my KFI blade without any difficulty, plowing up hill and pushing snow piled up snow off our drop offs. There was one time today while plowing up a very steep hill with an angled blade and pushing a mound of snow in front that the Ranger went a little sideways, but never stopped moving up hill. Pretty impressive machine.

 

[alloutdoors]

Well, Trailcutter, you may have solved my mystery. I did add mudflaps in the rear this week before the snow. Interestingly, we smelled the rubber and had the vapor when I backed into a snowbank.
Today, I went out to move more snow off of our driveways and pushed the Ranger hard again but didn't have any issues and no smell. So, I'm thinking it was the combination of backing into that snow bank while turning around and the mudflap hitting the exhaust from all the snow pushing against it. I am really impressed with the power and traction of this Ranger. I was piling up crusty snow today with my KFI blade without any difficulty, plowing up hill and pushing snow piled up snow off our drop offs. There was one time today while plowing up a very steep hill with an angled blade and pushing a mound of snow in front that the Ranger went a little sideways, but never stopped moving up hill. Pretty impressive machine.

I'm completely unfamiliar with plowing using a Ranger and use my compact tractor, but considering it strongly based on these conversations/statements. I'm curious do you run any weight in the bed to counter act the blade weight or to provide additional traction?

 

[trailcutter]

yes these exhausts get pretty hot hope your problams are over, and it is amazing how much snow these machines will push

 

[Mtjag]

I'm completely unfamiliar with plowing using a Ranger and use my compact tractor, but considering it strongly based on these conversations/statements. I'm curious do you run any weight in the bed to counter act the blade weight or to provide additional traction?

I don't run any weight in the bed or chains on the tires. I've plowed about everyday since my last post and no more issues with rubber smoking. It seems it was the newly added mud flaps. I also have a Montana 2790 tractor with a FEL and snow chains, but it doesn't have a cab, and it's slow as Christmas. If I need to move a snow bank, I get the tractor out, but thus far, I've been able to push snow banks over the drop off without the tractor.