The Development of a High-Performance Snowmobile Variable Speed Belt

This paper will cover the development of a high-performance snowmobile variable speed belt from concept to successful implementation. The paper includes the definition of the extraordinary demands of this extremely high-performance application, formation and membership of the development team (including the dynamic membership of the team as the development phases were achieved), modeling of the drive geometry and discussion of the vast number of design variables which had to be balanced to achieve both superior drive functionality and belt durability. The end product is described in detail to illustrate the technology employed to address the severe conditions to which the belt is exposed. Finally, the paper details the test methods (both field and laboratory) and development of a unique, application specific, test dynamometer to evaluate the various belt attributes.