In the quest to find out why my dad’s 2016 Polaris RZR XP Turbo keeps destroying belts in the sand dunes we decided to install a Razorback belt temperature gauge. This will allow us to monitor the belt temperature so we can get an idea of what is causing the belt breaking heat.
This installation guide will specifically cover installation on a 2016 Polaris RZR XP4 Turbo but the general process is the same for any UTV or Side-by-Side:
- Drill a hole for the temperature sensor in the clutch cover as close as possible to the belt while staying perpendicular to it.
- Run the cable from the sensor to the front of the vehicle.
- Mount the gauge where it’s easy to view.
- Connect the sensor wire to the gauge and connect the gauge to a power source.
Razorback makes the belt temp sensor with different cable lengths for other UTV models as well as snowmobiles and ATVs.
The Razorback belt temperature gauge has a simple and sleek design. The back of the gauge with the sensor connector and power connector.
Why you need to monitor CVT belt temperature
If the belt driving your UTV’s CVT transmission builds up too much heat it will fail. By monitoring the temperature in real time you can back off the throttle before damage occurs.
Heat is the number one enemy of a CVT belt and too much of it will quickly destroy the belt. If you can determine what riding conditions are causing excessive heat, riding style can be adjusted to reduce that heat. If riding style isn’t the cause (meaning you aren’t hammering the throttle constantly and riding wide open for extended periods of time) you might have a problem with your clutches. Keeping an eye on the belt’s temperature will help determine what that problem is.
Replacing a belt while you’re out riding is never fun. This is because it usually happens at inconvenient times. The last time a broke a belt was in in the dunes far from camp in a busy area on the side of a hill. Digging belt fragments out of the clutch housing on the side of a hill while trying not to get hit by other riders sucks.
Breaking belts is also expensive. At this point the RZR is breaking belts almost every trip to the dunes. If we can use the Razorback gauge to save two belts it will have paid for its self.
Razorback Infrared Belt Temp Gauge Features
- Bright, high contrast LED Screen that’s easy to view in sunlight.
- Waterproof sensor and connections.
- Detachable sensor cable allows that allows removal of the clutch cover without removing the sensor from the cover.
- Infrared sensor that monitors belt temperature in real time. This gives you the actual belt temperature not just the ambient temperature inside the clutch cover.
- Average and High temperature tracking.
- Multi-color LED warning indicators
- Green – Under 200°F
- Yellow – 200°F
- Red – 225°F
- Flashing Red – 245°F
- Rapid Flashing Red – More the 260°F
Razorback recommends keeping the belt temperature under 200°F – 225°F to get the most life out if it.
The Installation Process
Installing everything is pretty straight forward. The most time consuming part is running the cable from the clutch cover up to the front and into the dash of the RZR.
1. Remove the clutch cover
Disconnect the clutch air intake hose and remove the clutch cover.
Removing the clutch cover. The RZR turbo clutches exposed with the cover removed.
2. Install the temperature sensor into the clutch cover
After removing the cover find a location to drill the 1/2″ hole for the sensor. The sensor needs to be perpendicular to the belt. It should not be facing up since dust could settle on it and interfere with the temperature readings.
Razorback recommends placing the sensor at the 3-4 o’clock position near the secondary clutch on the RZR. This allows the sensor to be installed in the plastic cover instead of the metal clutch housing.
After drilling the hole, insert the sensor, apply Loctite to the threads and tighten the lock nuts.
The sensor mounted in the clutch cover using lock nuts and Loctite. Inside view of the sensor. We kept the sensor from sticking in too far since there doesn’t look to be much clearance between the belt and clutch cover in this area. The arrow marks where we drilled the hole to mount the sensor.
3. Reinstall the clutch cover
The clutch cover reinstalled with the Razorback temperature sensor. Close up of the installed sensor.
4. Run the sensor cable to the front of the RZR
Once the clutch cover is back on its time to route the sensor cable to the front of the vehicle so we can mount the gauge. We ran ours through the firewall and between the seats under the plastic cover the seat belts go through. This will protect the cable from the elements and abrasions.
To do this remove the firewall access panel, seats and the center console piece so the cable can be fed underneath.
Running the cable through the firewall. Jackson supervising our work. This is the center console the cable will run though. The plastic cover is removed so the cable can be ran.
After the cable is run to the front of the RZR it’s then run to the hood so the power wire can be connected and the sensor wire can be fed to the dash where the gauge will be mounted.
We ran our cable through the center console through the front firewall to the wiring harness area under the hood scoop. From there we ran it behind the dash through a grommet hole behind the spot the gauge would be mounted.
A hole saw was used to cut into the dash for the gage.
Next, using a test light we found a 12V power source and connected the power wire. The sensor cable was then connected to gauge.
Hood scoop removed to connect the gauge to a power source. The hood and part of the dash are removed so the wire can be rand and the gauge mounted. The cable containing the power and sensor wire ran through the firewall of the hood area in the front of the RZR. Razorback temperature sensor gauge mounted in the dash of the RZR. Closeup of the gauge. The display is great in the dark and the daylight as well, thanks to the high contrast screen.
After the power wire was connected and the sensor wire attached we put everything back together and tested it out. The gauge worked great, it was bright and easy to read in the afternoon sun.
The real test happened once we got the RZR back in the dunes and figured out what kind of driving it takes to reach the various temperature levels. We took the RZR out to Sand Mountain, NV and rode around for a weekend while testing out temp gauge.
Pulling hills at high speeds made the belt heat go way up. Interestingly, a great way to cool the belt down was to put the machine in park and rev to about 4,000 rpm for a short period of time. This cooled the belt enough to prevent breakage and allowed us to keep riding all weekend.
I have no doubt we will get more life out of our belts since we can back off the throttle before permanent heat damage occurs. The gauge also gives us an idea of the kind of riding that cools the belt down since stopping and idling didn’t do much to drop the temperature.
Final thoughts
The Razorback belt temperature gauge is the perfect addition to any UTV or Side-by-Side with an overheating CVT belt. By keeping an eye on belt temperature you can adjust your riding style to prolong its life. The gauge can also be used to diagnose potential problems with the CVT transmission creating excessive belt heat.
