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Goodyear Carbon Fiber ATV Drive Belt Available On-Line
AKRON, Ohio, July 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Goodyear (NYSE:GT) Gatorback Sport ATV belt that created excitement when introduced earlier this year is now available on-line.
Goodyear Gatorback Sport is the first Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT belt with carbon fiber reinforcement in its body construction, according to Tom Lee, product manager for the belt line.
Enthusiasts can order Gatorback Sport ATV belts on-line by going to http://www.denniskirk.com/ and selecting "Engine & Transmission" under the "Off Road" category or by visiting http://www.rockymountainatv.com/ and selecting "Drive Belts" under the "Drive" category. They also can find a local parts dealer through Parts Unlimited's store locator at http://www.parts-unlimited.com/.
"Quad riders need precise, immediate throttle response and off-road durability," said Lee. "Threadlike strands of carbon fiber that are strong, flexible and weigh much less than steel of similar strength are aligned in the rubber compound to provide added stiffness across the width of the belt."
He said conventional CVT belt sidewalls can glaze and char from heat buildup when engaged with pulleys under extreme loads. Materials from the top width of the belt then turn down and inward, creating vibrations that can quickly destroy the belt.
"Gatorback Sport regulates itself under extreme events," said Lee. "Its carbon fiber in the rubber compound allows desired edge slippage without losing top width. When extreme demand subsides, the edges self-heal and the belt again picks up the load."
He added that tests show significantly reduced belt weight loss and improved top width wear without sacrificing pulley grip.
Gatorback Sport's performance was born from race technology developed for NASCAR Nextel Cup Series teams last year and used first by Hendrick Motorsports to help add horsepower to the car driven by eventual Cup Series Champion Jimmy Johnson.
"We took what we learned at the track about carbon fiber and adapted it to help develop the belt for all-terrain vehicles," said Lee. "Its performance earns it the Gatorback name, joining a growing family of popular Gatorback automotive belts that are used by all major NASCAR Cup Series teams and are available in auto part stores and service centers."
Gatorback Sport's lateral strength comes from carbon fiber, but its longitudinal strength comes from Goodyear Flexten aramid cords traveling the circumference of the belt. Flexten minimizes stretch, stabilizes overall length and maximizes horsepower transmission.
"It all adds up to predictable tension performance," said Lee, "and tension is as important to belts as air pressure is to tires."
Gatorback Sport's dimensions precisely duplicate most major ATV manufacturers' original equipment profiles and measurements for top width, length and sidewalls to ensure proper fits. The belt's top width range is 17 to 35 millimeters or 0.68 to 1.37 inches, while its length range is 679 to 1106 mm or 26.75 to 43.56 inches.
Source: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
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