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Goodyear Carbon Fiber ATV
Drive Belt Available On-Line
AKRON, Ohio, July 25 -- The Goodyear
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.
For additional information, go to
http://www.goodyearep.com.
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