Golf Cart Drive Belt- 2023 Yamaha Gas: Replace Twice per Year?
 

Belt was squealing. Villages Golf Cars said it had reached the end of its service life due to 1,300 miles- which we have logged in 6 months.

We don't really use the cart that often, but if we continue to use it as we have it will need another new belt in 6 months.

Are y'all changing your belts 2 or more times per year??? Would someone who uses their cart constantly have to change this belt monthly?

Our 2014 Yamaha EFI has just under 1,000 hours on it, which I am guessing equates to at least 15,000 miles. I recently changed the belt on it for the second time ever. Based on that, I would say the belts are good for close to 7,500 miles.

We have over 4,000 miles on the belt on our 2019 with no indication that it needs to be replaced.

I believe that 1,300 is far too few miles to wear out a belt but try googling for known issues with that model year.

EDIT: We don't golf so most of our miles are traveling along the MMPs with far fewer stops and starts than miles done on the golf course. Maybe that makes a difference.

I have over 10,000 miles on my 2019 Drive 2. I have never changed the belt(s). I would re-ask the question at the dealer.

My 2019 Yamaha is bumping 20k miles and I’ve replaced the belt 4 times.

We have almost 500 hrs, not sure how many that equates to, and are on our 3rd belt on our 2022 which we bought new in April of that year.

Have 400 hours on mine and bet that it has gone about 6-7K miles. Never had a problem and still has original belts. Look at them about once a month and they look good. Never squealed. Not a mechanic but it appears that the pulleys are out of alignment. Another reason I distrust Villages Golf Cart service

Ask to speak to the service manager.

One might consider a heavy-duty, well-engineered kevlar belt from the nationwide guru tuner of Yamaha golf carts, Don Plowman. Plowman's Carts - Golf Cars - Golf Cars, Golf Carts and Utility

No, depending on driving habits and hills belt may not last as long. Hopefully there no leaks or over greasing causing the belt to slip. If you slam the clutch in every time take off or have hill you have to stop on it wear belt faster. My belt usually get separation cracks before the bottom of V belt wears out of limits. My belts usually last 2 or 4 years before I replace it prematurely.

I tried heavy duty gates belt and I made post about it. Didn’t like it. For one it was pain to get on and even worse to get off, it was stiff and they had to make it little bigger to get it on. This cause un-natural hesitation when taking off. Plus it cost twice as much.

Please report your results? Usually the are for off road ATVs where don’t have stop and go 50 time plus day IMO.

Two things to try before spending a lot of money: measure the belt and clean the clutch plates.

Find the part number of the particular belt for your cart. Look up the specifications for the belt to find the original (new) width and the width at which it should be replaced. Then measure the belt on your cart to see if it has worn too far or if it is still within specification.

The belt might squeak if there is dust or dirt on the clutch plates. Spray a little brake cleaner on a rag and then wipe the plate surfaces. Even if you can't see the dust it might be there. This takes about two minutes to do but might make a big difference.

I suppose a third option is to replace the belt yourself. If the cart isn't under some kind of maintenance plan and the shop refuses to look at it under warranty then why pay shop and labor charges for something you can do yourself? Get the right part number for your belt and buy it from Amazon or other non-golf-cart shop. I'm sure there are multiple YouTube videos on how to work the old belt off and the new one on - again, about a two minute job.

Villages golf cars. There's your issue. Overpriced, and when something goes wrong, it's NEVER on them or the cart they sold you.

The service manual states that a new belt will measure 31mm wide and it should be replaced when it reaches 27mm. It's simple to check and replace. Here's a video.

https://youtu.be/-H6fm0TSSxA?si=FOQzSbz9xdHQlkTS

Link goes to a YouTube video about upgrading your travel trailer battery, FYI.

This hasn't been my experience. Any time I had an issue they fixed it immediately.

I implore the OP to speak to the service manager or call Yamaha directly about this issue.

Yamaha would be interested if this really is an issue on 2023 models.

My 2023 Yamaha has not had this belt issue which is a year old and has 2,500 miles on it.

Belt wear over the last year has been a big issue. Not every cart has the issue as you can tell while reading through these posts. Its a fixable issue with the right eyes on it. Do you really think Yamaha would make a cart that burns through a belt every 6 months? Had a customer who was having a belt put on every 3 months, being told ? " you drive the cart too much"/ Finally gave up with that service entity and had the issue fixed. Now 18 months later, no belt replacements. A trained individual fixes many of the issues that are on golf cars.

We have a Yesteryear from 2006 which was built using a 2004 Club Car. One belt replacement. How did we know it needed replacement? A gradual symptom of no immediate start after some use (Heated up). Problem eliminated several times by tightening belt and finally decided to replace.

A new Yamaha belt is 31 MM wide. A belt is considered worn and needs to be replaced at 27 MM wide. This is from the 2018 Yamaha owner's manual which has a lot of the maintenance stuff in it. The 2020 manual not so much.

I have a 2023 Yamaha cart and the drive belt failed completely with 300 miles on the cart. Dealer indicates they need to pull the clutch and believe the spring is rubbing on the clutch, I have no idea if this is accurate, they are still working on it. Very disappointing paying 18k for a cart and expecting quality and getting junk!

Interesting. We are snowbirds have a 2010 Yamaha with the original belt. It gets used 6 to 7 months a year. Still runs fine but I do carry a spar belt. When measuring for wear check to make sure the outside edge looks OK and is not feathered while the rest of the V portion is worn substantially. Had a neighbor with this problem.

Make sure the primary clutch is not failing. If it is, the belt would need changing more often. I know from experience. New clutch then belt has lasted for 18 months and no sign of slipping or sudden gripping.

1960...............this is good advice.

The Villages Golf Cars will not sell a belt to you if you didn't buy your cart from them - even if you bought a 2nd hand cart that was sold by them. They will install one for you though - at the cost of the belt + appointment fee + installation charge. It ends up costing someone who is not under their 5 year warranty around $150-$175 for a belt. Poor business practice, I would never purchase a cart from them going forward after how they treat folks that aren't under their umbrella.

If you need a belt, order a couple from Partzilla. OEM Yamaha belts are only $31 each. They often take several months to get as they are out of stock a lot, but I always ordered two a time, and when I got down to 1, order another two.

I can't speak for the newer carts but that is not typical for older carts, at least Yamahas. My 2014 Yamaha has about 1600 hours and nearly 30K miles on the drive belt and it is still in spec. The part number is:

JC0-G6241-01

Belt little tuff to get off. I’d say 5 minute job? Stat at top secondary clutch and work off while moving cart backwards. Putting it on little easier use weight of cart working on at top to bottom of secondary clutch.

My belt was chatting when I first start off, took it and and clean it, was really dirty. I also cleaned primary and secondary clutches faces while it was off. Belt Starting to crack at outer layer sides, but still good.

My 2017 Quitech is on its 4th belt including the original. 600 hours on my cart at this time. I also have had 2 secondary clutches put in on top of the original. It appears that faulty secondaries are causing premature belt wear.
I must also say that I have a 2007 Yamaha that still has the original belt and a 2011 that the belt has only been replaced once.
Yamaha needs to figure this out.

Can you share the name and number of the person who fixed it, please? We are on our 3rd belt on our '22 Yamaha.