Original Can-Am Maverick 1000 Belt Giving Out? What to Check and What to Replace It With

The original Can-Am Maverick 1000 is a few years old now, and plenty of them are on their second or third belt. If yours is slipping, squealing or just does not pull like it used to, the belt is the first place to look.

Signs the belt is finished

You do not need fancy gauges to tell. Look for these:

• Glazed, shiny sidewalls where the belt rides the clutch faces.
• Cracks across the cogs or the back of the belt.
• Frayed edges on one side, which can point to an alignment problem as well.
• A belt that sits lower in the primary than it used to, which re-gears the machine and costs you speed.
• Squeal from the secondary or a burnt-rubber smell after hard use.

If you see edge fraying on a new belt, stop and check clutch alignment before you blame the belt.

What fits

The Hunterworks 2013-2017 Can Am Maverick/Max 1000 Belt, part number HW-521KM, fits the 2013-2017 Can-Am Maverick and Maverick Max 1000. That is the fitment listed on the product. If your machine is a later Maverick, like the Trail, Sport or X3, it needs a different belt, so check the listing for your year before ordering.

What is different about this belt

It is made in the USA with a proprietary construction, engineered for toughness and strength, and described as higher strength than OEM. Todd designs it, and Hunterworks belts are built for better grip, less jerky starts and less secondary squeal.

Break-in matters

A new belt needs to seat. Keep it at half throttle or less for the first 30 miles and let it go through a couple of heat and cool cycles. It fully limbers up over the first 100 to 200 miles. Skipping this is the most common way a good belt gets a bad reputation.

Changing it

1. Remove the clutch cover.
2. Open the secondary clutch sheaves. A Can Am Secondary Belt Change Tool makes this easy and keeps you from prying on the faces the belt has to grip. Check that your year is listed on that tool first.
3. Walk the old belt off and look at both clutches.
4. Install the new belt with the part number facing out.
5. Reinstall the cover and break the belt in.

Hunterworks belts carry a limited warranty. Read the Belt Warranty page on the product before you install.