So, the clutch covers are plastic and ported?

In the great white north - how would this setup handle the sub 0 weather and ample snow?

To me, a sealed belt housing seems the better choice FOR MY HUNTING ENVIRONMENT

Does anyone hunt far north with a GTR?? Baron Von - you're in Min? What are your thoughts?

Is it still sealed somehow? does water/mud/snow have a chance of entering the belt housing?


Just trying to learn a few things about GTRs and how they would handle Canada winters. I dont know much about them.

Teach me Oh GTR gurus....

Gator Tail has a distributor in Russia. They use it all the time in ice, cold, etc. even Siberia. Gotta treat it like snowmobile engine, I guess. Belt housing and clutch are all exposed to the elements through the clutch cover and I would suppose might be problem if you get rain/snow. The worst problem I've had it freezing weather is the throttle cable freezing up on me. It operated in 7 degree weather in Arkansas for about a week last year without any problems. I suppose EFI would be better in colder weather, but the Mikuni carb did just fine in the 7 degree weather.

1st year is this year - I'm sure it'll do fine just like your MB

Like I said, just asking. We routinely hunt in severe snow storm.and freezing rain here. Not sure how the open holes to the belt and clutch would hold up.

Just cover it during storage. Water does get in the housing during heavy rain, but the belt slings it out. That won't be the case if it freezes. I think you''ll be just fine.

I'm in Minnesota and I hunted all last year with my GTR35. No problems. At the end of the year, I took the cover off and was going to pull the drain plug, but after looking down the belt housing there wasn't a drop of water in there.

I do store mine inside.

What's your main concern? Freezing water in the belt housing? You can drain the belt housing, but I've never had to (just one small drain screw on the bottom, front of the belt housing).

The bigger concern is the engine in the cold (as you well know). EFI would be the ticket there I think.

Freezing water in the belt housing. ... and nothing less than 1" as well.

Cant drain it until you make it back to the ramp

The belt will sling it out.

If it's not frozen

If you guys look at the January POTM I made - you'll see what I deal with on an average day up here.

Get an aluminum cover for it and be done with it

Just keep it covered during storage.if you get a lot of rain while hunting, just start the motor and sling it out.

How many times you hunt and it rains? I would think it would be mostly snow and sleet.

Lots of rain in October
Rain, sleet, ice and snow November
Same for December
Jan is just effing cold! -30° and lower

So when it rains how often is the temp below 32 degrees?

In October I don't think u have to worry about it freezing in the belt housing because it will be in the water keeping it warmer than the air temperature. You have no worries with snow and sleet imo. And you might be straining your brain over this issue.

I want to be the first guy in Canada with a GTR

Which one of you is gonna give me one?

I'll give you one if you drive down here with 76 $100 bills.

My new GTR gets water in the belt housing when it rains hard. My old one never did.

Keep it covered and you should be fine!


Sent from my beeper

Buzz I am sure the water (if any) in belt housing freezes wont be an issue - unlike the water in your waterpump/cooling system on an outboard freezing, been there. the biggest problem I have with my carbed Vanguard's ( snowblower / skid loader) in real cold weather is starting and keeping them running hopefully EFI will help

BTW my 2015 was out in 2 pouring rains, no water in belt housing (yet)

I will let you know, my GTR is due to me soon. My plan will be to run until it locks up, then there is always the river. We will see.

I hunt North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska with my GTR... since 2007. It always starts no matter how cold it gets.

Never had one problem with cold weather with the exception of the throttle cable. I kept having the moisture/condensation in the cable freeze up and then they won't work. A small torch fixes it temporarily. I soaked the last one in oil for a few days and never had a problem since.

Last November in North Dakota I had it so covered in ice from road spray that I figured that something would break or go wrong... nothing. Worked perfect. Had to chip away the ice and melt a little with the torch to get to the trim button and so I could turn the key to start it.

I have my air intake turned backwards all year long, so I think it gets plenty of warm air from the muffler. Also never had a problem with water in the housing. Never had a problem with snow.

My only issue is that the trim is ULTRA slow when its super cold. I actually don't even mess with it anymore. I just leave it adjusted to it best position and leave it. Reverse doesn't work as well trimmed mostly up, but no complaints.

BTW- There is a fire department / EMS south of Winnipeg that has a black 35 GTR on a non-painted aluminum boat. I saw it parked by a road during some red river flooding 2 years ago.

KJH - do you cover motor / tiller controls when trailering thru inclement weather?

that sounds good MN

I'm in The Pas and there r a couple of guys here that own them. older GT but they r here. I have a new 2015 on order should be here in about 3 weeks. I had a prodrive last year but sold it to a friend, no complaints with a pro drive. Just wanna try the GTR.

kewl, yes I do live here. Need the mud motor for reeder and root lake, salt channel dike and saskram. all around The Pas. last year I used my prodrive in culdisac and niska an outboard would've never got in there.