| Author | Message | ||
     Adamd |
Is there anything I can use on the belt to keep it from drying out? Perhaps belt dressing of something? Aside from washing with water has anyone else used something specific to the belt? | ||
| Birdmanrh |
Don't do anything to the belt other than wash it with soap and water. I live in Mesa, AZ and have no drying issues. | ||
| Skrobe |
The following is stated in the Owner's Manual. Nothing in the way of dressing is mentioned as a service requirement. Rear Drive Belt: XB Models The rear drive belt inner tooth surface has a thin coating of polyethylene. During initial operation, this coating will wear as it is burnished into the belt fabric. This is a normal condition and not an indication of excessive belt wear. No belt adjustment is required. Refer to Regular Service Intervals: 2007 XB Models for inspection intervals. | ||
| Bearly |
I'm starting to get surface cracks in between the humps in mine at 10400 miles. This is probably the coating as mentioned above. Anyone see this as a trend to failure?    (Message edited by bearly on July 12, 2007) | ||
| Ulyssesguy |
That is exactly what my belt looked like right before it failed at 8316mi... It looked just like the belt in the pictures at 7500 miles... I would'nt go very far on that belt if it has 10,400mi on it... Just my .02c | ||
| Birdmanrh |
If you keep twisting the belt like that it will fail. | ||
| Bearly |
Thanks for that Ulyssesguy. Oh yes for those interested. Those pictures where taken with the rear wheel off. So there was no tension on the belt. (Message edited by bearly on July 13, 2007) | ||
| Rays |
Bearly, I noticed the same sort of surface cracks at around the 16,000km service (just under 10,000miles) and they have not changed very much at the 39,000km point (23,500miles). With the 40,000km service just about due I think I'll change it for peace of mind - to be honest I think that is a pretty reasonable service life. | ||
| Bearly |
Thanks Rays. After all the bragging I do about having a no maintenance belt drive, I'm glad to know it will (might)go that long.  As far as belt dress, I've never put anything on it except soap and water. (Message edited by bearly on July 13, 2007) | ||
| Gohog |
Note about belt on my 06 Uly. In for service at 40,000 miles and service tech suggested that my belt was "cracking" and should be replaced. Surface on teeth was OK but there were minute cracks visible all over the edges of belt. I was told it appeared to be like "dry rot." Original equipment. A Buell/H-D factory service rep agreed that the belt was defective and would be replaced under the Original warranty. (Belt is advertised to last the life of the bike, after all.) My experience with big twin belts - specifically FLH and FLT - indicates this is way early for belt failure. My expectation would be closer to the 100000 mile mark with reasonable (say 10%) dirt road use. Hope the new belt will. Also wonder if Buell will continue to replace failed belts under extended warranty coverage. Happy riding | ||
| Teeps |
Gohog Posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 A Buell/H-D factory service rep agreed that the belt was defective and would be replaced under the Original warranty. Also wonder if Buell will continue to replace failed belts under extended warranty coverage. Happy riding Both great customer service; but moot when you're broke down in the middle of no where... | ||
| Dr_greg |
Re: belt washing I saw a copy of an article about some old guy who put over 400,000 miles on some '90s-era Harley. He went through THREE belts! He said he washed the belts more than he washed the bike. | ||
| Brad1445 |
i was lucky enough to get one of those, "guess where you will be stranded belt" | ||
| Arcticktm |
Note that the photos show the belt being bent backwards and sideways, which are both specifically warned against in a full page warning in the service manual. I know it sounds "fragile", but my experience with snowmobile belts (transferring much more power) says that highly engineered modern belts do not like to be moved in any direction they were not designed for. Snow belts even have a break-in procedure, though I don't know many folks who actually follow it (including the OEM I worked for). Using belt dressing might be asking for trouble, since you have no idea if it will harm the specific materials in the Goodyear belt. | ||
| Stevenknapp |
Note that the photos show the belt being bent backwards and sideways, which are both specifically warned against in a full page warning in the service manual. Even if not under tension! "hey I had the rear wheel off" isn't going to help as I understand it. |
