| Author | Message | ||
     Dio |
I have made an observation while changing the rear tire on my '06. It appears to me that there is a significant amount of space between the belt pulley on the rear wheel and the aluminum inner half of the gravel deflector that shields the lower strand of the drive belt. I have to wonder how many of the belt failures are attributable to gravel or something else finding it's way onto the drive belt through these gaps. The space between the deflector at the top, right next to the pulley, is over 5/16" on mine. I am going to slot the holes for the mounting screws and close up most of what I consider excessive clearance. My 1200 Sportster has a hole in the drive belt from a small rock that found it's way in. However, there is a large unprotected space that provides ample opportunity for this to happen. Any "broken belts" care to comment? | ||
| Etennuly |
I haven't broken one yet, but have you seen the video of how they test the belts by throwing stuff into it at speed? Awesome stuff. I think there is a video at Buell.com. | ||
| Hughlysses |
It also seems like most of the broken belts are from non-obvious causes; very few (if any) reported here have been due to debris. So, while it couldn't hurt to make the belt guard fit better, I wouldn't count on it eliminating all likelihood of belt breakage. | ||
| Jameslaugesen |
I've had 4 belts fail now and never spontaneously, like shortly after a particularly dirty trip or anything like that. Mine have always seemed to be a fairly progressive decay to eventual failure. The majority of my riding is dirt, sand, water, etc (picture typical 'aussie outback' I've never cleaned or brushed the belt, and on inspections I have never found a rock or anything larger than grains of sand lodged in the belt - despite regularly finding rocks and pieces of wood jammed around the swingarm, in the guards, around the drive pulley, etc. I think the belt & pulley knock away any debris entering on those angles, before they could have a chance of getting sucked in. | ||
| Florida_lime |
4 belts ? How many miles on your Uly ? I'm at 23,500 miles on my '07 with the original belt, but I've ordered an updated belt. My original one is loose enough that the tensioner pulley can be spun by hand without ANY resistance. | ||
| Dio |
If the tensioner pulley can be spun by hand without any resistance, is the belt stretching, or is it wearing on the cog side causing a loss of tension? (Generating a raised eyebrow here) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
26k on the CityX Iam on my third belt, and keep one in my tank bag for immediate replacement. My last belt change yielded a handful of peagravel rocks.... cascading into new primary drive gears, new idler pulley, new wheel bearings, new belt and a new belt guard..... The price of running hard off road. |
