| Author | Message | ||
     M2nc |
 Yup! I broke the belt. The bike just turned over 39,000 miles in 39 months. But as I have said many times in the past the Uly is totally dependable. The belt broke two blocks from the house, coasted to within a block of the house. I walked the bike a couple houses down the street, then rode it downhill to the driveway, down the driveway, through the backyard and into the barn. Truth be told I have been waiting for the belt to let go. I am glad it was close to the house because it was 32°F tonight and that would have been a cold wait for the rescue truck. Funny thing is I met Ulywife waiting for me to pass so she could turn left just after it happened. She was wondering why I was coming toward her so slow. After inspecting the belt, it was pretty cracked throughout. It almost looked dry rotted. I noticed during the last tire change some 2200 miles ago that the belt was very loose. With everything in place I could slide the belt side to side on the rear pulley. I actually have a spare belt that I take with me when traveling. I bought it after my mis-adventure on the Dragon in 2007. Yup! the same belt was still on the bike. I have put almost 20,000 miles since, so I guess I have gotten my money's worth out of it. Tomorrow, I get to practice a belt change. Any tips? | ||
| Froggy |
Lets see, mine broke walking distance to my house, yours did too, Danger_dave broke pulling into a parking spot at work, do the belts have a GPS on them to minimize the inconvenience? "Come on, 2 more miles, just hang in there!" | ||
| Rotorhead |
Tool buying time!!!!!!!! When your doing the swap lay aside the tools you use and go buy a duplicate set to always keep on the bike. Next time you might not be 2 blocks uphill from the house!!! | ||
| Wbrisett |
aren't the new belts suppose to be longer lasting? Actually, that's an interesting question when did they make the switch on the belts? '07/'08??? Wayne | ||
| Froggy |
09 is when they switched. I don't know anybody that has broken the newest belt. | ||
| Jphish |
Well you've likely changed a rear tire - easier. Get the rear off the ground - Don't forget the pinch bolt...both ways. Only have to loosen axle about 15 turns to install new belt. Folks caution however that new belts are tight and don't like to be twisted, crimped, folded, spindled, mutilated or disrespected in anyway. My challenge was finding my damn wrench to fit pinch bolt. It was right in the toolkit...where I put it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Froggy, I believe there was an additional belt change before 09. I got an "updated" belt early last year. There should have been two updates to the belt since 06. | ||
| Froggy |
Ft_ can you check the part numbers? G0500.1AKD came on the 06's, and G0500.1AKE is the current one. I know the 09's have that, its possible they started putting them on part way through the 08's like the revised clutch cable retainer. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I just know that there was an updated belt before the 09's, and there was supposedly an update on the 09. May have been late news on the 09 belt for an 08 or 07 update. I don't know the part number of what I have. | ||
| Happy1 |
whats different between the belts? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I believe it was the construction of the reinforcing weave and how it was mated to the rubber. | ||
| Happy1 |
huh? good thing i bought an 09 | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Welcome to the club!! Belt changing tips.... call Webe.. add a dash of beer... Have fun!! | ||
| Barker |
just put some JB weld on it, should be fine. | ||
| Froggy |
JB weld? Teflon tape is more flexible and should last longer. | ||
| M2nc |
Well the new belt is on. It really is not that tough of a job. I followed most of the manual's directions but had no luck getting the idler pulley back on with the belt on. I never take it loose during tire changes and now I know why. I have no doubt I could get the job done road side. It really was quite easy especially since I replaced the belt on the M2 and can compare. I believe a few elves replaced tuber belts and came up with the idea for the removable section of the swing arm. Tubers are a biotch to replace a belt. Wolf - Webe did come over for morale support, but he did not dance for me. He is saving himself for WV. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
He is saving himself for WV. Have him bring a grass skirt and a coconut bra!!! | ||
| Skinstains |
I've yet to hear about an upgrade for my chain... | ||
| Froggy |
I take it your chain is still primitive and made of metal that needs nasty lubrication? All the cool people are using carbon based chains  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Why did you take the pulley off? | ||
| Maximum |
I had my belt break at 25,000 miles as I was leaving the parking lot at work. I borrowed a buddy's car and went home to pickup my new belt (I always keep a spare on hand). I was able to change it in the parking lot with only the tools that I carry with me in the under the seat "stow and go" bag. I had to take the idler pulley off to get the belt on...but after I got a couple turns on the rear axle, I put the pulley back on before I made the last 15 turns to tighten up the rear axle. This seamed to work best for me...at least when you're using a new drive belt. | ||
| Florida_lime |
I never remove the pulley for tire changes, but had to when replacing the belt to the "AKE" update. My original at 24,000 miles was VERY loose - I could spin the pulley with no resistance from the belt at all, and had about 1" of play in the belt. The new belt was so snug that loosening the idler pulley was the best way to get things in place without forcing anything. | ||
| M2nc |
I've yet to hear about an upgrade for my chain... Ans #1: Is it still connected to your wallet and Trans Am key? Sorry, that image always pops in my head when someone mentions a chain. Ans #2 It's called a belt. Using my experience to which is better between a belt and chain, I would have to say belt. My M2 belt lasted 32,000 miles and original sprockets are still on the bike at 46,000 miles. My Uly belt lasted 39,000 miles and still has the original sprockets. My Honda chain lasted 21,000 miles and lunched both sprockets when it went. Both my belts either gave warning or lasted long enough to get home. The M2 belt did not break, but stripped teeth. It made the twelve or so mile ride home, no problem. The Uly belt gave plenty of warning and I thought long and hard about replacing the belt at my last tire change some 2200 miles ago. In the future I will know when it's time and that was the whole point. As for the Honda, a hard exit out of a corner left the chain popping. The M2 and Honda incidents were very similar with both bikes limping home. The difference is the M2's belt last 50% longer. Plus I did not have to pay to replace the sprockets. The Uly's belt lasted 85% longer. Why did you take the pulley off? The manual I believe says remove the pulley, but I never have and probably will not again. We actually got the necessary slack by by picking up the back end of the bike after the 15 turns. | ||
| Abuellinwangi |
I broke a belt on my 2003 XB9R at 51,000 klms, we also changed the pulley as it had chips in it and then the belt broke again after 3,000 klms, I've done 1,500 klms on the latest belt and I sure hope it lasts at bit more than 3,000 klms, I was NOT impressed. I'm not a hard rider and don't do wheel stands or any manic acceleration and my husband's Harley breaks belts at over 120,000 klms so I don't know why Buells break them at such low klms. My Moto Guzzi was shaft drive and I had not one problem with it and I did 230,000 klms on that bike over the 15 years I owned it. I love the Buell (it is my second Buell) and hopefully the belt will last a bit longer than 3,000 klms this time, at least now we are a whizz at changing them. | ||
| Froggy |
The belts on the 03's are the worst belt ever made. That is why most people switch them to the 04+ belts or a chain. | ||
| Hooper |
I would never join a club that would have me as a member. (Thanks Mr. Marx) I hope I don't break a belt! | ||
| Etennuly |
I changed mine at 30,000 as a matter of maintenance. It was quite loose. I carry that one as a spare on trips. I got the PN# G0500.1AKE back in July. I have been told the tightest thing in the world is a "nat's ass stretched over a rain barrel". Now, that might have been true until I met with this new belt.  I loosened the nuts on the idler pulley and slid it out to the end of the studs to align the belt into the cogs, then tightened the idler and then the axle. | ||
| Aeholton |
I would be worried about wheel bearing failure with such a tight belt. |
