| Author | Message | ||
     Ourdee |
I have been planning on a spare belt for a while. At near 20,000 miles it is about time. I've had the current belt for about half of that. The first was replaced under warranty for a missing tooth. Dealer would not let me keep it for a spare. Luck had it that it was down in the winter waiting for the back-ordered belt. So, I ordered a belt from American Sport Bike tonight. It is going to travel on the cheapest shipping option. I will try to keep this thread going through the installment and sto'age of the used belt as a spare. Stay tuned for the juicy bits. I hope American Sport Bike has one in stock. | ||
| Blasterd |
I've got 18,000 on my original belt and everyday I'm prayin that thing won't snap in the middle of nowhere one night coming home from work. I hope to replace it around 20,000 miles on my terms.... | ||
| Hughlysses |
My original belt was showing cracks between the teeth at ~8,000 miles. I replaced it and kept it as a spare; I now have almost 22,000 miles on the replacement. During my recent engine change, I noticed some very limited cracks in a few places. I'm debating whether to run it to failure or go ahead and get a replacement on order. At least a couple of people have posted that they noticed a marked decrease in belt tension right before their belts failed. You can check by pushing up on the bottom of the belt between the transmission and the rear wheel (the lower belt guard is open on the bottom). I try to check mine every time I think about it; it does vary somewhat with temperature, so don't let that fool you. I'm hoping that'll give some warning when belt failure is imminent. | ||
| Zane |
What is the "official" life of a belt? I've got 10,000 miles on my mine. | ||
| Froggy |
10,000 feet. Once you past that, you are on your own. Replace every 30,000 miles or whenever you feel like it. | ||
| Trevd |
I thought it was originally supposed to last the life of the bike. | ||
| Froggy |
Your bike can last 10 minutes or 10,000 years. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Any idea what the longest life we've seen on an XB belt is? IIRC, Dr. Greg got over 40k on his before it broke during a tipover in a parking lot (unloading the rear suspension apparently stretches the belt). For that matter, Barker got over 30k on a first generation XB9R belt running with NO belt guards. Of course, others have apparently broken the latest generation XB belts in less than 10k miles. | ||
| Froggy |
There are multiple bikes on here running well over 50k without failure. | ||
| Etennuly |
I changed from my original belt at around 33,000 miles. I have 55,000 on it now with the second generation belt. I changed the original because I could move it around on the pulleys by hand, seemed a little loose to me. New one is still tight on the pulleys. | ||
| Ourdee |
Al contacted me today. Let me know it was in stock and shipping today. I have lost a tooth on one but have not had a belt break apart. The one that is on it will become the spare. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
The Buell site - when it was up, stated that the belt life was 100K miles. This has obviously had not happened. At least to anyone that I am aware of. | ||
| Ourdee |
Belt should arrive Monday. | ||
| Needs_o2 |
Lost my belt Wednesday, at 17,500 mi., while leaving the neighborhood. Shortest trailer ride ever, a 1/4 mile up hill on gravel so pushing wasn't an option. Should have new belt from American Sport Bike on Monday as well. I hope Al has a lot of those to go around! I guess I can't complain, since I do a lot of off road riding and live on a gravel road. I'll take the penny a mile cost for belt replacement to keep the fun factor rolling! | ||
| Ourdee |
Jeff, Post pics of the swap. | ||
| Ourdee |
I swapped mine out today. WOW, that new belt is tight. Glad I didn't have to do that on the side of the road. | ||
| Kyle401 |
Broke my belt at 19,200 miles. Put on a new one from Bumpus (great service thanks!) that is tight as a guitar string. Belt side rear bearing went out at 19,470. Split the outer race in half!  I had to weld a bead around the inside of the race to get it out. For a minute I thought that I was going to have a good excuse to order up that 2010 wheel. Then I remembered using this old trick, so I am going another round with the 6006's. | ||
| Needs_o2 |
Ourdee, Any real problems or tips to throw at me? I got my belt, but haven't had time to start it yet. Thanks, Jeff | ||
| Ourdee |
Remove side bags from the frames. Jack it up. Remove rear wheel. Remove two screws on upper belt guard right side. Remove three screws on front pulley guard. Remove pulley guard. Remove three allen bolts that hold the right footpeg/brake pedal frame on the tank frame. leave that frame attached at the passenger foot peg where it is bolted to the side bag frame. Remove four bolts that hold the super-secret rear swing arm sneaky piece in and remove the piece. You should now be able to remove the old belt with a little imagination and put the new one in. First part to reassemble is the swing arm piece....prior to putting the wheel back on. I do not remove the rear brake....remember to pump it back up prior to starting the bike. The axle will draw every thing tight after you get it started. Torque the rear axle by the book. I think it was tighten to 25 foot pounds, back out 2 turns, tighten to 50 foot pounds. Use anti seize on the axle! | ||
| Froggy |
Skip these steps. | ||
| Needs_o2 |
Thanks Ourdee, should be a piece of cake, pie, or something tasty! | ||
| Whisperstealth |
It is much easier when the side bags are removed. I also removed the bolt connecting the peg bracket to the side rack. Makes getting the super-secrete swing are piece off and on a breeze. BIG Hint / Advice: DO NOT use a ball allen on the peg bracket piece to "break" loose the three bolts!! I would DAMHIK, but I think you should: I busted one off, and spent a week and half, and a number of bits drilling the SOB out. Tool Steel does not drill easily. | ||
| Ourdee |
hahaha, doh! I use a pipe over the allen wrench for more leverage and better control. Don't use the ball end to break anything loose on the bike. | ||
| Etennuly |
For most of the allen head bolts there is a torx bit that fits. These are much better at removing the allen head bolts because you can use a ratchet and extension or an air impact wrench to hold the bit square and straight in the bolt's head. Allen wrenches, regardless of what you use for a handle or extension, tend to twist to an angle under force. | ||
| Jcbikes |
2004 XB12S with 32,000 miles on the original belt and it is still tight and looking great. I do have a spare just in case but do not see any need to replace it yet. |
