| Author | Message | ||
     Skifastbadly |
But I have an extra belt. Last time I puked a belt, it was on Halloween. This time it was on New Year's Day. Perhaps I should stop riding on holidays. It was a grand day, 50 degrees in the Puget Sound area, and the Packers had just beaten the Lions with a spare quarterback who set a franchise record for yardage and touchdowns. I had thrown the tree out 4 hours earlier. My daughter is returning to college tomorrow. All my cavities are filled. What could go wrong? I should have known better. Firing the beast up to 2X the legal speed limit, I found myself suddenly torqueless. As this was the second time for this, I knew immediately I experienced a transition from "final drive belt" to "piece of crap". I coasted to the side of the road, looked down, and confirmed it. A peace settled over me. I have a spare. I've done this before. I'm outta cigarettes. So, I write this for the benefit of those who may wonder what would ever happen if they lose a belt. Seriously? Always carry a spare. I actually looked forward to it, the way I used to look forward to putting together models. Here's the drill: Loosen the rear axle. That means pinch belt, then axle. If you don't carry the tools for this, you can stop reading here and whip out your AAA card. I loosened the rear axle until it was almost all the way out but still engaged in the threads on the left side. I then removed the two important pieces of plastic, that covering the belt and that covering the front pulley. Remove the right footpeg brace, because I say so. Also, it makes it easier to get to the frame part which needs to be removed. Take that off, four bolts. Now this is the important part. Raise the broken belt in your left hand, and face East Troy. Shake it three times, and toss it into the blackberry bushes. This probably won't work if you live in Arizona, but do what you can. Slip the new belt on. OK, that sounds easier than it is. It's a bit like me trying to slip back into a pair of pants that I wore in high school, assuming I'd ever want to get back into a pair of powder blue elephant bell bottoms. So, here's the trick. Put the belt over the front pulley. Put it as much as you can on the back pulley. Then back the bike up. Couple of time savers here: Don't have the bike in gear (d'oh!) and don't have all the parts and tools behind the rear wheel. It rolls on. Reverse the disassembly previously mentioned to assemble. When someone stops by and asks if you need help, I found today that replying "Yes my good fellow, would you be kind enough to trot down to town and fetch me a single malt and a cigar?" is not appreciated. Those of you who have followed my posts know that I've had some issues now and then with the Uly. But I gotta tell you, as much as the elves biffed the electronics and the rear wheel bearings, they did one thing right. They designed a bike that a barely competent shade tree mechanic could fix on the side of the road when the belt crapped out, and what else could you ask for in an adventure bike? Total repair time, 45 minutes. (Message edited by skifastbadly on January 02, 2012) (Message edited by skifastbadly on January 02, 2012) | ||
| Swampy |
"Now this is the important part. Raise the broken belt in your left hand, and face East Troy. Shake it three times, and toss it into the blackberry bushes" There is a similar exercise on the Thumper Forum that involves running around an oak tree three times nekkid... | ||
| Tootal |
 I love a great sense of humor!! Good job Ski! | ||
| Motorfish |
I got a new belt, spare, for Christmas. I`m going to take off the existing one with about 12K on it, and put on the new one in the comfort of my cold garage. Thanks Ski, funny stuff too! If the old belt is not broken, do I still perform the, "shake it" ritual? | ||
| Portero72 |
That's some funny chit right there, sir. Hat's off to a man who can laugh at irritations such as these.  | ||
| Pnw_uly |
Think want you want, but stories like these make me love the Uly all the more. . . Hopefully it wasn't your "final drive" of the New Year. . . Ride Safe | ||
| Buellerxt |
Cool write-up, Ski! A few questions, and kindling for some more of your funny/witty comments.  How many miles on this 'second' belt? Was it the latest belt, the 'f' I believe? A lot of riding off road, wheelies, hard starts, etc., or not? Did you lay the bike on the left saddlebag? Any axle issues when you pulled it out to get the belt on the rear pulley? Thanks. Just curious. | ||
| Uly_man |
Been there, done that (twice) and will not again. Never go to far without a belt to hand. Wisdom costs? | ||
| Skifastbadly |
Thank you for all your kind comments, I deeply appreciate the time and...oh shit, nevermind, I got confused and thought I was writing a corporate email. Bueller, this is my second Uly, the first one blew up real good (see my entry in the 07 crank failure thread, whatever happened to that?) So I assume it's the original belt. The bike has 15K on it. I don't ride much off road since the riding here is different than it was in Utah, and the last time I wheelied a bike it was by accident and I almost crapped myself. I'm 56 years old for crying out loud, whaddya think I am, some sort of hooligan? I did not lay the bike on the saddlebag. I did that the last time, and it worked pretty well but I was advised that sufficient slack could be gained if the axle was loosened and that turned out to be the case. I was on the side of the road on a blind curve with a deep ditch to my right and I would have had to have it laying in the middle of the road. Pretty soon, the belt would have been the least of my worries. (Great idea for a shirt, though. "I broke a belt and had to lay her down.") I do not know the model of the belt. It's back in the blackberry bush somewhere. (Message edited by skifastbadly on January 03, 2012) | ||
| Buellerxt |
Thanks, Ski. Much appreciated, and your posts are COOL to read! |
