| Author | Message | ||
     Hughlysses |
When I removed my muffler to paint it a few weeks ago, I noticed cracks between the teeth on my drive belt. I ordered a replacement from American Sport Bike last week and installed it today. I confirmed my suspicion that this belt didn't hold up nearly as well as it should have. I installed this one a couple of years and about 10,600 miles ago. It has pretty severe cracks between all the teeth. The previous belt, which was either one or two generations earlier, lasted about 35,000 miles before it broke, and showed no cracks at ~25k miles. I'm a little baffled that this belt deteriorated so quickly. I did the only thing I could think to do prior to installing it- I cleaned both sprockets really well with Simple Green and a toothbrush. I then wiped out the residue between all the teeth using Q-tips and rags. Hopefully this one will last at least 30k miles like the previous one. Here's the teeth of the removed belt:  Another interesting tidbit- the new belt (an HD part) has neither the Buell nor Goodyear logos like the previous belt. Here are both belts side by side showing the printing:  | ||
| Nillaice |
do you have an aftermarket or modded exhaust and does it blow on the belt? I noticed my Latus style muffler was cooking my belt in the gaurds ... | ||
| Hughlysses |
Nope, stock exhaust since new. | ||
| Arry |
It looks like the cracks show up when the belt is reverse arced..? Maybe it would still have lasted quite a while..? I need to check mine (that way) next time it's off. | ||
| Hughlysses |
It looks like the cracks show up when the belt is reverse arced..? Maybe it would still have lasted quite a while..? I need to check mine (that way) next time it's off. It's easy to see the cracks with it still installed on the bike by looking at the reverse bend where the belt goes over the idler pulley. Yes, this belt may have lasted another 10,000 or even 20,000 miles, or it may have broken tomorrow. However, the factory manual does recommend replacing the belt when cracks like this appear. | ||
| Ourdee |
I'm a tightwad. I would run the new belt a couple thousand miles then reinstall the old belt and run it till it gives up the ghost. | ||
| Nillaice |
Hugh, well, that kinda blows a hole in that theory Fellow tight-wad, changing a belt on the side of the road is a 20 minute inconvenience, at least for me. your 'pit times' may vary, but I haven't forgotten a pinch bolt or cross-threaded a belt guard bolt yet. (Message edited by nillaice on October 19, 2015) | ||
| Hughlysses |
I've still got the original belt off the bike that had ~8000 miles on it when I changed it. It had similar cracks (but not quite as extensive). I replaced it and ran the next belt until it broke ~35k miles later. Installed this belt and expected it to be good for another 35k miles. Pretty disappointed that it deteriorated this quickly. The main thing that pushed me into changing it is about 2/3 of my work commute is interstate. It would suck and BADLY to have this thing break in rush hour traffic. Now I've got 2 emergency spares I guess. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Running a belt is nice compared to all the fussing around a chain requires but it aint perfect. | ||
| Rdkingryder |
Hugh, now you;ve got me scared since I just installed the new style belt. It seems more plasticky than the former. The original I changed at 20K, 2nd one at 54K. Hope this one last longer and that yours was just a fluke. | ||
| Rdkingryder |
Just checked my belt. It has the Buell label, so it must be better than yours Hugh. We all know the Buells have more horsepower than Harleys.  |
