| Author | Message | ||
     Bigwallfish |
I'm currently riding an '03 and have gotten the willy's from reading the other thread about belts. What parts & how much time would a conversion take? Thanks in advance. | ||
| Lovematt |
I did the conversion using a kit from American Sport Bike. Total cost was no more than $450 and about 1.5 hours of my time (I take my time) to do it. I did have to go to a dealer to switch out the front pulley as I don't have an impact wrench but overall it was a good thing. The new belt is much more substantial. | ||
| Badbuell82 |
Why so much & such a project? Are the belts a different width, or the pulleys different gearing or something? If it's just a difference in belt materials, I would think there'd be a huge market for making new belts to fit older configs. | ||
| Olinxb12r |
They are completely different belts. The 03 belts are much thinner and they have a different teeth pattern and size. The 04 belts changed the teeth patter and size and were quite a bit thicker than the 03. Then in 06 they came out with an even thicker belt that is supposed to never brake. I believe the 03 belt was designed to last 10K, the 04 25K and the 06 is the life of the bike. I only got 7K out of my 04, and the 06 that I have now has 5K on it. Hopefully it will last the advertised 25K that the 04 should have. As for the cost, it is expensive because you have to change the front and rear sproketts along with the belt. When you consider that the new belt is $150, $450 is not very much money for a much better design. | ||
| Olinxb12r |
You may have to change the idler pulley too, but I'm not sure. | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Yes, you have to replace the idler pulley. | ||
| Buelltroll |
hmm 13,000 miles on my 03 belt. 3 rear tires n no problems at all. Mabye I'll do the upgrade when I replace my tires again. Will wheelie for boobs. I CANT GET A PIC TO UPLOAD HERE!!! | ||
| Daves |
I would sell you the parts if you are determined to do the swap. In my opinion, it is not needed. Buell of Appleton WI 1-866-757-1651 ask for Dave in the sales dept | ||
| Buelltroll |
Well I've heard of the new ones breaking too but never the 06 ones yet. I do have a little fray showing on the side of the belt like it has rubbed somewhere but I still abuse it. Will wheelie for boobs. I CANT GET A PIC TO UPLOAD HERE!!! | ||
| Twig |
After my new '03 belt broke with only 600 miles of use, I had the '06 upgrade on my bike in a matter of weeks. Never even thought twice about doing it. Sure, it's a good chunk of money. You won't be seeing me on the side of the road again anytime soon with a broken belt. I highly recommend the upgrade to anyone considering it. Make sure you install on a cool engine, and spray the front pulley locknut the day before. It will help getting the pulley off easier. | ||
| Rubberdown |
Twig, you forgot the "drink beer" step. | ||
| Mojave_mike |
"Well I've heard of the new ones breaking too but never the 06 ones yet". How about '05...are they the same as '06 ? | ||
| Bake |
Looks like the natives are getting restless! Gotta admit I was thinking of doing the same thing. Will the old beltguard work with the wider belt? | ||
| Xb9ser |
My new 03 belt pn G0500 02A8R BROKE AFTER 2 WEEKS!! | ||
| T9r |
Pictures, descriptions of job included in this link: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/167065.html | ||
| Badbuell82 |
OK, how about converting from an '04 to an '06 drive belt? Is the hardware the same & can you just swap belts, or not?? | ||
| Olinxb12r |
Just swap the belts if you already have an 04. It is a snap. | ||
| Badbuell82 |
Thanks Olinxb12r. Still fairly low mileage on my '04, as I just bought it as a left-over, but nice to know it's a relatively inexpensive upgrade! | ||
| Cmhxb9 |
Daves: Please explain why you do not think the swap is necessary. Thanks! | ||
| Skyguy |
Daves! You are kidding right? I never twisted my stock belts during tire changes and other than flogging the hell outta my bike have done nothing to warrent the failures. Please explain this compulsive need you have to not sell stuff!  | ||
| Olinxb12r |
BadBuell82, you should be pretty good with the 04 belt. Mine was starting to frey on the outside before it snapped, so I saw it coming. I think that the chrome upper belt guard is the reason that my original belt broke. If yours isn't showing any signs of wear you shouldn't worry about it. | ||
| Bertman |
Straight swap from my 05 12R to the 06 belt. I did this two night ago while putting new tires on at the 10,000 mile mark. My original belt had a slight debris tear I found out after changing, but man that 06 belt was beefy and tight! | ||
| Kdan |
I put 12,000 miles on my original 03 belt. I changed it because I was there and felt the need to •••• away $140. and now almost 7k on the upgraded 03 belt. No problems and I don't have a belt guard. | ||
| Fdl3 |
To bring more balance to this "discussion" and at the risk of jinxing myself: I got 13.5K out of my original 03 belt, and 25.5K out of my upgraded 03 belt. Neither one broke. I replaced the original out of convenience, and the upgraded one because the little voice inside my head said it was time. Stock 03 XBR, all belt guards in place. PS: I would still love to install the upgraded 04/05/06 system so that I could run the 06 belt. I, too, wish the factory provided a nice little upgrade package for the 03s. (Message edited by fdl3 on June 03, 2006) | ||
| Curtyd |
"My new 03 belt pn G0500 02A8R BROKE AFTER 2 WEEKS!!" I'd be looking at the installer or assembler of the bike if that happened. Subjective experience has been over 30K on my 99 M2 belt and now 3 years and several thousands of miles on my 2003 XB, NOW I know it'll probably break now that I've bragged about it. Any common denominator here with people pulling off their belt guards or constant wheelies in their broken belt histories? I can barely even see mine with the stock guards. Don't hardly see how anything could even get thrown up in there. (Message edited by CURTYD on June 03, 2006) | ||
| Xb9ser |
Curtyd I was installer of my new belt the orginal belt had 10000 miles on it. Iwas putting on 5th rear tire and changed the belt while it was down. I allways take my wheel off and take it to be changed no issues the 4 times before.2 days after changring it I talked to twig he had bought a belt from same dealer I did within 2weeks of the time Idid his belt broke after 600 miles mine lasted 1000.I put on my old belt and i'm going to goto 04 06 set up when I can aford it. Hard on a single parent with 2 teenagers. |
