| Author | Message | ||
     Aussie_buell |
Is the new belt upgrade kits for the 03 using the 06 belt. Is the part number 17082 the newest kit? Also what are the new belt guards worth and do they fit straight on. Do I need to upgrade the master cylinder as well or can i just use a spacer. Are the belt guards necessary as they dont seem to cover as much as the old 03 guards do. | ||
| T9r |
I've got the whole 2004 upgrade setup, minus the belt and 04 idler pulley that I'll sell ya. To answer your questions: New guards fit right on It's not necessary to replace Master Cylinder Belt guards are necessary to keep rocks and other debris out from between the belt and the pulleys. | ||
| Daves |
There is no part number from Buell for a kit. I can get you all the stuff you need though. I have had customers get the master cylinder and some that have not? It is only like 20.00 so I would go ahead and get it if it were me. The belt guards are needed if you are going to use belt guards. | ||
| Glitch |
The belt guards are needed if you are going to use belt guards. Really?  | ||
| Kdan |
But if you're not going to be using belt guards, then hell, you don't need 'em, right? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The belts are only necessary if you plan to use belts. Me, I prefer kite string.  | ||
| Al_lighton |
The 17082 is the American Sport Bike part number, not an HD/Buell number. The items in the kit are all of the OEM items necessary and are the latest part numbers. It uses the Diamond Highlight and chrome pulley bolts instead of the plain black one and zinc bolts because it looks nicer (IMHO) and is cost effective. It includes the belt, pulleys, idler, and rear pulley bolts. It does not include the belt guards, as there are OEM plastic, billet, and CF options for that. Al | ||
| Bads1 |
If you guys don't want to run the rears thats your choice. The front one though is different on the 04's to present compared to the 03 that will not work with the upgrade. | ||
| Xb9ser |
go chain!! | ||
| T9r |
XB9ser, I bought Buell because it didn't have a chain. For all intents and purposes if a belt does what it is suppose to do, it can last up to 100,000 miles as it has on several S2 bikes. Why give up the maintenance free (in theory) for something you have to keep lubricated, that wears (chain and sprockets) and gets the bike even more messy? I ride in the rain often, so I'd have to lube the chain more often to keep in working well. Last time I checked good quality chains were not that cheap for my motorcycles, easily $100. The cost/maintenance over the long run just doesn't make sense for myself. Going into the engineering aspects of the chain vs belt the belt weighs less. If you have 400hp/400lb-ft torque then you might want to go with the chain but the belt seems to handle the 100hp/100lb-ft torque relatively well. Good Day | ||
| Cereal |
I can't believe it! This thread went over 24 hours before a member of the chain gang chimed in. That's got to be some kind of record. | ||
| Aussie_buell |
T9r Thats what I like about the buells too, the fact that they are chain. I have thought about chain tho as i have broken a belt before and noticed I have had a rock in this one but i do like the convenience of the belt. Quite, clean etc etc, and thats the way the bike is designed, if only i could have more confidence in it. After all HD has been running belts for 300 years with minimal probs. Thanks for the other replies guys, i appreciate it. | ||
| Daves |
Glitch, That did sound kind of dumb didn't it? I meant, if you are going to run belt guards you will need the 04 and later belt guards. The 03 ones won't work with the newer belt. The guards are, lower 46.60 upper 33.25 These are list prices you get 10% off from us for being a Badweb member | ||
| Xb9ser |
T9r I guess you have not been stranded by a belt that had 2 weeks, about 1000 miles like I have.My oreginal belt had 10000 miles on it. I put on upgraded 03 belt at tire change. Two weeks later it broke. put back on my old belt. Went to chain 5000 miles later. After belt was at the end of its service life.My local dealer Tilleys does not stock 03 belts. If I have a chain problem you can get 530 chain any where. I thought about 04, 06 up grade but why give buell $500 that they shoud have replaced for at least cost to us 03 owners.I went to a chain for very little more than the cost of 1 belt.Knowing I will get back home after a ride was well worth it to me. That is my choise every one has there own opinion. For me the chain was the right move. By the way I love my buell and would not trade it except for another Buell. | ||
| Rasmonis |
My 03 XB9S' belt looks good at almost 6k mi, but after reading several threads I am considering saving up for the upgrade. Can you upgrade to an '06 belt system? What parts are required for this job? $$$? Thanks, -Ras | ||
| Swordsman |
"After all HD has been running belts for 300 years with minimal probs." Wow, H-D's been around a lot longer than I thought! Did they ride those in the War of the Spanish Succession?  ~SM (yes, I freely admit to looking up an event from the 1700's... thank goodness for Wikipedia!) | ||
| Xb9ser |
Rasmonis I rode 15000 miles on my 03 belt the problem I had is with the new belt. A fellow bad webber Twig bought a belt from same dealer I did the same week and his failed at 600 miles mine lasted 1000 miles. It seams up graded belts are hit and miss if you get a good one or bad one. Some badwebers have had good resulets with a new belt and a lot have had good results. | ||
| Aussie_buell |
ok 300 years was a bit of an exageration.. When is Buell going to do something about this sh*t, I am sick of it. My new upgraded 03 belt lasted 1000km also. Its crap, Buell should be off its ass helping us out. Its very hard to recomend em when this happens. I know its seems only the 03's have a problem but to me thats not good enough if the factory recognises it as a weak point. And you know why there arent more Buells around, because non buell owners thinking of changing are afraid of the belts. I really dont want to go to chain, I will have to do some more thinking about it. | ||
| Rd3501 |
dont forget that you paid $1,000.00 more when they came out. $9999.00 than the next year they dropped them to $8,999.00 so I am sure they can help us out.. | ||
| Lovematt |
You can upgrade an '03 Firebolt to an '06 belt...my guess is an S would be the same. I got the "kit" from American Sport Bike for around $400. Includes the rear diamond highlight pulley, new chrome mounting bolts for rear pulley, new front pulley, new idler pulley assembly, and the '06 belt....a good deal if you ask me. I got a dealer to put on the front pulley the right way and did the rest myself in less than two hours (I am a bit slow). You still need to get some guards...specifially you must get a new front pulley cover since the diameter is different. Otherwise I am not running the other guards but might get the lower soon since it can see it is the more likely place for stuff to get in between the belt and pulley. I didn't have to replace the rear master cylinder...there is still just over 1.5" of clearance between the top of the belt and the bottom of the hard line coming out of the master cylinder and so far the little foam piece I zip tied on there shows no sign of rubbing. Also...I got 18,000 miles out of my original '03 belt before doing this update. (Message edited by lovematt on October 19, 2006) | ||
| T9r |
If you buy everything new you will pay $425 easily, without the rear sprocket covers. I've seen all the parts go on Ebay and you could assembly a complete upgrade belt kit, used parts, for $300. I have not been stranded... that is why I upgraded to the 2006 belt. Yes, I got lucky. I looked over my 2003 belt OFTEN to try and make sure I didn't get left by the side of the road. |
