| Author | Message | ||
     Rek  |
Just picked up my second rock through the belt drive when I went out the other day. The belt is still intact but has a definite puncture wound. W/ all the gravel I traverse I started wondering if it wouldn't be better to just switch to a chain drive? Has anyone done this? How much of a pain is it? Rob | ||
| Rek |
So I've been slogging through the KV looking for chain threads (something wrong there, can't use the "back" command and have to re-enter the search parameters every time) but can't really determine who's right or wrong. I use my S3 for work a lot, which entails many miles of gravel to and from remote farms. I might've paniced when I replaced the belt last year for a mere puncture wound, but now I've got another and I really don't want to be stranded in the middle of BFE w/ a broken belt. Especially when the nearest dealers are Great Falls or Bismark, ND, and it's a fair guess that neither will have one in stock. Should I just buy an extra belt? Or switch to a chain drive. It sounds like replacing a belt is not something I want to do along side the road. Rob | ||
| Grndskpr  |
http://www.bakerdrivetrain.com/home.html | ||
| Bob_thompson |
This will probably start the chain vs belt wars again but I did the Baker conversion as Grndskpr posted and never looked back. Bakers chain is not the best quality but after initial stretch seems OK but I will upgrade anyways. I too had a pebble put a small hole in my belt and epoxied it closed. One week later while power shifting to second gear it snapped. Fortunately only one block from my house and a downhill coast home. | ||
| Rick_a  |
Chain conversion is easy and relatively inexpensive. If you like to keep your bike flawlessly clean forget it. It's a pain. Other than that there's just the occasional adjustment and lube. A 520 is lightweight but won't last long. A 525 is a good compromise. | ||
| Djkaplan  |
I love the belt, but the first time it breaks and leaves me stranded, I know I'll want a chain again. Then again, a belt would never sling off and break the cases. Hmmm... | ||
| Rek |
Flawlessly clean is hardly an issue. My bike is so splattered w/ bug guts and mud (not to mention manure, tar and a variety of other unidentified substances)at the end of each week I'd spend all my time cleaning if I cared about something like that. The Baker conversion kits mentioned seem decently priced, although I'm confused aobut the exact process. Is it just sprockets and chains, or is there a shaft replacement involved as well? And then if the (?drive?)shaft needs replaced how technical is that? Could a farm-boy do it in the garage, or should I take it to the shop? Rob (Message edited by rek on February 14, 2005) | ||
| Rick_a |
No shaft needs replacement, just the front sprocket spacer. | ||
| Tripp  |
last year i collected all the info needed (wrote down the dates of all the dates of posts in the archive of the kv). even better than that though CRUSTY from badweb here, mailed me a copy of the instructions he got with the kit from baker so if you don't find the information readily available from baker then send me a PM and i'll mail you a copy and emulate crusty's nice gesture. | ||
| Tripp |
hey rob, you probably got mail from me but in case you did'nt (my email has been acting funny as of late), i failed to mention i have no scanner, so send me your street address or a number i can fax it to (it's only 4 pages). | ||
| Rek |
Tripp, Check your in-box. Thx!!! Rob | ||
| Rek |
So I'me browsing the chain conversion thread on the Xboard and they're talking swapping swing arms and custom spacers in addition to idler-pulley issues. Are these similar issues to doing the conversion on an S3? Rob | ||
| Aaomy  |
nope,, the xb bikes have an idler pulley to adjust belt tension. great for belt but dosent work so great for chains. you can just adjust yours at the rear axle..the xb rear axle is fixed in one position. hope this helps. and remember only one stands in your shoes. make your choices based on that and that alone. | ||
| Tripp |
rob, as soon as i get to work i'll be faxing those instructions to you, the only issue you may run into is with the larger aluminum swingarms we have the chain might run across the top of it. | ||
| Rick_a |
There's a company making a spring loaded chain tensioner conversion for XB's so you can keep the stock swingarm. I don't remember where it came from, a guy who had one told me about it. I know it came from abroad. I made one for my S1 but alas, I bottomed out the suspension and bent it. It sucks riding without it! | ||
| Rek |
Tripp, The fax came through ok-fine. Thanks! Rob | ||
| Leftcoastal |
My Rs is chain drive from factory - there is a nylon or delryn slider mounted to the swingarm mount to prevent chain from rubbing on the top of the mount. A similar system may help with the new swing arm upgrade. I have an older sportster belt hanging in the garage if anyone needs one (make offer?) it says "Sportster" on it and I think it has 135 teeth but I will re count to verify. I think it is the same as used on S2 models - correct me if mistaken. AL Recount gets 128 teeth - AL (Message edited by leftcoastal on February 21, 2005) |
