| Author | Message | ||
     Rocketman |
I'm in the process of buying a new belt for my 1998 S1W. It's a minefield of choice. Simply I want the best quality belt regardless of price. I don't care who makes it or where it comes from as long as it's the best available. Using Euro pulleys I'm currently with a 128 tooth x 1' 1/8th stock belt. Several UK dealers know nothing other than part numbers so can't or won't advise. As I understand it the XB9R belt is the correct size but not the XB12 belts. Then I'm told the 9's have had several belt upgrades and the latest is the best. Just recently someone posted on BadWeB stating the latest XB9 belt was stronger and more flexible than previous attempts and thus was the one to use in an S1. Then there's the after market stuff. Going by price it's just about impossible to determine who offers the best quality. A friend can supply me with a Dayco belt. It ain't cheap either but he reckons they're top notch. Oddly Dayco make no reference to motorcycles on their web site? Gates offer belts too but again their web site offers no info. Please can anyone in the know offer some expert advice / knowledge so as we can make a definitive archive between model interchangeability quality manufacturer price etc. Many thanks. Rocket | ||
| Buelliedan |
I think you have it backwards. The 12 belt is the one that will work on older tubers not the 9. | ||
| Rocketman |
No Dan that'd be Chesterfield HD parts dept and it serves as a fine example of the shite one comes up against when dealing with so called knowledgeable souls. So it's a 12 belt that fits the older models? Can we confirm 12 belt is 128 tooth x 1 1/8th inch? If this is the case can we sort out the upgrades too? Is there a better quality more flexible belt available stock from Buell? Perhaps when this can be confirmed someone can offer info on an alternative belt. Dayco or Yates anyone? Rocket | ||
| Buelliedan |
Rocket, The new XB12 belt is 128 tooth x 1 1/8 pitch and it is more flexible. The really great thig is that it is cheaper than the stock tuber belt! | ||
| Ingemar |
You know, I thought it was simple but the way you just stated your dilemma ... well, good luck!  | ||
| Anonymous |
Buy the new XB12 belt. It is by far the best. Completely new technology and fits the tube frame bikes. | ||
| Rocketman |
Thank you Dan and Anonymous. One last question if I may. Should I ignore the aftermarket alternatives? If so that means you're right Ingemar. It was simple after all!! Thanks again. Rocket | ||
| Jlnance |
Will the 12 belt fit an M2 as well? | ||
| Outrider |
Thanks Anon!!! | ||
| Koz5150 |
Would it be advantagous to run the New Buell belt on a sportster? Besides the price? | ||
| Azbueller |
The new XB12 belt will fit ALL tube frame Buells and ALL belt driven Sportsters!!! | ||
| Rocketman |
Can someone in the interests of saving confusion post an up to date part number for this latest of XB12 belts please. Thanks. Rocket | ||
| Al_lighton |
I asked Buell if the XB12 belt could be used on tubers, they declined to comment because it had not been tested. That is the right answer for them. But the size is identical, the front pulleys are the same part number. The difference on the outside is that the old Gates belt has transverse "ribs" on it, the Goodyear XB belt is smooth. The Gates belt has a decidedly plasticky feel to it, the goodyear belt feels more rubbery. I can't say I've seen evidence that the internal construction is 9 strands of kevlar on both. Carey (AZbueller) was the first guinea pig for this. He put one of the XB belts on his modified S2. So far, no issues (how many miles now, Carey?). I will be putting one on my S3 or S1W as soon as it needs one. The XB goodyear belt is $20 cheaper than the tuber Gates belt. I'll post part numbers when I get to work. If Anonymous is who we think it is, I'm happy to hear his comment. Al | ||
| Rocketman |
Thanks Al that's much appreciated. Thanks for letting us know Buell's take on it too. I fully understand their reasoning. Rocket | ||
| Newfie_buell |
The old belts definately have that plastic feel to them. I think thats why they are so prone to failure from small stones and pebbles. There is no give in the plastic. If the new belt is rubbery then it may just resist small stones. I love my chain but if I could get the same reliability from a belt I'd go back. No One ever did answer the question about spreading the S1 frame to get a belt in???? Is this a safe thing to do??? | ||
| Cereal |
I just spread the frame on my 96 S1 to install a new belt. It is safe. I used a hydraulic portapower to spread the frame just enough to remove the isolator. Then I relieved the pressure on the frame and removed the spreader, slipped the belt through were the isolator was, then re-spread the frame to get the isolator back in. Entire process took 2 hours (is would have been less, but we had trouble getting bolt back in). I went with the original style belt because I found one locally for $80. I otherwise would have gone with the XB12 belt. | ||
| Blake |
The shop procedure for replacing the isolators with the new/improved versions specifies the use of a special Buell tool to spread the frame. The special tool is just a miniature screw jack that fits between the swingarm block and frame. Provides just enough space to allow the isolator to be fit into place. For more info, see page four of the applicable service bulletin. | ||
| Al_lighton |
Oh yea.. The 04+ XB Belt is G0500.1AAA I was talking to a Buell test technician at the Buell Demo truck at Infineon about the belt guards used on an 04+ XB. I said that I didn't think that the new guards did all that much to keep things out, and for the most part, I think he generally agreed. He described a test that they did where they had a "rock" feeder to feed pebble-like objects into the belt. They have tested the bejesus out of this. If you haven't felt it, feel how tight a new XB belt is on the XBs, it is not the same as a tube frame bike. It is so tight it makes me wonder why there aren't more wheel or final drive bearing failures. The new Goodyear belt is a LOT tougher if it is passing test where objects are getting dropped in between the belt and the pulley. And because of the idler, it has to go thru a reverse bending cycle every time it goes around. If that belt can survive an XB12, it must be able to survive anything a tuber can throw at it. I asked the guy how come a single rock pushed thru the tuber belt that cuts a cord will cause the whole belt to fail. He said that even though there are 9 strands across the belt, it is a SINGLE strand that is slightly spirally wrapped across the width of the belt. Cutting one strand causes all the other wraps of that same strand to shift and it rips them apart. It wasn't clear if the new XB belt is built that way or not. But I've been wondering for a long time why cutting one of 9 strands would cause a belt to fail. Al | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
I'm not an XB owner, but I sort of like the spring loaded XB belt tensioner that is available. I think perhaps it makes the XB belt installation more friendly to the occaisional small stone? | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Thats an interesting explanation Al. I would like to hear more about these new belts. Hey Anon, Can you shed some light on this? | ||
| Rocketman |
Steve, are you referring to the Italian made one? I forget the name of the manufacturer now and I was holding one in my hand just the other day. It's a superbly made piece of kit. If anyone's ever compared the tightness of a stock fitted belt to the belt fitted using the sprung tensioner you'll ask yourself immediately "how come I haven't snapped a belt before or more often?" Rocket | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
Rocket, exactly. It is made (IIRC) by a company called FreeSpirits in Italy. If I was to buy an XB it would wear one of those before the engine was started. Apart from the belt having an easier time, the rear suspension is said to work much better too. | ||
| Anonymous |
Sorry guys, I know that ignorance is bliss, but the belts are made to be that tight, as are all the bearings and related parts. Reducing the tension definitely reduces the life of the belt. Totally tested and proven. The aftermarket would love to have you believe differently, but they don't have to warranty their parts or build a name for quality. | ||
| Rocketman |
Steve that was the one, FreeSpirits. Anony I've not followed the XB threads here rigorously thus would hope and wish not to start any conjecture or ill will so that said, my friend who recently installed the FreeSpirit tensioner to a customers XB12S mentioned to me that the XB range had suffered from rear wheel bearing problems which he suggested could be down to the tension of the belt. Whether my friend is right or not about the wheel bearings or belt tension I couldn't say. I'm simply repeating his suggestion so please don't tear into me. I'd appreciate your take on this as those belts do run pretty tight it seems, and it leads me to my interest in the matter - not owning an XB. What would be the correct tension for an XB belt fitted to a tube framer? thanks, Rocket | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I've been following this thread and had wondered the same as Rocket, running an XB belt on our tubers, will we continue to run them as loose as the old belt? Without specific instruction indicating otherwise I would tend to just follow the shop manual info, however I've never been thrilled with as loose a drive line as we run - but don't want to compromise my bearings, I have too many other things that need fixing around the house and in the garage. -Mike | ||
| Ingemar |
How do the tubers keep the belt tensioned properly as suspension compresses/decompresses? The XB line has the idler positioned so that belt tension is equal regardless of the swingarm position. | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
Just like to echo what Rocket said. | ||
| Rocketman |
That's simple Ingemar. Run it slack! As I found out in France when I thought my tension was fine set to what I believed was factory correct. The rear wheel magnesium hub in my Dymags became oval. Since then I never took a chance so slack means slack. Rocket | ||
| Azbueller |
I have over 2k miles and no problems with the new XB belt on my S2. I set the tension with 1 inch travel each direction when I'm sitting on the bike, been doing it that way since 98 when the factory spec trashed the bearing on the 5th main shaft. | ||
| Steveshakeshaft |
Yes and it is surprising how much better the rear suspension works with the belt suitably slack. | ||
| Rocketman |
Just to update. I'm reliably informed that the Free Spirit belt tensioner works with a 10psi spring pressure. That's not a lot of pressure but it is enough allegedly just to ease off the stock belt tension which I'm told Free Spirit deemed responsible for rear wheel bearing failure on the XB range. I would really appreciate anony's take on the tube frame XB belt tension issue though. Thanks everyone, Rocket |
