| Author | Message | ||
     Juxtapose |
I was going down a neighborhood road leaving a friends house today. Obviously, I was going at an easy pace, nothing strenuous to the bike. As I went to shift in second gear it seemed as if I had missed the shift. I went to get the right shift this time, let out the clutch and low and behold the bike just revved freely. I turned around to see the belt dragging behind the bike. After examining it, its a clean snap. The bike is a 2003 XB9S, just over 8,400 miles. Any ideas as to the issue is? The bike is always serviced early, is well taken care off. I'm just curious if this is a known problem? Thanks for any help offered. | ||
| Brad_buell |
I know that we've heard this one A Lot, but cut the newbie some slack. Yes, Juxtapose this a a Very Common Problem with the '03 model! Don't feel like you got the only bad belt. You need to upgrade the belt. Give Daves a shout for more details. | ||
| Juxtapose |
Easy mate, I'm not caught up on all of the common issues. Life dictates otherwise. Thanks for the heads up Brad. | ||
| Cataract2 |
That's normal for the 03's. Belt's didn't seem to last long. They made a new belt for the 03's but I would recommend you look into upgrading to the 04+ belts. Like what was said earilier, give Dave a ring. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I've been waiting for a broken 03 XB belt... Juxtapose, can I have a piece of it? You don't have to send the whole thing, just cut a 6 in section with some shears (2 clean ends), and send via envelope. I still want to do the "glue experiment" to see if a roadworthy patch could get us home or to a nearby dealer. I will perform the test when mine snaps... Pleas do, Thanks | ||
| Lazyme21 |
WOW, I am surprised no one told him to RTFM.  | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
If you plan on keeping the bike a long time, upgrading to the '04 belt system is the best thing to do: the '04 Goodyear belt is wider, thicker, stronger and less liable to be damaged by small stones than the Gates belt that comes with the '03. Rather costly mod though, requires replacing not only the belt, but also the sprockets, and the rear brake master cylinder. Removing the front sprocket has proven to be somewhat difficult. Otherwise, just replacing the belt with the latest '03 version, part number G0500.02 ABR, will provide you with a stronger part than the one that came with the bike. It is important to follow the instructions in the shop manual rather closely to not damage the belt if you install it yourself. In any event, our own Dave Stueve at Appleton Buell, ( 929-757-1651), can supply the correct parts no matter which path you choose, and the shop manual. If you decide to let your local Harley dealer do the job, be VERY careful to make sure he does not use anything but the latest belt. The part number is on the outside surface of the belt. | ||
| Cowboyup |
Cody- If your bike is still under warranty do not cut the belt. Your dealer will need to see the break to satisfy the claim. When my belt snapped my dealer told me he had one in stock and could replace it right away. But when they called in the warranty claim the factory told them not to use that belt, and they overnighted them a new (revised) one. | ||
| Glitch |
I was thinking of upgrading mine, but after 20thousand miles on the new Gates belt, I'm just getting another. The only reason I see for upgrading (other than peace of mind) is you get rid of the awful belt guard. | ||
| M1combat |
when re-installing... Do not twist or kink the belt. Do not bend the belt backwards. I think the "safe" backwards bend radius of the '03 nine belt is ten or twelve inches. | ||
| Midknyte |
Keep that dream alive Charlie  I'd like to know if my idea held any water... | ||
| Fullpower |
"Removing the front sprocket has proven to be somewhat difficult." i did not find any difficulty in removing my countershaft sprocket. one first rotates the hex nut clockwise, when the nut clears the threads, the sprocket is then gripped and pulled straight off the shaft. about that simple. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I know midknyte. I was enthralled at your idea and am just waiting to find a broken 03 belt. So if you have one laying around peoples... Let me know. | ||
| Juxtapose |
PM me with an address Charlie and I'll slice a section off for you, and have it on it's way. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Addy sent. I'll post the results when I conduct the experiment. I still have to find another broken belt or wait till mine breaks for the first time to do it. My goal is to glue the piece in place over a broken section and ride gingerly as long as I can. This will tell me if the patch would get us home or at least to a nearby town/dealer. The repair kit would be tiny. The 6 inch piece of belt and the bonding rubber glue tube. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Charley, Sounds like an excellent idea. I was wondering how exactly you are planning to do it. I was thinking that cutting the teeth off, and then gluing a 6 inch strip,back to back as it were, on the outside of the belt might work. Both belt and patch probably need to be sanded smooth in order to get an oxygen- free bond, which is what super-glues need. So you might need to add a bit of sand paper to your kit. When I examined a belt of mine that had failed under acceleration, it appeared to me that the belt had stretched quite a bit before parting, so you might want to check that as well, to see if it will still fit on the sprockets. A very good glue is " Rhino glue", base on German technology: http://rhinoglue.com/ I have read somewhere that cyanoacrylate glues are not very strong in shear, and that is how they would work in this application, so be careful:-) Looking forward to hearing of your results. I lost my belt in a remote area this fall, would have been great to have a "patch kit". Unfortunately I no longer have the belt - I sent it back to Harley. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I'll call the Phx and San Diego Dealers to see if I can run one down for the task. The glue I'm thinking of is very specific. It is extremely strong as tested in a link posted by midknyte. I'll have to search for the link, but it looked like good stuff. | ||
| Midknyte |
It's a two part glue + activator. Spread glue on robber pieces and join as desired, then spray an aerosal activator onto the edge and it sets up instantly. Nothing you'll have to wait around on to dry if it turns out to work for this application. | ||
| Flick |
Had the original belt on my '03 9S for 24,000kms (15,000+ miles ?), including 3 very aggressive track days this past summer/fall...no breakage yet (?). Mind you, I do have one of the "better" replacement belts in waiting on the garage shelf. Will be most interested in the outcome of the "glued belt fix"... |
