| Author | Message | ||
     Jprovo |
I want to carry a spare belt for my Blast with me on an upcoming road trip, and I need to know how small I can package the belt. I'm assuming that I can bend the belt to a 5 or 6 inch diameter in the proper direction (same diameter as trans sprocket), but how small can I bend the belt in the reverse direction? I want to have a spare belt handy, but I don't want to damage it carrying it around. | ||
| Anonymous |
Quote: but how small can I bend the belt in the reverse direction? None, nada, not at all. It WILL fail if you do. R | ||
| Reepicheep |
Anybody thought about trying to find a spot on the bike somewhere where a spare belt could be mounted in a safe configuration? For the mileage you get out of a belt, I don't know if it is worth it to keep one along. Have one all boxed up with someone you trust in a fedex box, and leave for your ride with a cell phone. | ||
| Tripper |
Ever heard of the Riders Assistance Network, lovingly called the RAN Page?  It folds up to as samll as you want it to in either the forward or reverse direction, with no damage. You are responsible for keeping it dry however.  | ||
| Jprovo |
AnnonyR, Thanks for the info. Reep, It's a great idea to get it ready to send FedEx if need be, I'll probably do that. Tripper, the RAN is a great idea (in fact, that just reminded me to get my name in there). I just don't see anyone in the lovely states of Utah, Wyoming, or Nebraska, so if I break down between Vegas and Waterloo, It won't do me much good. James | ||
| Mikej |
James, There's two people in Wyoming on the list, one in Cheyenne (nice people, had dinner with them once when I was just passing through), and one in Casper (nice guy on the phone, spends time on SacBORG sometimes). There's people in Utah and Nebraska but they're not on the RAN list, but would probably help out if you can get to a computer and post a comment to the site here if you need help as they too seem like generally nice folks. | ||
| Jprovo |
Mike, I got to open my eyes or something, I swear I didn't see those two entries! I'm sure that there are many nice helpfull people out there that would give me a hand, I was just hoping I could package a spare belt in a small enough package to take it along. I really don't want to wear it like a necklace. James | ||
| Mikej |
If the belt is a concern then you'll have to ensure you also have the means to install it on the roadside. I would not want to have to do that with the M2, the S2 wouldn't be so bad with the removable side plate. I'm not sure what it takes with the Blast. How about just putting the belt in the top of your luggage and pack underwear or whatever in the middle of it? That's how I do belts when I travel. Should be able to avoid any major bending and all kinks in the belt that way. But this depends on how you're planning to carry your gear on the road. I've also got a Camelback water bladder with a small backpack around it that might possibly work as a spare belt transporter, would have to checkfit it. Slip it on your back and stay hydrated on the ride. The 90° mouthpiece works fairly well for slipping into the helmet for water drinks/sips while moving. I learned it pays to blow back slightly in the tube to clear the water out otherwise your next sip will be lukewarm or hot water due to the sun heating the water in the tube up. If you do pack a spare belt around the bladder wrap one or both with something soft to prevent the belt from rubbing through the bladder material. http://www.nashbar.com/profile_moreimages.cfm?category=125&subcategory=1088&sku=8018&brand=  | ||
| Sarodude |
To R&R the Blast belt... 1) Undo pulley guard and upper belt guard 2) Lift the rear 3) Undo axle nut & remove axle (large-ish metric socket - 30mm I think) 4) R&R belt 5) Reassemble in reverse The belt gets put on the inside of the rear pulley. After getting the axle back through the wheel you can slide the belt into the pulley then rotate the wheel until the belt happifies itself. Axle nut torque may have been in the 45-50 lb-ft range. Monkeys may also have flown out of my butt. Don't quote me on any of this. -Saro | ||
| Jprovo |
Mike, I'm not too concerned about the belt, I was offered a used on to carry as a spare, and was trying to figure out an easy way to do so. What I got from AnnonyR is that wrapping the belt will kill it.  I'll be carrying a 2 liter Camelback with me, I'm going to have to test it out next week before my trip. James | ||
| Jprovo |
Saro, You can change the belt without removing the rear wheel. Slide the rear half of belt in-between the rear sprocket and tire. Slide the front of the belt in-between the footpeg bracket and the front pulley, then around the pulley. Walk the belt onto the rear sprocket. Why remove the rear axle? James | ||
| Sarodude |
James- I hadn't thought of that. I was still in sprocket replacement mode and didn't consider an alternative.  -Saro | ||
| Blake |
JProvo, Your depiction is perfectly okay. Anony R is talking about folding it tightly back on itself (small radius reverse curvature) like if you were trying to cram it into a small space by folding it up too much. | ||
| Jprovo |
Blake, So how small can the reverse curvature radius be before the belt is compromised? 5" rad? 2.5" rad? I know that the XB belts experience some reverse bendng over the idler pulley during normal use, but I'm wondering if the design of the other belts make them intolerant to reverse bending. Anony R made it sound like any reverse bending of the belt will cause it to fail. James | ||
| Anonymous |
Back bending the belt any will cause it to break. The XB belts have a different design that allow "some" (read very little) back bending but not much. (see how big idler pulley is?) The diagram above would be more than enough to cause a failure. I stand by the statement "none, nada, not at all" as best practice. I would never back bend a pre 2004 Buell belt more than bringing the center of the two runs together while the belt is off the bike. See the belt handling service bulletin posted somewhere on this web site. Here is the acid test. Take the advice of anyone who will make the following statement. "If you follow my advice, and the belt being carried/installed breaks prematurely, I will pay for your replacement belt." A better things to carry on any trip? Cell phone, credit card and clean undies. With those three items, any trip can be completed and only use two of the three items. (sometimes one of three) | ||
| Jprovo |
Annony, I will heed your advice, it is crystal clear. I will leave the belt back in California while I go Blasting aroung the countryside. I've got those other three things to take along, and I'll probably only use the Cell to call the wife. In fact, my bike has been so reliable, that the only tools that I'm planning on carrying are a funnel and my trusty pair of Gerber multi-pliers. | ||
| Sarodude |
Hey Anony- You're absolutely right. I've gotten myself outta lotsa situations with just a clean pair of undies. Seriously... When I replaced the belt & sprocket on the Blast the belt came with a handling sheet. I THINK it said something like a minimum 5" inside bend radius and 10" outside / backward bend radius - but I don't recall. Regardless, I did not bend it back at all. BTW, to anyone who's riding a bike to go pick up a belt from your local shop, reconsider your means of transportation! That freakin' box is MASSIVE. I had to take it outta the box and wear it like a giant S&M collar. -Saro | ||
| Blake |
Anony, Suggest you reverify your data with the experts. Just slightly/gently flexing the belt in reverse will not compromise it. The ten inch radius Saro mentioned would make sense for an allowable protracted reverse curvature limitation. The idler pulley is what, about a 3" radius? Trust me, I'm not talking out of my arse. I do concur however and recommend not imparting any significant reverse bending into those sensitive '03 drive belts. If I owned an '03 XB, I'd be switching to the new belt/sprockets. Would be nice if Buell would provide an '04 final drive upgrade kit, at a reduced price to all the '03 owners. The bending stress in the belt is a 3rd order tensor in a linear structural system. It doesn't go from zero to breaking stress the instant the belt is bent in reverse. Obviously a 3" radius reverse curvature isn't hurting the belt at the idler pulley. There's a huge difference between gently folding the belt and putting it into your backpack versus wrenching and twisting it with force and vigor while trying to shortcut a rear wheel removal/installation... a BIG difference. Sure is good to know that Buell tackled the poor belt service life issue. Give our kudos to those responsible for the longer life system. | ||
| Fullpower |
i found a way to twist a sportster belt into a comact triple coil, without bending it backwards. that belt was run for a few thousand miles with malice, prior to chain drive conversion on sportster. that belt is now on a friends sportster and is holding up ok. |
