| Author | Message | ||
     Bob_thompson |
I already changed to a chain but does anybody know if any of the drive belts are made with Kevlar? The reason I ask is because of an actual experiance of mine. Being an avid fisherman a few years ago I went with the then new braided Kevlar fishing line. One day I made a cast and the bait kept on going breaking the line. The line near the top of the reel had deterioated so badly I could break 50 lb test with my hand for about 20 feet or what was exposed to the sun while sitting in the boat. I later learned that Kevlar is so succeptable to ultra violet rays of the sun that the police dept's using those type of vests were told to keep them in the trunk or where them under clothes at all times and out of the direct suns rays. Now if our belts are in fact made of Kevlar I think we definately have a problem as our bikes are in the sun 90% of the time while we're riding. Most heavy fishing line is now make with Spectra fiber which isn't bothered by the suns rays. Does anybody know for sure what our belts composition is. Maybe this is why belt life has been so unpredictable Thanks much, Bob | ||
| Dsergison |
the fiber is smack in the middle of a black rubber belt. it's essentially wearing all the clothes it needs! except the very outside strands. - no big deal | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Good thinking Bob, but no quite correct in this case:-) The belts derive their strength from Kevlar fibers, quite like fishing line in fact, as you suggest. However, the Kevlar threads are embedded in a rubber material that protects the Kevlar from sunlight, as well as other contaminants, such as water, which, as you discovered whilst fishing, can also weaken Kevlar. There were two problems with the belts, in my opinion. One is that the load/strength ratio of the original belt was just wrong. The Kevlar fibers were overloaded, and kevlar is rather brittle, it doesn't stretch much when it reaches it's elastic load limit, as nylon or Spectra does: it just breaks. Secondly, impact loading is not that easy to calculate, and in the case of the original belt, it appears to have been under estimated, as many of the belts appear to have parted under high impact loads such as speed shifting. The newer belts are stronger, presumably with a greater thread cross section, and seem to work as designed. | ||
| Cataract2 |
11700 miles on my belt and no signs of weakening. Bout to put it to the test. Have a good 3000+ mile trip coming up. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Dan raises an interest point. These belts are made on a very large drum which serves to mold the teeth into the belt. When the belt is completed, it is in the form of a long tube which is then sliced transversely into thin strips, which are the belts. The result is that threads are exposed on the sides of the belt. Dan's remarks made me wonder if there might be some infiltration of water or other contaminants that could weaken the kevlar threads, promoting premature failure in the early Gates belts. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Thanks Dan & Jon, a good explanation as to why these new belts, and some of the old ones too, are seeing good life. Ryan thats 11,700 miles isn't it, as per your profile? If its the NEW style belt your test should prove uneventfull. Have fun on your trip and if you get out west say hello. Bob | ||
| Tramp |
mine went for over 200,000 (some of it offroad and on a local mx track- i know, i'm a moron) they'll go a long time if the alignment and tension are watched. keep it twice a sloose as anyone tells ya. mine's always so loose that it frequently slips when i have a passnger and i get on it. | ||
| Rek |
FYI I'm in the process of replacing my belt as i write this...stranded in Bismark ND while the HD boys figure out how to lower the engine and remove the isolators. I've been running on a belt w/ two rock punctures (one still has the rock imbedded in it) for several thousand miles and it stayed intact. I'm impressed w/ its durability, just not impressed enough to leave it on w/ two holes in it. Rob | ||
| Tramp |
the belt is far more durable than an intelligent rider's confidence in those HD geniuses. best of luck | ||
| Crusty |
The longest a belt has lasted for me was 43,000 miles. Several lasted a lot less than that. One little 1/4" stone will cause a belt to snap without warning. I've never had a chain break because I rode through road construction (or even a shaft, for that matter). If the new belts are as tough as Annie Mouse is claiming, then I'll think about putting one back on my M2. But I'll give the A-T bike a chance to prove the belts' durability before I'll trust one. Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me five times, I'll put a 530 chain on and both Gates and Goodyear can go to Hell. | ||
| Swampy |
I guess the moral to the story is..... Don't take your belt fishing. Has anyone ever noticed how loose the belt is on a Blast, and they go much longer than they should judging by the width and thickness of it. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Rek, HD has a special tool that spreads the frame slightly next to the right side isolator allowing it to be removed leaving a space to slip the belt on and you're done. No dropping the engine or removing the left isolator either. If it were me, I'd opt for the new Goodyear XB belt as well. Good Luck, it appears you may need it. | ||
| Tramp |
THAT is cool to know.....I'd like to see one so I can knock it off for my shop.... | ||
| Rek |
I wonder if the guys at Rough Rider HD/Buell are reading this... Rob | ||
| Cataract2 |
Ryan thats 11,700 miles isn't it, as per your profile? If its the NEW style belt your test should prove uneventfull. Have fun on your trip and if you get out west say hello. Bob Think I haven't updated the profile with the new millage, but yes, it's the new style belt. 05 XB9SX came with it. Looks great so far. | ||
| Aldaytona |
Rek, from what you posted above, probably not, for if they were, they would know about that tool. | ||
| Rek |
Hey Guys, Is there a KV thread I can send to the HD boys which explains the "easy" belt removal process? they're scratching their heads and cussing Buells right now and I'm afraid of a 6 hour shop bill. Rob (stranded on the road in Bismark, ND) | ||
| Rek |
HELP! Rob (still stranded in ND) | ||
| Rek |
So here I sit all broken hearted. My belt was poked and nearly parted. The HD boys are real go-getters, provided the work don't use numbers or letters. The motel room is getting small, I can dang near stretch from wall to wall. The clouds outside keep hanging lower and if I snooze too long I sense a shower. Please help this boy from out in Montana, he has six hours to go and no raingear. (dumb •••• anyway) Rob | ||
| Daves |
Rob, Have them call tech services at HD. They can get them all the info they need. | ||
| Rek |
Thx Dave, Hopefully they've beat me to it. I'll find out in 11 minutes. Rob | ||
| Rek |
Oh happy day! I take back any less than stellar things I might've implied about the HD boys at Rough Rider HD/Buell. They do indeed rock. Just got off the phone, they'll have'er done by 10:30 and are even coming to pick me up at the motel. What a great bunch of guys. Rob | ||
| Tramp |
take it all back after your test ride, not before. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
sage advice from such a young fella:-) | ||
| Tramp |
hey jon! 'sag harbor'! i used to work the door at 'bay street' in the mid 80s.... lived in southampton then. love sag harbor, but the east end is where i first picke dup this ugly, chronic lyme disease that i can't shake... (Message edited by tramp on July 14, 2005) | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Tramp, Where didn't you work????? | ||
| Dbird29 |
Manners & Etiquette Finishing School? http://www.missvera.com/ That's a Joke, Tramp!  | ||
| Tramp |
gots ta pay dem bills! i DID work at a catholic girls' high school in new jersey, for two school years.... cats, dogs, kids and nuns all like me for some reason... this pleased my czech mother-in-law back in prague, clearly, i was no vampire... | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Now that would be scary!!!!! To be in a catholic girl's high school!!!!! What a test of Self-Control that would Be????? Its funny you say that back in the late 80's the local catholic schools around here were all separated. I attended an all boys school from Grade 4-11 then in Grade 12 they introduced the gals. My wife also attended a similar school where it was all girls. The guys used to sneak off and go into the girls school and be chased out by yard stick yielding nuns. They kind of looked like Holy Super Heros running through the hall ways of the high school with their capes and habits in the wind.  | ||
| Tramp |
there's a certain 'gothic avenger' air to nuns... i always got on well with them, despite my self-description of being a 'recovering catholic'... i incidentally, i recently had a priest compliment my S2. he was coming out of the local tavern (kinda touristy place) and he saw my 'st. michael' prayer card (depicting the archangel driving satan back down to hell) taped to my tank. he absolutely loved it....maybe it due in part to his last 3 scotch and sodas... |
