| Author | Message | ||
     Gentleman_jon |
I always hated the look of the black rear sprocket on my bike , but I was too cheap to spring for the $85 factory polished alternative, plus the chrome bolts, shipping etc. We are talking a hundred bucks to fix something that ain't really broke: not the kind of thing I like to contemplate too often. Anyway, during one of my numerous early model nine belt replacements, ( now happily a thing of the past ), I noticed that the aluminum rear sprocket is hard anodized, no doubt to improve the wear characteristics of the sprocket's teeth. I suspected that under that black paint, ( or power coat) there might be a perfectly nice hard anodized part, that would not need regular polishing to stay looking good. To test my theory, I purchased a used rear sprocket for $25 from another bad webber who had upgraded his drive system, and removed the black coating with nothing more than an industrial tooth brush and some paint remover. Took about an hour. Only removed it from the front, left it on the back . Too much work to do both, and one doesn't really see the back. No problems in replacing the sprocket. Gerry bet me it would take two hours. I said one. We had removed the wheel several times already, but just infrequently enough to not really remember how we did it the last time:-). I would have won, except that we broke the 45 mm torx used on the sprocket bolts, and had to buy a new one. I think this really lightens up the look of the rear wheel, and even makes the hated chain guards look better. I like the idea so much that I just had to splurge on the Chrome bolts, ( about $25) from Daves. Like? PS: I have a spare sprocket for sale:-)   | ||
| Cruisin |
Nice mod! Looks good on the 9 bikes... | ||
| Pcmodeler |
I agree. It does look better. Maybe what they should start doing is offering a color matched sprocket to match your rims (gold, white, etc.). | ||
| Tank_bueller |
Looks pretty good!! Kinda hard to tell, looks like "hammered alum.", but then so does the heel guard(must be my screen). How is the finish? pretty smooth? | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
The finish is very smooth, typical hard anodize, doesn't have the hammered look at all. It cleans right up with any of the usual degreasing cleaners. Thing I like about it is that it is a light color to match the aluminum wheels, but will not need polishing, like the wheel rims do. ( Not exactly my favorite job, as you can see from the photos:-) I also kind of like the way you can see the belt teeth engaging the teeth on the sprocket in contrasting colors. | ||
| Tq_freak |
jon what do you want for the other rear sprocket? i have a 12, is there a different number of teeth on them. ps, I ditched the hated belt guards and I know it should be there but it really looks bad and you can see soo much more nice gold rim with out them | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Freak, I would like to get my $25 bucks back, plus a fiver to ship, but I am pretty sure that my wheel won't fit on your Twelve. If memory serves, I believe that my sprocket will only fit on a 2003 Nine. I seem to remember that they introduced a stouter Goodyear belt in 2004 which fits all twelves, and 2004 and later nines. Could a Twelve guy correct me if I'm mistaken? Another thing that makes this mod an attractive proposition for the 2003 Nine owner is that the factory " Diamond Highlighted Sprocket" ( $89.95), is no longer available for the '03's. | ||
| Tq_freak |
jon I didn't realise that they were different but thats good to know. I guess when my rim is off for a tire change I will just polish the one i have | ||
| Cruisin |
Jon, you're correct. The 2003 pulley is different than the 2004 and newer pulleys. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Jon I didn't upgrade, the sprocket came off of this wheel...  which came off the parts bike I purchased to replace the front end on my 12...  Glad to see it went to good use instead of collecting dust in my pile-o-parts on the floor  | ||
| Pwnzor |
Im with you on looks, but I had mine polished. I originally ordered the silver one from the dealer, it was only silver on one side!  | ||
| Daman |
Hey wickedflesh what happened to that wheel? The reason why I am asking is because the same thing happened to my wheel, which caused me to have an accident. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
That one was slid into a curb during a lowside, not mine but the guy who had been riding it. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Mike- Now you tell me:-) !! Pulley was like new, actually, and it's riding in style now:-) | ||
| Jjcoroa |
Pwnzor- Who polished your wheels? Did you do them yourself? Looks great! | ||
| Whitetrashxb |
the above pics look sharp, but don't forget you can also have your sprocket powdercoated in most any color for relatively cheap, i paid $20 to have mine done when i got the wheels powdercoated. It was done in silver, and matches the 9 silver frame and swingarm paint exactly. i think there is some pics in the archives. thanks, james | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Jon if it hadn't been straight, I wouldn't have sold it to you, but I did have to try and recoup some of the loss for the parts that are not saleable | ||
| Xring |
Jon, I like the sprocket. Here is what it would look like if you chopped a couple of inches off of that top guard. Bill  | ||
| Pwnzor |
Laidlaw's Harley in Baldwin Park, CA sent them out to some guy in the area who does it all in his garage. Not sure who he is, but I bet with some research I could locate him. It was $325 per wheel and the pulley was $100 Oh yeah and the bike was hovering with no wheels for almost 3 weeks.  | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Now you tell me, Xman ! Looks a lot better like that. Nice Photochop. Gotta take the damn wheel off to do it though. Hate that!! Second thought, maybe I won't have to. Got to check it out. (Message edited by gentleman_jon on September 11, 2005) (Message edited by gentleman_jon on September 11, 2005) | ||
| Tq_freak |
take the wheel off to do what? remove the belt guards? I did the upper and lower in 20 min with out taking anything else apart | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Hell I say Dremel, cut off wheel, and the flexible shaftdrive, and a strip of painters tape to mark the line... | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Good idea Mike. Just noticed that the end of the belt guard is closed. On my third belt, I think I might just leave well enough alone, at least for now:-) | ||
| Glitch |
Looks extra nice Gentleman_jon. I'm thinking of powder coating some parts for an upcoming project for my bike. I see another part to get done. On my third belt... Three's the charm! my third belt got something like 25,000 plus miles before it gave out. |
