| Author | Message | ||
     Lars1974 |
hi all, yesterday i took the Buell 2for a long run after having not been on it much over the winter....(i mainly ride the Honda bikes as i work for them) sequence of events went as follows: - had a new rear tyre fitted locally...they did not bend the belt etc...and i look at it and it looked all ok to me - we than set off - after about 70mls i noticed that the belt was "slipping" when i push hard in 1st of 2nd gear....so i stopped and noticed that had become very loose... - as i have free spirit tensioner (with slight modification by tubbs after a broken spring) i could tighten the belt back up so it had a "decent" amount of tension...it certainly felt like it always was - we than rode on the all felt fine and tension stayed fine too... - than i swapped bike as my boss was riding my Honda and he wanted a go on the Buell... - bad luck: as when he accelerated hard in 2nd it just went and snapped! the bike has done over 18k and i am sure its the original belt from 2006.... so we had park the Uly and ride 2up on the CBF1000 home where we jumped in the car with my trailer and pick it back up... so, now i will be looking to get a new belt!!! | ||
| Lars1974 |
update: placed an order for a new belt over the phone today with Harley Davidson Guildford and the lead-time is 5-7 days. i started dismantling the bike already. here are a few pics...sprockets look ok to me....no sharp edges.      i will let you know when the belt comes in... thx Lars | ||
| Pontlee77 |
I glued a cd with a sticker over my pulley to prevent all that rust. | ||
| Catalan42 |
I snapped a belt last month at 16k miles. Leaving a stop sign at moderate acceleration in 1st, it went w/o any warning. Got the new one from American Sport Bike the next day and installed it at home. All is good again! Alan | ||
| Gunut75 |
The new one will be a modern revision. Better! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Modern belt is not cure-all. My 2008 belt popped without warning at 16,000. After 85,000 miles on the X1, I can say most times, there is no warning prior to failure. The only time my X1 warned me, it shed some teeth and at least let me get out of the city. | ||
| Lars1974 |
thanks guys for the comment. i hope that i can install the new belt maybe as soon as this coming weekend... will have to study the workshop manual first | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Lars, getting that belt back onto the idler is a trick in itself. Put the idler onto just one of the stud bolts and then put the belt over the idler. Fashion some kind of lever and fulcrum and lever the pulley onto the second stud but make sure you put a cloth between the lever arm and the idler pulley so that you don't chip the carbide finish on the idler. Before you do any of that make sure you have the axle through the wheel and screwed enough threads to hold it in place. Don't tighten up the axle yet because it will make the belt even tighter and more difficult to get the idler pulley into place with the belt on it. If you've done a belt replacement before then disregard my post. | ||
| Lars1974 |
Thanks mate. this will be my first belt change...so your advice is very helpful!  | ||
| Uly_man |
Lars1974. At 18k your doing very well. I am on my third belt at 15k and thats with no bearing etc issues. On my last change, you should as well, I got the latest belt version and ground off any high points/damage on the rear pulley. I also make sure, on a tyre change, that the belt goes back on the same place it came off. It cant do any harm anyway. I also compress the FST and remove it for the belt change as it makes it easier to do the job. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Lars, My bad. I guess you having that free-spirit springythingy didn't register in my noggin. With that doohickey it should be a breeze to change that belt. | ||
| Xbimmer |
If you don't have the Manual, make SURE you tighten up the swingarm brace first before anything else, after you get the new belt on. Also since you're in there, check into your 77-connector, maybe even replace it with the new style. Charging system burnups suck... | ||
| Lars1974 |
update: i picked up the new belt today... Part# G0500.1AKF will probably not get round to fitting it until next weekend... | ||
| Easttroy |
Better than the alternative with a chain. Loose the chain, you may loose your life if it wraps in the rear tire, especially at anything above 20MPH. | ||
| Uly_man |
I have to say Lars1974 that I can not figure a "rhyme/reason" for belts but if your getting 18k miles I would not worry any. (Message edited by uly_man on April 01, 2011) | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""Better than the alternative with a chain. Loose the chain, you may loose your life if it wraps in the rear tire, especially at anything above 20MPH."' Yeah, it's amazing how often that scenario kills bikers. I'd take a chain any day over a belt. . | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Love the belt drive but have noticed that chains are used on all race bikes as far as I know. Belts are just so much nicer, cleaner, quieter. Chains are noisy, filthy, maintenance hogs in terms of cleaning and adjusting, but are pretty darned reliable and strong as can be. I'm still a belt fan. | ||
| Eternalbiker |
If you maintain a chain like you're suppose to they are nothing but a PITA IMHO. I use to pull the chain soak it in oil, keep it sprayed (clean the frame and guard also), and keep it adjusted properly. Not long after I moved out on my own I no longer had the time. I just rode it, sprayed it and didn't worry about the mess. Which works and I figure that's why people don't have a problem with a chain. Drive shafts are nice if you don't play rough, Belts still seem the best to me, but then I haven't been stranded by one yet... |
