| Author | Message | ||
     Johnboy777 |
Right you are Yamafreak, At least its good to know that something good came out of me owning a 2007 - I now have a lifetime belt. ... | ||
| Andymnelson |
Interesting observation, and one that is partially relevant. You likely had the belts too tight. At rest, a tuber belt needs to be pretty loose, because it tightenes significantly as the suspension compresses. So do the XBs, but the tensioner resides in such a place that as the suspension rises, the belt pulls away from it, applying less tension. In theory, it is placed precisely at a point where constant tension is maintained. I saw a video interview a while back where Erik and Elves explained the design process and even showed the computer modeling used to find the exact placement of the tensioner....we gotta find that video! | ||
| Froggy |
I've been looking, I found links to it on Buell's site, but they are dead as a doorknob now. Unless someone was smart enough to download it off the site before they got rid of it, it may be gone for good. I'm sure HD still has it somewhere in their computers, but good luck getting them to share it. | ||
| Gunut75 |
When I put the sTT swing arm on my 05, I checked the belt tension at full up and down travel based on the shock travel. I can say that weather my suspension is fully compressed, or fully extended, the belt tension is not too tight at any moment in the swing. It takes some effort, but I can rotate the idler pulley anywhere in the suspension cycle. Not freely. That video said it all...... | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Right, then factor in load. Under actual operating conditions, then add in bumps, load carrying, etc. Theory is great, but sometimes real world gets in the way. .. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
It should be possible to make an adapter that will allow us to install a tensioner from a car serpentine belt on a Buell. These tensioners are about $20 at NAPA, they are reliable and proven. I'm sure it would not be as good looking as the Free Spirits tensioner but it would cost a lot less. | ||
| Trojan |
These tensioners are about $20 at NAPA, they are reliable and proven. Correction: They are reliable and proven AT WHAT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO. Car cam belts etc run at pretty constant tension and are not subject to the rigours and strains of running in the open under a motorcycle with all the grime and stress that entails. Likewise industrial belts tend to run at constant speed and tension and only have tensioners fitted to compensate for poor adjustment. I doubt that they would be tough enough to cope with the job of keeping a Buell drive belt properly in tension for thousands of miles  I once knew somebody who decided that Buell belts were far too expensive so spent the best part of a year researching alternative belts from auotmotive and industrial applications. Eventually he found what appears to be the perfect match and at a fraction of the price of the genuine article, so he bought one and smugly fitted it to his XB. The belt lasted less than 1/2 mile before giving up the ghost | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
So no one should ever try to come up with their own because a straw man tried and didn't succeed. I used to hear that sort of nonsense all the time as an engineer. We tried that 10 years ago and it didn't work so because of that it will never work. Wrong. | ||
| Trojan |
So no one should ever try to come up with their own because a straw man tried and didn't succeed. I used to hear that sort of nonsense all the time as an engineer. We tried that 10 years ago and it didn't work so because of that it will never work. That isn't what I said. What I said was that taking something that works fine for one particular application and assuming it will work for a totally different use won't necessarily work. The Free Spirits belt tensioner was designed and tested specifically for use on the Buell belt drive. It isn't some Heath Robinson adapted part from a lawn mower or next door's old Pontiac. If someone could build one that is just as good for $20 without breaking patents or design registrations etc I'm pretty sure they would have done so by now. That doesn't stop you trying to come up with whatever you like of course | ||
| Luftkoph |
....we gotta find that video! I think i might have found where its at  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I might have that video on a Buell promotional CD somewhere.... I'll have to go digging. | ||
| Ftd |
My tensioner arrived yesterday. I will install and report back on performance soon. Frank | ||
| Schwara |
Mine got in too. I'll hopefully get some time in the next week to get it on. | ||
| Ftd |
Here is my new unit, original one, and new one installed. Installation was easy and as others have mentioned rolling resistance is reduced. I haven't ridden it yet though. Frank     | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
What keeps that pivot point from wearing out? How is it lubricated and what do you need to do to keep it lubed. I can see where it would probably get covered in filth quite easily. | ||
| Trojan |
What keeps that pivot point from wearing out? How is it lubricated and what do you need to do to keep it lubed. I can see where it would probably get covered in filth quite easily. The pivot is bushed and has a device to stop it 'over-rotating' inside (pin/slot). Like all moving parts it will eventually wear so should be inspected regularly at servie intervals and should be kept as clean as possible (although it is pretty hardy and designed for the location it is in). We do recommend changing the spring at around 5000 miles (we can supply new springs). | ||
| Motorbike |
Wow, that is a nice looking piece! I am tempted to put one on my XT just for the looks! Thanks. | ||
| Yool |
The looks is why I chose to fit one. Not wanting to re-ignite debate, but do the photos show that the F/S tensioner moves the idler wheel forward?? Could be the angle of the photos I suppose............ | ||
| Andymnelson |
How much are the extra springs? At a 5000 mile replacement interval, I'd go through 1-2/year, so it would make sense to order some spares with the unit. | ||
| Fdl3 |
We do recommend changing the spring at around 5000 miles... I sure hope you mean 50,000 miles and not 5,000 miles?! | ||
| Badrap |
Is the spring captured? It looks like if you broke the belt, the tension would be relieved and the spring could fall out. (Message edited by badrap on September 12, 2011) | ||
| Nipsey |
Yep - there is threaded rod inside of it that the nut you see in the pic uses for settign/relieving tension. Comes in handy (relieving tension) when changing a belt. | ||
| Merc16 |
Could somebody post a link to buy this tensioner? | ||
| Nipsey |
Trust the Google.... http://www.trojan-horse.co.uk/prods/169.html | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Looks like that puppy needs shipping from the UK. They strap it to a dolphin. | ||
| Trojan |
How much are the extra springs? They work out at around GBP5 each (US$8). We sell them at cost price so please don't flame me for the price  I sure hope you mean 50,000 miles and not 5,000 miles?! I should have corrected that earlier. What I should have said was that we recommend inspecting the spring at 5000 miles and replacing if necessary. If the spring breaks then there will be no tension on the belt, so it is worth checking periodically like any moving part obviously. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Gotcha. Still probably makes sense to get an extra 1 or 2. How much? | ||
| Uly_dude |
In a perfect world, there wouldn't be much movement with this device unless you're catching lots of rocks or sticks in the rear pully. However, this just occurred to me, when engine braking, this pully/spring must compress quite a bit and sometimes suddenly. This would leave considerable slack in the upper half of the belt cycle for a brief second or two. Perhaps this is why Buell went with a static type mount for the pully, verses a dynamic device such as this........ oh well, I still think there's value in it and I already got mine! Maybe I should get a spare spring to. | ||
| Blake |
Andy, >>> How much? As Matt just posted..
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| Andymnelson |
lol sorry, I missed that somehow  |
