Author |
Message |
Rpm4x4
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 04:24 pm: |
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I know that there is no scheduled belt change interval but it's still a good idea to check in for cracks. My belt shed itself today and now that I look at it I'm kinda frustrated with myself. It had all the warning signs it was ready to pop. Just a reminder to take a peek at your belt. |
Nikoff90
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 04:36 pm: |
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What warning signs? |
Rpm4x4
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 05:00 pm: |
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Little cracking on the outside of the belt. When I picked it up and folded it just a little you can see that rain and such can reach the cords. I'm sure they got weathered without any rubber to seal them. I tried to post a pic but the pictures are too big and I can't figure out how to resize it with my phone. I'm still on the side of the road awaiting for a friend who is bringing a new one |
Cataract2
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 05:51 pm: |
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Wish mine had shown cracks or some warning signs before it blasted off while on a trip. Welcome to the wonderful world of belt drive that has no adjustment available. Poor design. |
Hatch_daddy
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 06:14 pm: |
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Sorry to hear that. How many miles before yours went? |
Coastrambler
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 07:51 pm: |
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Results will vary. Belt life depends a whole lot on how you ride, and where. Popping the clutch, extreme temperatures, these will shorten belt life. The 1125 is fairly light as these things go. I expect to get at least 75,000 miles on mine. My HD Road Glide went that and it's 300 lbs heavier. When changing a belt it's a real good idea to take a very close look at the pully on the wheel. It's aluminum and it does wear. A worn pully will greatly shorten belt life. I know this. |
Froggy
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 08:10 pm: |
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quote:I expect to get at least 75,000 miles on mine.
Not to say it can't be done, very few are that lucky. I personally recommend swapping it out at 20k miles, better to be safe than sorry, and then hold onto the old belt as an emergency spare.
quote:My HD Road Glide went that and it's 300 lbs heavier
The belt on your road glide does not bend backwards over a tensioner, which from my understanding puts more stress on the belt than on that only bends one way. |
Skntpig
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 08:21 pm: |
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20k. That's pretty good. What's the life of a chain and spockets? I don't remember getting 20k out of a chain but they are a bit cheaper. Both belts and chains wear and so do all sprockets. |
Froggy
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 08:31 pm: |
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20k is still early in the lifecycle of the belt, depending on conditions mentioned above. Getting 30 is also easily possible. On my Ulysses, the original belt broke while I was doing hard acceleration onto a freeway while loaded up and 2 up. That belt had over 40k miles when it gave up. Life of chain and sprockets varies depending on the size and materials, aluminum ones don't last as long as steel, 530 lasts longer than a 520. Higher end chains and sprockets can easily match or exceed the cost of the belt. It is a bit of a crapshoot in terms of cost over lifetime, but for me, not having to adjust anything or lubricate it makes it worth the potentially higher chance of failure. |
Rpm4x4
| Posted on Monday, September 15, 2014 - 10:23 pm: |
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I had just rolled 30k |
Fresnobuell
| Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 12:43 am: |
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quote:not having to adjust anything or lubricate it makes it worth the potentially higher chance of failure.
amen to that! |
Coastrambler
| Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 01:24 am: |
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Have 41,000 miles on it now. Looks good. Hope I can report on that mileage when it rolls past. Will second that on liking belt over chain. I've had oil tracks up my back. Chains are good at the track as they make it easy to change gearing. |
Badgerbueller1125
| Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 11:23 am: |
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Mine went out at 20k. Lot's of hard riding. Showed cracking on just about the entire belt and side was fraying. I was an idiot for not checking that regularly and I should have expected it to break. Of course it had to happen 4 hours away from home...on a Sunday. |
Buelet
| Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 01:20 pm: |
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In my experience, a good indicator on if a belt is ready to give up the ghost, is if you can easily spin the belt tensioner pulley with your finger and light pressure. (Absent any rock punctures, which one could check for visually at tire changes or whenever you wanted.) |
Stimbrell
| Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 04:20 pm: |
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Just to add more information mine snapped at 8K miles, no sign of any problem or wear, where it snapped it looked like it was done with a Stanley knife it was that clean a break. |
Mackja
| Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - 09:14 pm: |
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Lost my belt after 23,000 miles going into turn 7 at Barber Motorsports Park, down shifted into 2nd and pop it was gone, after looking at the belt I will make sure to check it more frequently, and keep a spare on hand at all times! |