| Author | Message | ||
     Cyko_bob  |
This looks interesting. I just clicked on Trojan Horse (one of our sponsors). They have a lot of neat stuff for the Buells. Anyway, does anyone have any knowledge about the belt tensioner? Is mailing cost expensive from England to the States?  | ||
| Hkwan |
Yeah, I was wondering if this item is very useful on the XB's? Anyone has any experience and felt the difference with the stocker and this? | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
I have one on my XB9R,been on there for about a year. Don't remember how much it was (about a $180 I think) Don't really feel any difference,performance wise.It just keeps the belt from getting super tight,which should make the belt last longer.Looks trick.............Later Charlie | ||
| M1combat  |
IT won't get "supertight" with the stock setup. I can't remember the actual number, but somewhere in I believe a Fuell magazine they mentioned that the position the stock tensioner is at will produce a VERY small difference in belt tension throughout the travel of the suspension. I would imagine that something like that worked into a chain conversion might be a good idea though. | ||
| Hkwan |
I will ask another no-so-related question - what is this Fuell Magazine? Where do I get one? | ||
| Cataract2 |
I think it was the Nov/Dec issue of Fuell mag. that they talked about the belt tensioner and how it keeps the belt from getting to tight. | ||
| Cyko_bob |
Henry, the FUELL magazine is what you get if you are a member of BRAG. You might be able to get a copy at a Harley dealer too. I think I have seen some of the Harley dealers with them on the counter for the taking as a free handout. Oh, and BRAG is the Buell Riders Adventure Group...kind of a group like the HOG club, but directed at those of us who ride Buells. Yes, I remember the article in the previous FUELL magazine...good info... Charlie, where did you buy your tensioner? | ||
| Hkwan |
One guy from the dealership has told me that the use of the aftermarket tensioner is mainly during hard breaking (and sometimes during very hard acceleration). During hard braking, you have unloaded the rear and the spring can accommodate the various tension of the belt. When the rear gets loaded again (after braking), the tension of the belt changes and the spring can be more gently applying tension onto the belt. With the stocker, you are just applying one rate of tension and at times (when the rear is unloaded), you will get more than enough tension on the belt and it will snap. That's what I was told.... I guess it is not necessary if you are not rideing the XB extremely hard. | ||
| Chris_mackay  |
That stock "tensioner" is not actually a tensioner at all. It's an idler. What it does is compensates for the difference in the pivot points between the engine sprocket and the swingarm. In doing so, the need for a "tensioner" is eliminated. Throughout the entire suspension travel of the XB the belt, without the idler, would need to change in length by .375" but with the stock idler in place the length varies by only .010". Both the position AND the diameter of the idler wheel play a role in making this work. So, if you change either you will likely defeat the intended purpose. But the little spring does look cool on the "tensioner". | ||
| Trenchtractor  |
'I would imagine that something like that worked into a chain conversion might be a good idea though.' I have been thinking about this idea for a whle now, for my bike. I think the amount of travel of this off the shelf item might not be enough to be effective, so I might need longer travel, and/or adjustability to accoount for different sprocket sizes for different ratio's... For the moment mine has been working fine... This would be nice, though, would remove the need to think about adjustment, cos it's real hard to adjust my chain... NOT  | ||
| Ingemar |
What Chris said. Throughout the suspension travel the belt hardly changes tension because of the position of that pulley. That tensioner would be needed if one changes sprockets etc. | ||
| Cyclonecharlie |
Cko Bob, I got it from Trojan,I think it took about 3 wks.(not bad for overseas). Don't want to get into an arguement with anybody but, unloaded my belt felt pretty darn tight.And think of the reverse load gearing down for a corner(belt travelling over a fixed idler at a fairly sharp angle under a load). Something you don't encounter when under power........Later Charlie | ||
| Trojan  |
Our chain conversion kit will use a similar system but with a lot more adjustment to it. In reply to Chris Mackay above, I would say that the OE 'idler' is indeed a tensioner device. Take it off and see how much tension the belt is left with. The modified tensioner not only allows the belt to run at a reduced tension most of the time, but also (and very importantly), reduces the shock to the belt when the suspension loads/unloads. As has been stated already, when braking hard or pulling the odd stoppie the stock system actually incrceases belt tension to a huge degree. Since we started selling these we have not had one customer tell us that a belt has broken with one of these fitted. Is this just coincidence? | ||
| Cyko_bob |
Trojan/Matt...I sent you an e-mail. | ||
| Trojan |
Thanks Bob  | ||
| M1combat |
I see your point. I think it's an effective device at allowing you to run less tension. I'm not sure that it's "necessary" as such is all. I'm sure there are benefits. That said... I'll probably get one as soon as the stock unit's bearings die. The only belt I've broken was while landing a small jump, but there was also a hole in the belt where the pulleys had run a rock through the belt. I attribute it more to the hole than the tension though. I'm sure it also had a bit to do with the shock it received as I landed. | ||
| Rigga  |
i think you will find that the tensioner comes without the pulley wheel....the standard item gets retained,i think its a good idea to lessen the tension on the belt slightly as the suspension compresses/unloads.......im gonna get one of these pretty soon | ||
| Dcmortalcoil |
If I'm not mistaken, the Nov/Dec Fuell magazine describes that the belt will stay substantially at a constant tension (only difference in 0.01" length change I think between lowest tension and largest tension). I don't think lowering the tension is a good idea based on the article as the set tension is designed to prevent belt teeth from slipping around the pulleys, which damages the belt, when opening the throttle hard. | ||
| Hootowl  |
Sure would like to have one of those for my tuber... | ||
| Maxima4xu2 |
eric and desingers spent how many hundreds of thousands of dollars and how many man hours in computer rendering and the unbeleivable lvls of trig and geometry used not to mention how many hundreds of thousands testing them???? ok look at most of the bikes on the track they either run a chain or the belt with the stock (and i quote) idler pulley a tensioner would have some sort of adjustment device on it ours redirects the belts direction on the lower side tired of breaking belts convert to 04' or a chain | ||
| Maxima4xu2 |
sorry bout the last post i was in a very bad mood g/f and i are fighting again sorry again |
