| Author | Message | ||
     Azbueller |
I went for a ride today and was coming down a mountain fully leaned over and got on the throttle and SNAP!!! Broke the drive belt clean across, the belt had 5k on it so trucked the bike home stopping at the local Buell dealership to see if they had one, funny thing is I asked for a Buell belt looked up on computer they don't have one, so I said look up Sportster belt, yeah we got those for $175 So I got home and called Al at American Sport Bike and he has them cheaper and we started talking about the new technology in the new XB belt and the XB's use the the same front pully as the tube frame Buells, the XB belt has the same 14mm pitch and the same 128 tooth length so I'm gonna put one on my S2, anyone done this yet?? | ||
| Al_lighton |
I'd really like to hear any imputs on what Carey is proposing. The 95-02 (and likely a lot further back than 95) Buells use a 128 tooth, 1-1/8" wide, 14mm tooth pitch Gates belt, with "ribs" on the outside surface. The Gates belt, when new, has a somewhat plasticy feel to it. For X1's and S1's, the front pulley is a 27 tooth, 14mm tooth pitch. The exact same pulley is used on the 04-05 XB Buells. These same XB's use a 128 tooth, 1-1/8" wide, 14mm tooth pitch Goodyear belt with no "ribs" on the outside because it runs on the tensioner assy. The Goodyear belt has a more rubbery feel to it when new. Buell switched from the 11mm tooth pitch Gates belt on the XB due to belt fragility issues (extreme twist sensitivity, and nick damage propagation tendencies) to the Goodyear 14mm tooth pitch. The Goodyear XB belt lists for about $25 less than the tuber Gates belt. It's a bit of a leap of faith that the Goodyear XB belt may be better on a tuber than the tuber Gates belt. But it sure seems that the XB application where the belt is under tension at all times and is revers bent as it goes around each time is a harsher environment than the tuber application. So it if works there, why wouldn't it work on a tuber? Perhaps it may have less "snatch" strength? Anyone know anybody that has put that Goodyear belt on an older tuber? Can anyone think of any reason it might not be a good idea? Al (Message edited by al_lighton on April 09, 2005) | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
I often wondered if they were interchangeable and figured I would find out when I got the S3 to that point. See you at Springfast Al  | ||
| Al_lighton |
BTW, I asked Buell about this, the lead engineer on the XB belt system declined to comment about using it in that application because they had not tested it. That is of course the right answer. Of course, it doesn't mean that WE can't test it. I have been planning on putting the XB belt on my S1W the first time I need to change it, unless some other adventuresome soul like Carey beats me to it. Al | ||
| Crusty |
Put a 530 O-ring chain on it, and you'll never have to worry about nicks, shock loads or knowing when it needs replacing. You'll never have to worry about riding through road construction areas or dirt roads, either. | ||
| Aaomy |
funny i ride dirt roads all the time and dont worry about it now!!! ps.. ever seen a chain come loose (break) i like my right leg,, catch a stone in the chain and try to force the sprocket tooth threw it ,, something gotta give,,, both have strong points and both have week ones,, i run both ,, belt has less matinance and worries for me,, chain im always checking and adjusting,, not to mention the roshack tire stripy oil pattern,,, | ||
| Steve_mackay |
I wish I would have known this last week. I just had a belt put on my S3 when I had the swingarm replaced under recall. | ||
| Jarhead |
My driveway is 7/10th of a mile one way dirt with some small pea gravel here and there. Its a real mess in the rain, but in 6 months I havn't seen a problem yet. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I replaced my first belt at 19000km due to a stone, the second belt 4000km later. After that I went to a chain. The chain now has 20000km on it and its still in great shape. I will NEVER go back to a belt. | ||
| Koz5150 |
I will be watching this thread! | ||
| Azbueller |
I just ordered the new XB belt for my S2 and will be putting it on Wednesday when UPS delivers it, I will post comparison and install pics. | ||
| Blackbelt |
did you order a shirt that says "guinnea pig" on the front and Stay back 100', TEST RIDER on the back? I hope all goes well cause lots o people will be hoping it does here... | ||
| Rick_a |
I broke my belt at 12,600 and have used a chain since. The chains don't go too long before they're stretched to hell but at least I don't worry about breakage. The chain oil...I don't care...the bike's always filthy anyway. | ||
| Azbueller |
I just got the new belt and I'm compairing to the old one and its way more flexable and feels lighter too. I will take pics with my camera phone and post later. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Good luck Carey... Hope it goes well. | ||
| Azbueller |
All went well and the new belt went right on and flex's all the way over the front pully which the old belt never did. I will post pics when I get them back. | ||
| Ara |
This is an excellent experiment. Please keep us posted on this, Charlie. I commend your sense of adventure! (Message edited by ara on April 14, 2005) | ||
| M1combat |
It's Carey that's doing the experiment . The technical info is posted above. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
So now it bears asking, would this mean that the '04 and up XB's can use the pulleys from the Tubers? What kind of gearing does this open up for us? | ||
| Tom_k |
Wycked: The tuber rear pulley on my desk has a 5 hole mounting pattern, and I think the XB's use a 6 hole patttern. Correct me if I'm wrong. TK | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
good point Tom, but what about the front pulleys? Do all the Tubers run 27 tooth? | ||
| Davefl |
You can get a 26 and a 29 tooth for the Tubers maybe more. | ||
| M1combat |
Just to put it out there... We can't change that w/o using one of the spring loaded tensioners... | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
or reeming out the rear bolt hole on the tensioner the way FP did for his chain conversion... | ||
| Azbueller |
Well here's the pics:    I went for a ride back to South Mountain where I broke the last one and flogged the crap out of it and all is well, didn't stretch at all. | ||
| Whodom |
Sweet! Another cool thing- it has the Buell logo instead of the dreaded bar and shield.  | ||
| Al_lighton |
All tubers do not run the 27 tooth. S1's and X1's ran the exact same 27 tooth sprocket that is now standard on XBs. M2s and S3's, and I think S2's , ran the 29 tooth pulleys. I'm betting that Carey's belt is going to hold up fine. I'll be doing the same thing when the time comes, unless he proves it to be folly first. Al | ||
| Whodom |
Al, do the S3's take a different belt or should this belt work for us too? | ||
| Swampy |
will this work on a Sporty? | ||
| Azbueller |
Yes it will work on a Sporty, same specs as a H-D Sporty belt | ||
| Al_lighton |
Same belt on all US tubers. Euro tubers use a 55 tooth rear pulley and a 125 tooth belt. All US Buell tubers use a 61 tooth rear and a 128 tooth belt. Al | ||
| Jarhead |
wow, thats a significant gearing difference | ||
| M1combat |
A seven percent change... That would be nice for those times I know I'll be making long trips on freeways... Someone should tell Xb9rSki about this . I suppose though, it's not like you can't get lightweight aftermarket front pulleys for the XB's anyway, but I'll bet this way is a good deal less expensive... | ||
| 1313 |
Euro tubers use a 125 tooth belt. That's funny. I don't remember seeing different belts on the line. I'm pretty sure all tubers used the 128 tooth belt... 1313 | ||
| Buelliedan |
The Euro bikes do for sure use a shorter belt as the 55 tooth rear sprocket demands it. | ||
| Simond |
... but then many European bikes are now running US gearing (61/27; originally 55/29) and still use the original belt. I take it that we just get a shorter wheelbase to go with the lower gearing . | ||
| Buelliedan |
why do I have this feeling Brankin is about to embarrass Al and myself? | ||
| 1313 |
Awww, come on, why would I embarrass you and Al? I like you guys. I guess if anything, these pictures below could be called 'setting the record straight'...   All I see is the 128 tooth belt, and I think it's kinda cool that it is item #13. 1313 | ||
| Al_lighton |
Brankin is correct on what is listed in the parts manuals. I based my comment before on some data Tat had written down here at American Sport Bike. But I've gone back and looked at all the parts manuals we have here, and there is never a 125 tooth belt listed in any year, any model. A customer tried to fit a 128 tooth belt on a 27/55 combination and he said it was too loose and that he needed the 125 tooth belt. But I guess the 29/55 works OK with the 128 tooth belt, and the 27/55 was never a shipped configuration from Buell. Here is a summary of what I found from all the parts manuals I have here. I don't have all the parts manuals here for all models, all years, so some are assumed based on bounding manuals and B2Win articles that I do have here. If anyone sees a mistake, feel free to correct me. Also, I've found mistakes in the parts manuals before, so there may be some errors from that. My 2000 S3 manual says 27 tooth for both US and international S3's, and I think the international S3s had a 29 tooth in that year. Also, my 2000 S3 manual says 61 tooth for rear international, but I think the international had a 55 tooth rear pulley. But I list what the parts manual said below. Front Pulleys (US, International) 95-96 S2 40288-95 27T, (no international) 96-98 S1 (no manual, assumed 27T) 97-98 M2 40288-95 27T, 40205-95 29T 97-98 S3 40205-95 29T, 40205-95 29T 99 S3 (not here, B2Win says 2.26 Final drive, so likely 40288-95 27T, 40288-95 27T, but I'm betting that the international had a 29 tooth) 2000-2002 S3 40288-95 27T, 40288-95 27T (29T?) 99 M2 (not here, B2Win says 2.26 Final drive, so likely 40288-95 27T, 40288-95 27T (29T?) ) 2000-2002 M2 40288-95 27T, 40205-95 29T 99 X1 40288-95 27T, 40205-95 29T 2000-2002 X1 40288-95 27T, 40205-95 29T Rear Pulleys (US, International) 95-96 S2 34927-94Y 61T, (no international) 96-98 S1 (no manual, assumed 61T) 97-98 M2 34927-94Y 61T, 34927-94Y 61T (might be error, may have 55 tooth) 97-98 S3 34927-94Y 61T, 37727-94Y 55T (manual lists right part number, wrong tooth count) 99 S3 (not here, likely 34927-94Y 61T, 37727-94Y 55T ) 2000-2002 S3 34927-94Y 61T, 34927-94Y 61T (likely an error, I think these were 55 tooth like the M2 and X1s of the same years were) 99 M2 (not here, likely 34927-94Y 61T, 37727-94Y 55T ) 2000-2002 M2 34927-94Y 61T, 37727-94Y 55T 99 X1 34927-94Y 61T, 37727-94Y 55T 2000-2002 X1 34927-94Y 61T, 37727-94Y 55T It s worthwhile to note that the 2004 and later XBs use the SAME 27 tooth front pulley as the 27 tooth tuber pulley. Al |
