| Author | Message | ||
     Xb9robb |
First of all, I would like to point out that I did try the search method before asking, but couldn't find a specific answer. Here goes. I am on my THIRD belt on my '05 'Bolt and am getting really ticked that my dealer can't seem to get our beloved manufacturer to fess up to the fact that this new, super-ceeded belt # doesn't have issues! Two times now this number belt has almost literally disintegrated before I caught it. I by no means ride to a point where I could sit back and think it may be my fault. I don't feel safe on it anymore. I will say that I have had an accident and the bike was repaired by the dealer as per the insurance company's wishes. It was very close to a total, but not enough. Is this possibly the fault of the dealer having not repaired it adequately enough? After the first one, they just gave me a new one. Then after about 200 mi. that one did it, and they replaced the primary sprocket. Now I wonder what is next!? I called the dealer on Monday, and if I don't hear something positive out of them when they call (they wanted to discuss it with Buell) I am thinking of having them bring someone from Buell down and letting them personally know they can buy it back, or give me a new bike. This is getting to be re-g*d**n-diculous! Anybody else having similar problems? BTW, when I say disintegrating, I mean the belt just works itself into pieces. Thanks y'all! | ||
| Spatten1 |
There is a reason everyone else uses chains. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Mine belt doesn't line up exactly right and wears the left side first. However, there is no adjustment........ | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Sounds like to me that after the accident the dealership didn't get something lined up correctly. Too much flex will generate too much heat causing the belt to disintegrate (think tire with too low tire pressure = blow out). The flex could be side to side (probably your problem) or have too much tension. I think your accident is the missing link. I am assuming that you weren't chewing belts before the accident, correct? What I would request is for a Buell engineer that could specifically identify misalignments of the frame/swing arm. Ever follow a car/truck that just didn't track down the road correctly? I'll bet your bike has the same problem revealed in the belt issue. | ||
| Cycleaddict |
sounds like alignment "issues" to me . the swingarm, rear axle,or swingarm pivot is more than likely the culprit ! one of those items is probably bent. (one of the reasons i bought a BUELL was For the belt drive!) | ||
| Tq_freak |
I think the there is an alignment issue as well, did you tweet the swingarm in the accident? I know it states in the service manual not to remove the brace while the axle and tire assembly are still on the bike cause it will tweet the swingarm. make sure the dealer / tech didnt cut corners. And I think if the swing arm was scratched and the didnt replace it to look there also. | ||
| Stangallmotor |
I broke two belts also on my 05 xb9r, Just saving up for a chain now but kinda hard cause I'm a broke college student. well good luck | ||
| Diablobrian |
Robb, it sounds like a bent swingarm, or even swingarm mount from your description. You nee to get them to really check it closely. It does not take much deflection at the mount to be a huge problem by the time the deflection is multiplied over the length of the swingarm. And yes, novice techs do try to cut corners they shouldn't some times. Stangallmotor -http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/142058.html?1147956988. This is far less expensive than the other kits, Just remember that you do not want to cut a corner and buy a cheap chain. Expect to pay over $100 for just the chain. (o/x/xv ring!) Ask any questions to Saintly, Gentleman_Jon, Me, or any of the other members of the "BadWeB Chaingang" We'll do our best to help. | ||
| Teeps |
Engine, trans, swingarm are all one unit. If there is misalignment, something is bent. You do not mention whether the belt breakage started before or after the accident. Was the swing arm replaced as part of the collision repair? | ||
| Spatten1 |
I had a low speed crash too. Maybe that is why mine is tighter on the left side than the right. The bike rides perfectly and the belt appears to be lined up on both pulleys in the right spot. However, the left side is too tight and cracks and wears the belt. No adjustment means there is not much I can do. Brian, thanks for the link to Saintly's conversion. That is definitly the way to go! Sure would be a cheap option for Buell to offer! | ||
| Njxb12s |
I don't know of any belt issues with the XB's and I work for a dealer. I used to have a chain bike and that is costly changing sprockets and chain every so often. For me it was every other year $500+ and my labor. I thought people convert Buells to chain just to quick-change ratios for track? Sorry I couldn't be more help but I too suspect alignment but I'm no tech. I have got 10,500 miles on my 04 XB12S and all is well. | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
I'm at over 12,000 with the stocker on my '05 with no problems. I wonder about the post crash myself after having layed mine down last month. the bottom of my swingarm has a little rash on it. YIKES! I dont have enough miles on it since then to say if it has affected anything or not. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Now I'm wondering if crashed bikes exhibit the belt problems. Is it possible that the factory gets the alignment perfect, but once something is slightly tweaked there is nothing that we can do to compensate? | ||
| Yohinan |
There is always something that can be done to fix an alignment issue. Since the bike was originally not totaled and fixed no matter what, now the insurance company has to continue to drop money on your bike until this is fixed (unless there is some clause that I am unsure of which is very possible). If this is your third belt and you do nothing else then be assured they will continue to break. The belts are the weakest link in the line so they will continue to be the first to break. You need to have your dealer or another competent shop figure out which item or items is tweaked ever so slightly on your bike (most likely you cant even see this with the naked eye, need machines to do this type of work). That is what is causing your belts to break. | ||
| Spatten11 |
"There is always something that can be done to fix an alignment issue." Please enlighten me, I can't find any adjustments for alignment in the manual. Again, my belt lines up perfectly on the pulleys, but the left side wears right away. | ||
| Yohinan |
This is not something that you will find in the manual (at least not that I have seen). Sorry if this is the way I made it sound. When I made that statement I was making it in reference to something being slightly bent/damaged. Spatten11 has your bike ever been down before that you know of? XB9rob had his bike fixed and even though his bike appears to be a good to the naked eye, in reality there is some part on his bike that has been slightly tweaked and most likely was not replaced. The only way to find this is to have a shop that does this type of work take a look at it to find out which part is "out of whack." Hopefully that clears it up. If not I can dig around and find a website for a shop that does this kind of work although I would not know where one is in your area. | ||
| Skyguy |
A shop that can address the alignment issue is non existent. F'ing HD dealers don't know or care to know shiot about the Buells. I called EVERY shop with-in 300 miles of Los Angeles and not one had an alignment measurement tool. Hell a couple of shops won't even honor the wheel bearing upgrade. | ||
| Keys |
My bike was wrecked on both sides before I picked it up. It had the upgraded belt for '03 on it. My rear sprocket is a little tweeked so it sways back and forth a little on every rotation. Belt shows no problems in 6000 miles. Just wanted to add my experiences to the conversation. (Message edited by keys on October 01, 2006) | ||
| Yohinan |
Skyguy. I will look around this weekend and find that info for you. I cant promise the shop will be in your area however they will most likely be able to point you to other shops in the industry in another location since most of the time they know each other. Hopefully that will help you some. | ||
| Xb9robb |
Been busy, but wanted to thank everyone for their input. The frame and swingarm were both replaced. The wheels are the same and so is the motor. After the accident, I tried to repair it myself, but there was something tweaked from the accident that would make the belt bind up when the bike was pushed forward or backward. The sprocket is new (diamond highlighted) since the accident. See, after I replaced the rear sprocket myself, it still had that binding issue, which is when I called the dealer and had it repaired under my insurance. I firmly believe that my bike was just thrown back together as fast as humanly possible. Here's another kicker, when I initially noticed the belt tearing the first time around, I took off my chin fairing to reveal none other than... ... one of my oil lines hadn't had the fitting at the end of the tube inserted. My dealer has been very helpful throughout all this, but there comes a point where lost riding time is easier to remember than good service. Thanks again guys! |
