I have a 29 tooth front sprocket/pulley for the wifes 98 883 to try to ride of some vibrations. My question is, do I need to change the belt, or is the original one on there now OK? I am wondering about because of the changing of the number of teeth, and the spacing between the teeth? Or is the pulley just larger in diameter.

Thanks!

 

Maybe I've gone crazy (which is very possible), but I thought the 1991 - 2003 came with a 29/61 combo stock and used the 128 tooth OEM 4022-91 belt, which is 1 1/8" wide.

(After looking at the below it also appears that the 1991 - 1999 Sportster International used a 27/55 combination).

Here is some Sportster belt information (with Gates part numbers)

1.125" wide for Sportster®

600-616 1991-2003, 1-1/8" wide Sportster® rear belt, (Stock USA pulleys); 128 teeth; 29-61 pulley combo (front-rear); (OEM 40022-91)

600-617 1-1/8" wide Sportster® rear belt, +2" stretched swingarm, ; 136 teeth; 29-64 pulley combo (front-rear)

601-129 1991-99 Sportster® International; 125 teeth; 27-55 pulley combo (front-rear); (OEM 40038-91)

601-558 2004-06 883/883C Sportster® with stock USA pulley; 136 teeth; pulley combo (front-rear) (OEM 40570-04)

601-559 2004-06 1200R/1200C Sportster® with stock USA pulley; 137 teeth; pulley combo (front-rear) (OEM 40571-04)

 

I was told when we bought this that it came with a 27/61 combo from the factory. 1998 XLH883 Hugger.

 

Ive just swapped from 27 to 29, no problems with the belt as it is just larger in diameter. The only ****le I had was getting the 48mm nut off!! At one time I was convinced the manual was wrong and it wasnt really a left hand thread.

Lev

 

Thanks, Lev! I am doing this to try to reduce the vibrations at 65 mph. How did you find the swap to work? I figured I would start with the front, then swap the rear if necessary. Thanks!

 

UK Buells had 55t rear and 27t front for some reason, this made them very high geared. I found it a pain in 30mph limits because it was either revving too high or struggling in a lower gear. I also found cornering was a problem as it didnt seem to have much 'punch when accelerating out of them without a mid corner gear change. I changed the rear to a 61t first ( as it is the easier of the 2 to do) And the difference was quite noticeable. Faster acceleration, and shorter gear changes. When I put the front 29t on it was not as noticeable a difference but made it a little quicker. I took her for a ride along one of my favourite twisty roads between Melton Mowbray and Oakham, and the difference really showed. It seemed to make cornering much less of a problem, and just felt 'Right'
The only downside is that I keep trying to change up a gear when Im already in top. And with the speedo sensor taking its reading from a gear and not the wheel, it has thrown the reading out a bit. To rectify this I would have to Buy a US speedo, which at the moment would cost around $250.

From what I have read the change would make your bike rev about 500rpm more for the same speed. So if before you where doing 3000rpm at 65mph, you would be doing 3500rpm after the change. ( So plan on slightly more regular fuel stops)

Here is a gearing chart relevant to Buells, but it will give you a theoretical idea of what the changes would mean.





Hope this is of some help
Lev