Belt Guards
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Belt Guards
Getting something caught up is an obvious drawback, but they are there for safety. I have been without both mine (upper and lower) forawhile now with no problems. Before I took them off I did a search on this forum and found numerous opinions going both ways. I like the look too
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,881
Likes: 34
From: USA
RE: Belt Guards
If you get a stone in there it will snap that belt in a second....at high speed could be an issue. If you get your female passenger's toe in there.....she will snap your neck in a second.......
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 8
From: Minneapolis Area, MN
RE: Belt Guards
Pulled from another thread here. Take a look at these pics.
ORIGINAL: mtnlvr
I bought my 98 DWG a couple years ago and the previous owner had removed the lower belt gaurd.
I didn't think much of it, but the next summer I was getting a lot of belt squeak. After closer inspection, here's what I found.
Debris made it's way between the belt and pulleys causing excessive wear. Without a debris deflector, rocks, sand, dirt, etc. have a much easier time finding their way from the road, around your tire, onto your belt, and around the pulleys.
Not cheap to fix, but cheap to prevent. Keep the debris deflector in place and wash the pulley and belt often.
P.S. The previous owner lived in a rural home with maybe a 1/3 to 1/2 mile of gravel which definitely didn't help.
[IMG]local://upfiles/23327/6C7F7EA7936D40C4B7319FBDBFCBCF2A.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/23327/E3C9A9D3D2E84DAAB1E9A27066A4EAF8.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/23327/B427754B34774514BC8E79395ADC51AD.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/23327/C255193C65F84ADA8E8A5C573BC38FE0.jpg[/IMG]
I bought my 98 DWG a couple years ago and the previous owner had removed the lower belt gaurd.
I didn't think much of it, but the next summer I was getting a lot of belt squeak. After closer inspection, here's what I found.
Debris made it's way between the belt and pulleys causing excessive wear. Without a debris deflector, rocks, sand, dirt, etc. have a much easier time finding their way from the road, around your tire, onto your belt, and around the pulleys.
Not cheap to fix, but cheap to prevent. Keep the debris deflector in place and wash the pulley and belt often.
P.S. The previous owner lived in a rural home with maybe a 1/3 to 1/2 mile of gravel which definitely didn't help.
[IMG]local://upfiles/23327/6C7F7EA7936D40C4B7319FBDBFCBCF2A.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/23327/E3C9A9D3D2E84DAAB1E9A27066A4EAF8.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/23327/B427754B34774514BC8E79395ADC51AD.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/23327/C255193C65F84ADA8E8A5C573BC38FE0.jpg[/IMG]
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 0
From: Top of Texas
RE: Belt Guards
I have a home in the country - 3 miles of limestone (one way) to pavement. As you can see from my signature pic, the bottom guard is currently off.The bike is going thru some minor repairs after my "Dances w/ Deer" staring role. Just wanted to see what it looked like sans the lower guard...Looks great, but...
For me, its too expensive of a gamble to run it w/oboth guards. I 'spose it really depends on where you do the majority of you riding - but gravel is everywhere, 'specially in the snow belt(no pun intended) after a long winter. The bottom guard goes back on as soon as I can pick up a wrench
- rotator cuff surgery/recovery SUCKS!!!!
For me, its too expensive of a gamble to run it w/oboth guards. I 'spose it really depends on where you do the majority of you riding - but gravel is everywhere, 'specially in the snow belt(no pun intended) after a long winter. The bottom guard goes back on as soon as I can pick up a wrench
- rotator cuff surgery/recovery SUCKS!!!!
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 0
From: I been around
RE: Belt Guards
ORIGINAL: metal_mike
took off the bottom[plastic] guard ....left the top[metal] one on though
took off the bottom[plastic] guard ....left the top[metal] one on though
ORIGINAL: but Ill try 2 try
Although the left shock might protect you I wouldn't want my leg or any part of me serving as the whipping post for a snapped belt at highway speeds.
Although the left shock might protect you I wouldn't want my leg or any part of me serving as the whipping post for a snapped belt at highway speeds.