21 year old drive belt?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
If you're only going to ride it around locally, within reasonable range of home, you will be fine, as you can get rescued if it gives up the ghost, however if you fancy a long day in the saddle and want to be sure of getting back home........
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,576
Likes: 7,953
From: Long Island, New York
Fair amount of work to change that belt just for maintenance. (You know the inner and outer primary need to come off to change the belt?) Depending on how many miles and how far from home you intended on going, I might leave well enough alone and deal with the wrenching on an as needed basis.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 737
Likes: 4
From: Scotland,UK
My belt snapped 3 miles from Stealership. I had some wrenching done and was just leaving the workshop. Probably coincidence?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,591
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From: Big Bear City, CA
FWIW, I called HD of Victorville CA a while back, to ask at what mileage or age they recommend changing the belt. The Service dept. told me there life-span is pretty much indefinite. And that if there is no visible damage or issues, there's no point in changing it. I had 50k miles on the belt I was referring to. A friend of mine that's an HD service tech for the past 10 years says the same. But I also carry a belt repair link in my tool pouch, just in case.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,176
Likes: 12,753
From: South Carolina
More stuff to think about...
Bikes made before mid `94 came with the outdated design front belt pulley, spacer, nut and lock.
A lot of these pulley nuts came loose, sometimes causing substantial damage.
The new pulley setup consists of a new design pulley, pulley spacer, lock and oil seal.
If you decide to replace the belt, I suggest you also upgrade to the latest configuration pulley system.
Bikes made before mid `94 came with the outdated design front belt pulley, spacer, nut and lock.
A lot of these pulley nuts came loose, sometimes causing substantial damage.
The new pulley setup consists of a new design pulley, pulley spacer, lock and oil seal.
If you decide to replace the belt, I suggest you also upgrade to the latest configuration pulley system.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Jan 30, 2015 at 06:07 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NW AR
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Dirt don't hurt
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From: Haslet Texas
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