Rock poking through belt!
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 550
Likes: 8
From: Twin Cities,Mn.
Rock poking through belt!
The other day we had my bike up on the rack and I noticed the belt had a rock through it!!! The rock was small and embedded right into the belt. I decided to leave it where it was at.
I have asked some of my buddies and a few say replace the belt ASAP and a few say let it go and don't worry about it.
What do you guys think? Any experience with this? I hate to pull it all apart and buy a new belt if I don't have to.
I have asked some of my buddies and a few say replace the belt ASAP and a few say let it go and don't worry about it.
What do you guys think? Any experience with this? I hate to pull it all apart and buy a new belt if I don't have to.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Remove it! That rock is doing the belt no good where it is.
I have had the same experience and am continuing to use the bike. If the damage is near the edge of the belt there is a risk the belt will break.
The photo is of the damage to my belt. I have done around 4,000 miles since finding it and removing the stone, including a 2,500 tour on holiday, 2-up and fully loaded. There is now a small crack in the outer layer of the belt, which is recent. I don't have any long trips planned, otherwise I would replace it now, but I reckon it will last a while yet, riding day trips.
I have had the same experience and am continuing to use the bike. If the damage is near the edge of the belt there is a risk the belt will break.
The photo is of the damage to my belt. I have done around 4,000 miles since finding it and removing the stone, including a 2,500 tour on holiday, 2-up and fully loaded. There is now a small crack in the outer layer of the belt, which is recent. I don't have any long trips planned, otherwise I would replace it now, but I reckon it will last a while yet, riding day trips.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Thanks for posting that! Some of my pals have been giving me a hard time for not replacing it immediately. Roughly how many miles did you do on your 'damaged' belt?
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Definitely remove the rock!
If the damage is minimal, you can still use the belt, but if it's near the edge, I'd replace it. It'll be less pain if you replaced it now, rather than having the belt blow on a trip while out of town.
If the damage is minimal, you can still use the belt, but if it's near the edge, I'd replace it. It'll be less pain if you replaced it now, rather than having the belt blow on a trip while out of town.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 817
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From: N.E. Ohio
I had a rock poke a hole in my belt on my 87 FLHTC. Asked everyone what they thought, all the wrenchs said let it go. So I let it go, one night one of my friends just finish breaking in his 1200 sportster. At a light he was egging me on and I jumped on it and BAM the belt broke right where the rock poked thru. Now I was playing around,but it wasnot a whole shot. I was just taking off the line. I would pull the rock out and if you let it go don't beat on it.
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 550
Likes: 8
From: Twin Cities,Mn.
I do have the lower belt gaurd in place. Thanks for the advise on pulling the rock out. In around a 100K of riding with belts I have never run into this problem. The rock is not in the center and not on the edge if I remember correctly. I will see if I can upload picks tomorrow.