How long before you change
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,496
Likes: 3,729
From: backwoods
Myself, I would plan on it some winter or when you have primary off, once you hit 50k. I don't believe in waiting until you are stuck on the side of the road for hours, late for work, or talking to cops. I do inspect on tire changes, but that is every 10k miles, more so with some of these newer tires. Lots of people disagree with me and like being stranded. I also change my oil.
Not saying I rush to do it. But it becomes one of those things that I say next winter I am going to, I may or may not.
I had one pac man at 55k. Another was good at 90. But that was also the old style thicker belt. I would do stator since the primary is off too. I like to get as much done when its open. Both belt changes did stator, and I also did seals on tranny since I replaced the pulley.
People would also scuff at this, but if I had stator out I would consider sprocket shaft seal on crank shaft. I replaced mine at 55k, and I think it had been leaking for a long time.
Not saying I rush to do it. But it becomes one of those things that I say next winter I am going to, I may or may not.
I had one pac man at 55k. Another was good at 90. But that was also the old style thicker belt. I would do stator since the primary is off too. I like to get as much done when its open. Both belt changes did stator, and I also did seals on tranny since I replaced the pulley.
People would also scuff at this, but if I had stator out I would consider sprocket shaft seal on crank shaft. I replaced mine at 55k, and I think it had been leaking for a long time.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,496
Likes: 2,538
From: Lititz Pa
Myself, I would plan on it some winter or when you have primary off, once you hit 50k. I don't believe in waiting until you are stuck on the side of the road for hours, late for work, or talking to cops. I do inspect on tire changes, but that is every 10k miles, more so with some of these newer tires. Lots of people disagree with me and like being stranded. I also change my oil.
Not saying I rush to do it. But it becomes one of those things that I say next winter I am going to, I may or may not.
I had one pac man at 55k. Another was good at 90. But that was also the old style thicker belt. I would do stator since the primary is off too. I like to get as much done when its open. Both belt changes did stator, and I also did seals on tranny since I replaced the pulley.
People would also scuff at this, but if I had stator out I would consider sprocket shaft seal on crank shaft. I replaced mine at 55k, and I think it had been leaking for a long time.
Not saying I rush to do it. But it becomes one of those things that I say next winter I am going to, I may or may not.
I had one pac man at 55k. Another was good at 90. But that was also the old style thicker belt. I would do stator since the primary is off too. I like to get as much done when its open. Both belt changes did stator, and I also did seals on tranny since I replaced the pulley.
People would also scuff at this, but if I had stator out I would consider sprocket shaft seal on crank shaft. I replaced mine at 55k, and I think it had been leaking for a long time.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,496
Likes: 3,729
From: backwoods
I'd still consider stator or shifter shaft seal. Primary bearing too, of course. Any time the primary is off, think about that one.
Problem with this philosphy is you check it every 10k? How many miles from once it starts pac manning like mine does, until it fails? But I get the point of doing when primary off. One bike I had to do because it failed, other one I just decided one winter to do it based on age, and replaced everything, more stuff then I listed here actually.
Last edited by Rounders; Apr 29, 2025 at 06:35 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,018
Likes: 6,913
From: NC
I would be more concerned with age than miles. I know of many belts lasting over 100,000 miles and up to 10 years. Much depends on how the motorcycle is maintained and ridden, and where it usually lives.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,496
Likes: 3,729
From: backwoods
Good point. Lets be honest about how long it takes to put miles on.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 684
From: Forest Hill, Md
I did the belt and both pulleys on my 05 Ultra at about 97,000 in 2023. The engine had a cam bearing disintegrate at 99,091 miles so that was special and totally unrelated.
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