Is my memory that bad?
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 619
Likes: 9
From: Auburn, GA
It doesn't really matter why he wants a chain, though does it? All that matters is he wanted it and asked for a quote to get it done. The answer should have been the quote he asked for or a polite "Sorry, we don't do that kind of work." It should not have been a debate.
Maybe, maybe not, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 503
Likes: 1
From: Princeton, NC
If you want a chain - go for it. The belt AND REAR PULLEY had to be replaced on my Ultra at only 45,000 miles. Tension was always correct, but I just never thought to check the teeth on the belt by trying to bend them or flex'em. Went in to get a new rear tire put on and the wrench came out and told about my new problem. I never really gave the belt teeth a second thought because I had been told they last forever....just checked the tension regularly.
About every 5th tooth was missing and all the rest worn torn and just being held on by near nothing. The grooves in the pulley were rough and gapped really bad. The kicker is - I had just got back from a 2,300 mile trip to West Virgina. The bike is a 2007 model and has never been hot-rodded..too much. What happened to my belt? The dealership just said that they usually go out at about 60-70 thousand miles.
That belt wasn't all that impressive - maybe a chain would be another idea....
About every 5th tooth was missing and all the rest worn torn and just being held on by near nothing. The grooves in the pulley were rough and gapped really bad. The kicker is - I had just got back from a 2,300 mile trip to West Virgina. The bike is a 2007 model and has never been hot-rodded..too much. What happened to my belt? The dealership just said that they usually go out at about 60-70 thousand miles.
That belt wasn't all that impressive - maybe a chain would be another idea....
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
If you want a chain - go for it. The belt AND REAR PULLEY had to be replaced on my Ultra at only 45,000 miles. Tension was always correct, but I just never thought to check the teeth on the belt by trying to bend them or flex'em. Went in to get a new rear tire put on and the wrench came out and told about my new problem. I never really gave the belt teeth a second thought because I had been told they last forever....just checked the tension regularly.
About every 5th tooth was missing and all the rest worn torn and just being held on by near nothing. The grooves in the pulley were rough and gapped really bad. The kicker is - I had just got back from a 2,300 mile trip to West Virgina. The bike is a 2007 model and has never been hot-rodded..too much. What happened to my belt? The dealership just said that they usually go out at about 60-70 thousand miles.
That belt wasn't all that impressive - maybe a chain would be another idea....
About every 5th tooth was missing and all the rest worn torn and just being held on by near nothing. The grooves in the pulley were rough and gapped really bad. The kicker is - I had just got back from a 2,300 mile trip to West Virgina. The bike is a 2007 model and has never been hot-rodded..too much. What happened to my belt? The dealership just said that they usually go out at about 60-70 thousand miles.
That belt wasn't all that impressive - maybe a chain would be another idea....
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Seem to remember seeing a chain with chrome sideplates and hardened rollers on a custom last year and it also had o-rings . Looked great on that bike. Might have been polished stainless, but if so, it was one heck of a polishing job.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 2
From: Warren, OH
As far as telling you some $hit about needing to change it often, I personally think they are trained to tell the general population BS. My dad is pretty good buddies with the service guy at his local HD dealer. We were swapping bars and risers and started asking questions. He instantly told us, "hey, lets go outside and look at your bike". Once we got outside he told us, "Now that we are outside I can be honest, but in there I have to give you the trained sales line." He told us specifically that he has to tell you that if you change this or that, then you are going to specifically have to buy these and those. My point being that like doing bars and risers, they HAVE to tell you that changing cables and wires are mandatory, even though everyone with a brain can see that you can get away with quite a bit re-routing, cutting and soldering before you have to start swapping parts... As far as chain goes, I would think that chain is getting better and stronger, not $hittier and weaker... Just my $.02
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
pre o ring chain, I used to get 3-5k on my 70 XLCH. ran the chit out of it
maybe hes stuck in the 70's
maybe hes stuck in the 70's
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
All the years I ran chain it never mattered how long they lasted because they cost so little.When they needed changing they got changed,I ran industial chain and it was cheap.After seeing what the belts today can take for punishment I am forever converted.But,to convert to chain is not all that expensive especially if you do it yourself.When putting my last bike together I looked into it.Chain costs more than the sprockets.Good Luck