Any Chain drives left?
RE: Any Chain drives left?
ORIGINAL: dog155
After owning a couple of dozen chain driven Harleys,it has taken me a while to feel comfortable with the belt.Much quiter and no oil slinging everywhere.All the pro's tell me with proper maintenance,the belt and pulleys should last much longer than a chain.It is a little unnerving thinking how much of a chore it would be to replace the belt over a chain.We will see how it goes.
After owning a couple of dozen chain driven Harleys,it has taken me a while to feel comfortable with the belt.Much quiter and no oil slinging everywhere.All the pro's tell me with proper maintenance,the belt and pulleys should last much longer than a chain.It is a little unnerving thinking how much of a chore it would be to replace the belt over a chain.We will see how it goes.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 375
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From:
RE: Any Chain drives left?
02 Electraglide-Removed belt and went back to chainlast year. About 13k on it and ready to change due to resizing of rear sprocket. For me it is not a big deal as for the cleanliness of a belt over chain.I ride every day and wash the bike frequently.Just did not trust the belt with my riding habits/style! As for the vibration/noise issue,I cannot tell the difference between when the belt was on versus the chain.Tsubaki chromed o-ring 10k tensile. I do not want to get stuck with a broke belt when out on a cross country ride and the chain offers me the ability to at least have a chance to get somewhere.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
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From: S.E.PA
RE: Any Chain drives left?
ORIGINAL: dynrdave
Yes I miss the days of the oil up the back of the t-shirt and the rain storm with no front fender, NOT !!!!!!!!!
Yes I miss the days of the oil up the back of the t-shirt and the rain storm with no front fender, NOT !!!!!!!!!
“Yes I miss the days of the oil up the back of the t-shirt and the rain storm with no front fender, NOT !!!!!!!!! “
I might shoot up a10 foot rooster tail of rain out the back of my ride, been known to do that, but never had oil up my back ? how does that work, fonz ?
Hay, what I said was the truth, belts can’t take the horse power, I am not trying to step on any bodys boots here, I am not talking the ease of not cleaning the rear of a bike with a belt vs chain.
cj
ps: when harley came out with the final drive belt I think in ’80 they advertise it, buy hold up the bike off the floor with the belt around and under the tank, around the belt was held up by 1 of the 5 or 6 strands that they used in the belt, look pretty cool, but they did sell a temporary belt you could take on a far ride also ? it had like a master link in it, so easy road side fix.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Any Chain drives left?
I ran nothing but "chained" Harley's from 1972 up until a few years ago when I got my '96 WideGlide , and after messing withchains foraround 25years I don't miss them one bit.....
Constant adjustment, trying not to use too much, or too little oil on them, etc., etc......
I was a little leary of going with the belt drive, but have found them to be very dependable.Normally change them out at around 50,000 miles, but I know guys with 75,000+ miles on them without any problems.
Sure, if you are running 'high horsepower/torque' applications a chain is the only way to go, especially if you are making constant full throttle runs, but for normal output engines up to 100 horsepower a belt if fine.
Constant adjustment, trying not to use too much, or too little oil on them, etc., etc......
I was a little leary of going with the belt drive, but have found them to be very dependable.Normally change them out at around 50,000 miles, but I know guys with 75,000+ miles on them without any problems.
Sure, if you are running 'high horsepower/torque' applications a chain is the only way to go, especially if you are making constant full throttle runs, but for normal output engines up to 100 horsepower a belt if fine.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 449
From: Michigan
RE: Any Chain drives left?
"I might shoot up a10 foot rooster tail of rain out the back of my ride, been known to do that, but never had oil up my back ? how does that work, fonz ?"
Back years ago HDs had a small drip oiler on the chains to keep them lubricated and if they dripped to much the chain would sling the excess oil all over the place. Have a friend who was a motor officer in the 70's tell me about just yesterday
Back years ago HDs had a small drip oiler on the chains to keep them lubricated and if they dripped to much the chain would sling the excess oil all over the place. Have a friend who was a motor officer in the 70's tell me about just yesterday
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,477
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Any Chain drives left?
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
Boss Hoss runs a belt on their bikes. You don't see many of them breaking.
Boss Hoss runs a belt on their bikes. You don't see many of them breaking.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Any Chain drives left?
ORIGINAL: OldFenderGuy
I ran nothing but "chained" Harley's from 1972 up until a few years ago when I got my '96 WideGlide , and after messing withchains foraround 25years I don't miss them one bit.....
Constant adjustment, trying not to use too much, or too little oil on them, etc., etc......
I was a little leary of going with the belt drive, but have found them to be very dependable.Normally change them out at around 50,000 miles, but I know guys with 75,000+ miles on them without any problems.
Sure, if you are running 'high horsepower/torque' applications a chain is the only way to go, especially if you are making constant full throttle runs, but for normal output engines up to 100 horsepower a belt if fine.
I ran nothing but "chained" Harley's from 1972 up until a few years ago when I got my '96 WideGlide , and after messing withchains foraround 25years I don't miss them one bit.....
Constant adjustment, trying not to use too much, or too little oil on them, etc., etc......
I was a little leary of going with the belt drive, but have found them to be very dependable.Normally change them out at around 50,000 miles, but I know guys with 75,000+ miles on them without any problems.
Sure, if you are running 'high horsepower/torque' applications a chain is the only way to go, especially if you are making constant full throttle runs, but for normal output engines up to 100 horsepower a belt if fine.
"OldFenderGuy"
“I ran nothing but "chained" Harley's from 1972 up until a few years ago when I got my '96 WideGlide , and after messing with chains for around 25 years I don't miss them one bit..... “
They do take some care and feeding : - )
“Constant adjustment, trying not to use too much, or too little oil on them, etc., etc...... “
Didn’t use an O ring type ? all you do is spray it once in awhile with 100% silicone, clear, no drips or slings. nothing near constant adjustment.
“I was a little leary of going with the belt drive, but have found them to be very dependable. Normally change them out at around 50,000 miles, but I know guys with 75,000+ miles on them without any problems. “
That is true except if one day a small stone/bolt/nut gets caught between the belt and pulley (small hole), somewhat rare but it dose happen, now that was the only time I mention a bad thing with a belt and that is not something I would do as taking off a belt off a new bike and putting on a chain. I never even hinted that belts were not dependable, what we have here it seems to be a failure to communication or there are some very sensitive people here, (not you OFG), I said chains are used the most with here let me copy what I said….” if you ever seen those fire breathing monster engines, take a look, it has a chain on it,” now what part of “fire breathing monster engines” doesn’t someone get ?
“Sure, if you are running 'high horsepower/torque' applications a chain is the only way to go, especially if you are making constant full throttle runs, but for normal output engines up to 100 horsepower a belt if fine.”
You know what your talking about, I wasn’t inferring belts couldn’t hold up to stage I or II, I am talking lots of horsepower and torque ! remember “fire breathing monster engines”
There are only a very few things that people do to their rides that really gets to me and it’s not run belts, the one that makes me real crazy is someone all of a sudden what a chopper look, he does it cheap and dangerous way, buy’s a rake triple tree, (instead of the right way raking the neck) adds some over length tubes and thinks he has a real chopper, all he really has is a dangerous bike that will get him in all kinds of trouble, not bs between belt and chain.
Ride safe, thanks for the input
cj
PS:
Hay that is your shovel above !
“I still run one on my '81 Shovel...
“And it even has a kicker, along with the electric start, something that is unheard of these days”
sweet shovel pretty much stock except for the drag bars right ?
[color=#000
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Any Chain drives left?
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci
Boss Hoss runs a belt on their bikes. You don't see many of them breaking.
Boss Hoss runs a belt on their bikes. You don't see many of them breaking.
Boss Hoss runs a belt on their bikes. You don't see many of them breaking.
I also seen years ago 2 and 3 wheel BH with shafts so ? cj
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