ironhead belt drive conversion?
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
ironhead belt drive conversion?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLE...item4a9b8c7905
Came across this while hunting for brake parts. I'm thinking it shouldn't be that hard as far as the drive part goes, I'm just wondering how/if i could retrofit the rear brake drum over it. Thoughts?
Came across this while hunting for brake parts. I'm thinking it shouldn't be that hard as far as the drive part goes, I'm just wondering how/if i could retrofit the rear brake drum over it. Thoughts?
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 20
From: Eagle River WI
I've seen them come in the shop One was a 68 the other was 70's vintage I know they claim the belts are ok in an oil bath but I just don't know What I do know is I'd rather have a prim belt blow apart on a sporty than a chain ! What a mess on the left case when this happens
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 400
Likes: 1
From: se ohio
the chain does make a mess of the case wen it goes,from what i have seen it is usually comes from the adj. bolts comming loose but i stay on maintance i check my primary tension whenever i do a oil change
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 990
Likes: 10
From: Redondo Beach, California
I thought that the only real problem with a belt Primary for a Sportster was adjusting the tension correctly. On a Big Twin you can adjust the Primary belt tension by moving the Transmission backward a bit. On a Sportster, that is not an option. If I remember correctly, the original Sturgis model had twin belts. A drive belt and a Primary belt and the Primary belt was enclosed and I think that it may have been in an oil bath but I am not positive about that issue. 
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 12
From: Arizona
it shouldnt need adjusting. also youll get rid of some vibration. as for running in oil, well a guy here has an old shovel head and runs a inclosed belt in oil. never had any problems. for that price id get it.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Texas!
Yep,I run a primary belt in my 70,with a wet clutch and tranny from a 72.
Heck of alot smoother, no noise, and use non-detergent oil. And,like mentioned,no case damage if it lets go! (I also block off the speedo drive for the same reason)
Its 117 tooth belt, 1 1/2" wide and fits very tight.Also use a clutch "Tamer" and as far as final drive sprockets,51t rear and 23t front. Makes for a comfy ride at 75mph!
Heck of alot smoother, no noise, and use non-detergent oil. And,like mentioned,no case damage if it lets go! (I also block off the speedo drive for the same reason)
Its 117 tooth belt, 1 1/2" wide and fits very tight.Also use a clutch "Tamer" and as far as final drive sprockets,51t rear and 23t front. Makes for a comfy ride at 75mph!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,473
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
I ran what was probably the first Sporty primary belt drive way back in the '70s. It was on my '72 XLCH. I can't remember the name of the outfit any more - ol' fart CRS, I reckon. The drive was a Gilmer setup, meaning it had square teeth rather than the rounded versions used today. It ran in the oil bath, and the original belt lasted for at least 6 years that I know of. That 6 years included a very strong 77 inch stroker motor, and more than a little street racing. I was told the belt finally broke when the 2nd owner after me took it drag racing. The very first run on the belt I had a bolt come loose inside the primary and make a couple passes around the rear pulley between the clutch hub teeth and the belt. Cleaned the teeth up with some emery paper, reinstalled the belt, and safety-wired the bolt back in place - good to go! Years later the same bolt (used to plug a no longer used hole where the old adjuster mounted) made another couple passes around the rear pulley while I was leaving Wisconsin at the request of some cops near Union Grove. Still no damage to the belt! I usually ran a 23 front and 49 rear sprocket. The rear brake was a disc brake kit that was offered by an Illinois company (Stroicek, maybe?), and was a straight bolt-on deal. It was nice to have a "real" rear brake, and especially nice to be able to change sprocket sizes.