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2018 Limited low
65,000 mile
Is it advisable to change the drive belt at this milage even though it appears fine
I watched vidios on you tube of people inspecting belts but could't find a recomendation for changing based on age or miles
thanks
If no visible wear, cracks, dry rot, missing teeth, etc., it should be fine for at least 100k.
agree, generally I believe in PM maintenance but think this is about $1000 ish job..I have 46,000 miles on my 2020 and ESP good until SEPT 2024 which should put me around 90,000 miles so should be warranty covered until then under normal conditions anyway
Riders have gone over 100k miles before on the original drive belt. I would say as long as there are no holes, tears, or rips--it should be fine.
If you did your research on the maintenance manual, it doesn't really list an interval on changing the drive belt, but rather always inspecting it at each oil change.
Here is what the maintenance manual says: Maintenance manual schedule for drive belt -- just inspection
HOW to check the drive belt is denoted in the owners manual as checking the deflection: Owners manual stating how to check deflection
Here is the "special tool" that measure the deflection of 10 lbs (I personally just make sure the belt is tight enough on the jiffy stand): Special tool
The little "window area" to easily measure the graduations: Graduations of the drive belt integrated into the drive belt guard
At any rate, good inquiry post. It'll remind me to check my own!
my belts only get adjusted at tire change...I use the thumb & index finger test, which is basically pinching the belt at mid way point and bending it to 45 degrees, the pressure it takes to do that is consistent between when it was adjusted and when I need a new tire......so far so good trusting this method
Thanks everyone
There is always someone who has broken belt but I have inspected it often and last tire changs the Harley tech said it was good
I also have the ESP good until October
Kind of woried out on the road. Most dealers are booked 2 weeks off for service work.
Thanks again It's always good to hear actual riders and rheir knowledge
You know...I love harleys that are belt driven. All my chain-driven motorcycles were such a pain with lubing every 300 miles or so. The rear wheel was always nasty...it seemed like I had to adjust the chain all the time...and the chain never really lasted past 20k miles without several links seizing.
my belts only get adjusted at tire change...I use the thumb & index finger test, which is basically pinching the belt at mid way point and bending it to 45 degrees, the pressure it takes to do that is consistent between when it was adjusted and when I need a new tire......so far so good trusting this method
Thats the test I was taught & so far it's worked fine for me. Seemed oversimplistic but why overthink it if it works??
I just clicked over 96,000 miles on my 05 Ultra. I inspect the belt whenever I wash it and check tension every so often and definitely with every rear tire change. Still looks pretty dang good. I figure with the age and miles, it's time to replace so I bought a new front and rear pulley and belt. I also want to replace the swing arm bushings at the same time.
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Drive Belt
