how durable is a belt?
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 98
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how durable is a belt?
I am building a softail with a 180 rear tire I wonder if a 20 mm belt will take my 100 horse engine. I don't do burn outs or ride on my rear wheel. HD has used it on the softail since 2007, it must be able to take some punishment. Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
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From: TOAK western branch
Oh insert smart *** comment here!
3 of them were slow speed breaks and 1 was doin about 95.
One was my fault. Over tight.
3 of them were slow speed breaks and 1 was doin about 95.
One was my fault. Over tight.
I have a 1996 FatBoy and about 4 years ago I found a rock wedged in my belt. According to the Harley Manual if there is a hole in the middle of the belt you should be just fine. If it has cut the edges then you have something to worry about. My point it is this, I have used the belt since then, traveled about 15,000 miles and haven't had one problem with it and that is running wide open most of the time. If you have your belt properly adjusted and check it regularly to make sure there isn't anything jabbing out of it you should be just fine.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
I can't answer the question about a 20mm belt, but I am running a 1 1/8" belt with just over 100 HP/TQ on my touring bike and that is fine with a rolling weight of around 1200 pounds. Later touring bikes use a 1" belt and have a higher gross weight limit.
Unless you plan drag racing, or a high rolling weight you should be fine IMHO.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,378
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From: Macon, GA USA
Still glade I have the wide belt. Much of going to a smaller belt has to do with going to bigger tires. I have only changed on belt at 92K which I did at 80K just to be on the safe side but there was nothing wrong with it. I figured if I got 80K out of it I am good to 160k.
I had a customer one time that put a hole through the middle of his belt and he road it about 30K more miles.
I had a customer one time that put a hole through the middle of his belt and he road it about 30K more miles.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Harley have been using belts for thirty years now. There has been a lot of development of the materials that go into them since then, so we should expect them to get narrower, yet be stronger and more durable.