Primary belt drive
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,610
Likes: 3,378
From: Cental, MI
Since the adapter plate determines the distance... Not the Primary... 5-speed...remember???
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,464
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Later Primo kits came with 2 belts, one was always too tight but identical tooth counts. Played that game many times with Indian which came with that kit from the factory the last go round before Polaris bought them.
Ran Karata, Primo and currently BDL with an idler in my hotrod shovel so I don't have to dick with the adjustment games. Also modified things so I can change it on the side of the road in 20 minutes. Been there did that a few occasions.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,175
Likes: 435
From: australia
Just about every primary belt kit you got back in the 70's & 80's the belts were either a hair too long and ran sloppy or too tight. So you picked up a sacrifice inner at a swap meet and elongated the front holes and ground out the o-ring groove to allow it to move to get the belt tension right. This was back when they made the pulley fit & tooth count fit the available commercial belts. Friggen belts were never consistent in sizes either. You buy 3 of them same tooth count and one would be sloppy and another too tight.
Later Primo kits came with 2 belts, one was always too tight but identical tooth counts. Played that game many times with Indian which came with that kit from the factory the last go round before Polaris bought them.
Ran Karata, Primo and currently BDL with an idler in my hotrod shovel so I don't have to dick with the adjustment games. Also modified things so I can change it on the side of the road in 20 minutes. Been there did that a few occasions.
Later Primo kits came with 2 belts, one was always too tight but identical tooth counts. Played that game many times with Indian which came with that kit from the factory the last go round before Polaris bought them.
Ran Karata, Primo and currently BDL with an idler in my hotrod shovel so I don't have to dick with the adjustment games. Also modified things so I can change it on the side of the road in 20 minutes. Been there did that a few occasions.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,464
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Ground a couple spots on the inner for clearance around the clutch hub since the back is already cut out to clear the rear belt pulley mod I did years ago. I also took the little tin outer guide on the front pulley, opened the hole for the crank nut to clear that and drilled the guide & tapped the pulley to take 4 1/4" screws to hold the guild in place.
Drop the battery cable at the solenoid so you can wiggle the bendix shaft out of the way, drop the idler and you can thread the new belt in without pulling the clutch pack. Isn't pretty but works well, busted a few over the years.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,175
Likes: 435
From: australia
Ground a couple spots on the inner for clearance around the clutch hub since the back is already cut out to clear the rear belt pulley mod I did years ago. I also took the little tin outer guide on the front pulley, opened the hole for the crank nut to clear that and drilled the guide & tapped the pulley to take 4 1/4" screws to hold the guild in place.
Drop the battery cable at the solenoid so you can wiggle the bendix shaft out of the way, drop the idler and you can thread the new belt in without pulling the clutch pack. Isn't pretty but works well, busted a few over the years.
Drop the battery cable at the solenoid so you can wiggle the bendix shaft out of the way, drop the idler and you can thread the new belt in without pulling the clutch pack. Isn't pretty but works well, busted a few over the years.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 605
Likes: 441
From: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
The starter ring gear is at the rear of the clutch hub so why would ya need to get a belt over it ?.... i think only narrow factory tupe belts had the belt behind it but no one uses those less on a stock bike with full primary covers....
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Joe Kucinski
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,131
Likes: 51,464
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
You pull the Bendix out enough without pulling the battery cable it will engage and spin, eat fingers like right now.
This is only if you run the stock primaries and use the electric start.
This is only if you run the stock primaries and use the electric start.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 2,175
Likes: 435
From: australia