Shovelhead A place to talk about Shovelheads.

belt

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 15, 2012 | 10:21 AM
  #1  
berndog's Avatar
berndog
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
15 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: langley,bc,canada
Default belt

Well, I love how my bike rides now,however,this primary belt is just shredding up,dont know how I installed it wrong,its a Karata drive,not supposed to have an idler,but I put one in because it just seemed too loose,I'm thinking maybe belt was too big?
 
Reply
Old May 15, 2012 | 01:29 PM
  #2  
biginchhustler's Avatar
biginchhustler
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 979
Likes: 38
From: new orleans,la
Default

1st ya need to check the alignment of the belt. they make shims that fit behind the motor sprocket.. check and see if the belt is cocked.. 2nd the belt shouldnt be tight needs up/down play. if not it wont last very long.. 3rd the biggest problem i had with belt drives is clutch shell walk.. if it feels "grabby" when you take off thats a sign of it. theres a few fixes for that also.. best clutchs i ever used were the kevlar ones made for dry use. it tells you to soak the plates in tranny oil. "do NOT soak them" install them dry.. i also found that putting a A/C "O" ring on the plush rod behind the hub nut and another one on the outside helps to keep and leakage of tranny fluid onto the plates.. i use the belt drive that has the idler.. --- belt drive motor sprocket drive is a 23 1/2 not a 24 -- i run a belt drive and a 22 tranny and a 47 rear on a 80".
i use the BDL belt drive -- never had an issue.. other than the "grabby" clutch and i solved that.. i can put it in gear and theres no big loud KLUNK smmmoooooth action and take off.. i also use the long rollers and the ramjett shell retainer.. i found that if you take the tin that holds the old bearing retainer in place and grind off the lip.. then use the special mylar they give you to hold the bearings in place-- then install the ground tin-- then you have to set the end play of the shell to .010. it comes with shims to do this.. remember this -- you HAVE to remove the shell every now and then with a belt drive to re- grease the rollers. if not it will lock and you will have no clutch action.. i do it every 4 months.. dont OVER grease it or it will get all over the first clutch plate you installed..
 
Reply
Old May 15, 2012 | 10:03 PM
  #3  
11sec.shovel's Avatar
11sec.shovel
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 213
Likes: 5
From: Saginaw Bay Area, MI.
Default

thinkin its the idler. was the kit for your specific bike.how loose is loose? it may seem loose when cold. check deflection when hot. this is an open belt drive? pictures would help
 
Reply
Old May 16, 2012 | 10:08 AM
  #4  
berndog's Avatar
berndog
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
15 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: langley,bc,canada
Default

Actually its closed
 
Reply
Old May 16, 2012 | 11:38 AM
  #5  
msgtarmor's Avatar
msgtarmor
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
From: Salem, Oregon
Default

Originally Posted by berndog
Well, I love how my bike rides now,however,this primary belt is just shredding up,dont know how I installed it wrong,its a Karata drive,not supposed to have an idler,but I put one in because it just seemed too loose,I'm thinking maybe belt was too big?
Just my opinion as I dont have much experience with belt primarys... First, lose the idler. If it didn't come with one it was designed to run without. Second, you need to recheck your pulley alignment. That is critical to belt life. So is reducing heat in the primary case. I hope you have it vented because the heat will cut your belt life considerable.
I cant remember how to do it, but the instructions should have the procedure to align the pulleys.
Good luck!
jim
 
Reply
Old May 16, 2012 | 11:45 AM
  #6  
langwilliams's Avatar
langwilliams
Elite HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
Default

I agree with venting the primary. I had a vented one an belt lived a long happy life.
 
Reply
Old May 16, 2012 | 02:17 PM
  #7  
berndog's Avatar
berndog
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
15 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: langley,bc,canada
Default

So,yes I lost the idler,,and if it still shreds I will realign,,maybe shim up the front pulley,,and I installed diamond hole vented inspection and derby covers,,now another,,probelem I'm having is it chirps and surges at the same time at low revs,if I keep revs up,it doesnt do it,,and I also replaced the shifter linkage bushing,thinking it would correct the slop,,but I have to pull upon shifter in order to down shift,,scratchin my head again,,,God I love this site.
 
Reply
Old May 16, 2012 | 11:45 PM
  #8  
msgtarmor's Avatar
msgtarmor
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
From: Salem, Oregon
Default

The chirping sounds like your belt rubbin on something. Which means you will still probably need to check pulley alignment.
Did you install a Ram Jett retainer on your clutch hub? That's the plastic piece that fits over the clutch lugs before you install any plates. It's held in place with 3 clips that you can adjust. You'll want a little 'play' in the hub (in and out).
When you get done with this project you'll know enough to help others with the problems you are learning about right now!! There's always something with a shovel. But it's worth it!
jim
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 17, 2012 | 12:10 AM
  #9  
berndog's Avatar
berndog
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
15 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: langley,bc,canada
Default

No I didn't install that Jim ,I'll have to try that ,yes think I need to realign,,there's a constant whistle too,wich I think is in my brand new top end
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2012 | 10:12 AM
  #10  
msgtarmor's Avatar
msgtarmor
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
From: Salem, Oregon
Default

There's gonna be alot of noise that sounds foreign since you've vented the primary. You'll just have to make sure they are not caused from a problem, then get used to them. Kinda like it's singing it's happy song to ya!! Then when it gets outta 'key' you know it's tellin ya there's a problem.
If the bike is running good, I wouldn't be concerned about the whistle. I have no idea what is causing that. My road king custom does that but it's something to do with the nacelle shape and windshield. Not anything you will encounter on your shovel.
jim
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE