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So what is this belt wear pattern telling me?

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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 12:07 PM
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Default So what is this belt wear pattern telling me?

I'm meticulous about keeping by bike clean.
That has always included scrubbing the belt with a brush so I KNOW my belt very well.
Last weekend, I noticed a wear pattern had appeared.


It's an alarming amount of wear in a VERY short period of time.
So what is it telling me?... a bearing going out, motor mount issue?
I'm hoping somebody will recognize the pattern from personal experience and can chime in and direct me accordingly.
Other than the wear pattern, I haven't noticed any other symptoms.
I'm not saying there hasn't been other symptoms to recognize, I just haven't noticed any.
Thanks in advance for any useful input or suggestions.
It looks expensive to me!
 
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 12:10 PM
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Are you referring to the groove running down the middle? How many miles on the bike/belt?
 
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Iceman24
Are you referring to the groove running down the middle? How many miles on the bike/belt?
Yes... well no... not down the center... there is a very noticeable wear pattern or groove on the right half of the belt.
It starts in the center and runs to the right.
8,200 miles.

There absolutely NO wear pattern there 2 weeks ago so it's been a pretty fast wear.
I haven't ridden since I noticed the problem except to make a video of the belt and how it was coming out the the motor.
 
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 12:27 PM
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For something like that to appear so quickly, you could've picked-up some road debris and it made this groove. Ride it and see if things get worse, or stay the same. IMO...8.2K miles is nothing on a belt.
 
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Indy-Stranger
.
It looks expensive to me!
cant be more that the cost of a belt.

looks like it is fine line where whatever the belt is contacting. Follow the belts path.
​​​​
 
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by cvaria
cant be more that the cost of a belt.

looks like it is fine line where whatever the belt is contacting. Follow the belts path.
​​​​
agreed. I'd (carefully) check all of the teeth by hand on the belt path.
 
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 03:20 PM
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Is it possible your rear tire is out of alignment? If your tire is crooked that means your pulley is also crooked and possibly putting more stress on that side of the pulley grooves.

Just a hunch though.
 
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 03:37 PM
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Is there anything stuck behind the front pulley cover?

Anything in the belt guards upper and lower?

Upper guard still mounted solidly? They do break at the mounting points.
 
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 04:52 PM
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welp, if it makes you feel any better, mine @~22k:







i already have another, just didn't swap it out.
 

Last edited by cvaria; Jul 26, 2017 at 04:54 PM.
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Old Jul 26, 2017 | 06:49 PM
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Thanks for all of the responses everybody, it is appreciated.

now...
Originally Posted by cvaria
cant be more that the cost of a belt.

looks like it is fine line where whatever the belt is contacting. Follow the belts path.
​​​​
FINE LINE?!?!

here, let's try a different pic...


Originally Posted by Iceman24
... IMO...8.2K miles is nothing on a belt.
Agreed, should have plenty of life!
Well... except for the whole gouge out the right half of the belt thing!
Originally Posted by mrhammer2u
Is it possible your rear tire is out of alignment? If your tire is crooked that means your pulley is also crooked and possibly putting more stress on that side of the pulley grooves.

Just a hunch though.
checked it... it's good.
Originally Posted by shanneba
Is there anything stuck behind the front pulley cover?

Anything in the belt guards upper and lower?

Upper guard still mounted solidly? They do break at the mounting points.
No lower or upper guards installed and as best as I can tell there is nothing wedged in the front pulley.
I haven't pulled the cover yet, but that is on my short list.
Stuck my phone/camera and snapped a couple of pics...




Originally Posted by cvaria
welp, if it makes you feel any better, mine @~22k:
I'd love for mine to look like that... it was very similar just a mere 10 days ago or so.

I'm watching my Granddaughters tonight so I'm not able to get out in the garage and do any wrenching etc.
Sigh...


Oh yeah, forgot to mention that the teeth of the belt look perfect.
 

Last edited by S.t.r.a.n.g.e.r; Jul 26, 2017 at 06:56 PM.
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