Help with a belt!!
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3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 7
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From: Virginia
Help with a belt!!
Hello, im new to the Harley world. I recently acquired a 98 Sporty, ive been told the bike has been converted the a 1200, i was recently riding it and the drive belt broke... simple right? Haha the owners manual calls for a 128T belt and the one that came off the bike is a 125T... so which do I replace it with?! Help please
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4,607
Likes: 3,312
From: Virginia
My 1998 883 took a 128T belt. And my sons 2002 1200 took a 128T belt.
But if you took a 125T off of it and it was working with that belt, I would put a 125 back on it.
IF they upgraded the motor from 883 to 1200 they may have changed the sprockets too.
But if you took a 125T off of it and it was working with that belt, I would put a 125 back on it.
IF they upgraded the motor from 883 to 1200 they may have changed the sprockets too.
Last edited by VAFish; Jul 22, 2020 at 04:47 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 339
From: Northeastern Indiana
you need to count the teeth on both pullies to see how they compare to stock and go from there ... 98 Sporty has 27 tooth on the tranny and 128 on the rear wheel ... if this is what you have you would need the 128 tooth belt ... if it's different then maybe the 125
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Hello, im new to the Harley world. I recently acquired a 98 Sporty, ive been told the bike has been converted the a 1200, i was recently riding it and the drive belt broke... simple right? Haha the owners manual calls for a 128T belt and the one that came off the bike is a 125T... so which do I replace it with?! Help please
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
What I meant was to count the belt teeth! It would certainly be interesting to know how many teeth there are on both sprockets, but if you are happy the belt came off your bike, that is worth confirming.
I would add that some overseas spec bikes had different tooth count sprockets, hence also belt teeth. My 1990 FLHS came with a 61T rear pulley, when US spec was 70T, so my belt was a good deal shorter. It is possible a PO has swapped sprockets, hence also belt, for some reason.
I would add that some overseas spec bikes had different tooth count sprockets, hence also belt teeth. My 1990 FLHS came with a 61T rear pulley, when US spec was 70T, so my belt was a good deal shorter. It is possible a PO has swapped sprockets, hence also belt, for some reason.
Last edited by grbrown; Jul 23, 2020 at 11:20 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,952
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From: South Florida (Ft Myers area)
If all is stock you would probably want the 128T belt, the shorter belt may be why you have a snapped belt. AFAIK, most available sprocket combinations can still take the stock belt.
As I thought, the 125T belt is for slightly older Sportsters. If this information I looked up is correct for the 125T.
This item fits the following applications:
Harley Davidson XL883 Sportster 883 1991-1996
Harley Davidson XL1200C Sportster 1200 Custom 1996
Harley Davidson XL1200S Sportster 1200 Sport 1996
Harley Davidson XLH883 Sportster 883 1991-1996
Harley Davidson XLH883DLX Sportster 883 Deluxe 1991-1995
Harley Davidson XLH883HUG Sportster 883 Hugger 1991-1996
Harley Davidson XLH1200 Sportster 1200 1991-1996
I am betting the PO put the wrong belt on.
As I thought, the 125T belt is for slightly older Sportsters. If this information I looked up is correct for the 125T.
This item fits the following applications:
Harley Davidson XL883 Sportster 883 1991-1996
Harley Davidson XL1200C Sportster 1200 Custom 1996
Harley Davidson XL1200S Sportster 1200 Sport 1996
Harley Davidson XLH883 Sportster 883 1991-1996
Harley Davidson XLH883DLX Sportster 883 Deluxe 1991-1995
Harley Davidson XLH883HUG Sportster 883 Hugger 1991-1996
Harley Davidson XLH1200 Sportster 1200 1991-1996
I am betting the PO put the wrong belt on.
Last edited by slw210; Jul 23, 2020 at 01:46 PM.
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Grand HDF Member
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From: Virginia
Where in the adjustment range was the rear wheel?
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 339
From: Northeastern Indiana
boy did I screw up, and no one called me on it!!! 128 tooth on the rear wheel is WRONG ... rear wheel has a 61 tooth pully, 27 on the tranny ... if it's a 1200 the tranny would be a 29 tooth
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
A belt that is three teeth too short simply won't fit! While our belts are flexible, they have zero capacity to stretch. IMHO there is something going on with this bike that we have yet to put our collective finger on! I suspect slw210 above has found the likely solution.