drive belt
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
That's great, but 50,000+ miles on a belt with ZERO maintenance or the oil/grease mess is kinda nice. Been there, done that, over 30 years with chains, and I'll never go back. But then I ride 20K+ miles per year and don't need maintenance headaches.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 812
Likes: 8
From: Cowtown, USA
Agree, it takes a while to get it all done. I think if memory serves me correct it took me a little over 2 hours to get it done. That was straight work with no breaks. Not hard, just kinda time consuming.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 6
Yeah, they ain't cheap, but you can find perfect takoffs really cheap....if you need a pulley, check your dealer to see if they have one they swapped for chrome. Also chech the classifieds here.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
My 1949 rigid frame chopped Panhead has a chain and 'kicker', and so does my 1981 Shovelhead Dyna LowRider.
In fact the first Harley I owned that didn't have a chain (and kicker) was my 1996 Dyna WideGlide....
To tell you the truth, I don't miss the chain (or kicker) one bit...
The drive chains are a PITA, and like other have said with proper adjustment a rear drive belt should easily last 75,000+ miles. I know guys with over 100,000 miles on their bikes and they are still running the original drive belt.
In fact the first Harley I owned that didn't have a chain (and kicker) was my 1996 Dyna WideGlide....
To tell you the truth, I don't miss the chain (or kicker) one bit...
The drive chains are a PITA, and like other have said with proper adjustment a rear drive belt should easily last 75,000+ miles. I know guys with over 100,000 miles on their bikes and they are still running the original drive belt.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
I went outside one day,getting ready to ride to work. I get the bike out of the garage and started it,warmed it up for about a minute.I jumped on and put it in gear then let out the clutch and it didn't move.I was sitting there going WTF.I got off and looked down and the belt was on the ground. It almost seemed as if someone cut it.It was perfectly cut.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
Just keep up with the number of turns on the belt tightener (wheel alignment). Equal number on each side. I judge the belt tension with my finger. There is a belt tension gauge tool, I've never found it to be necessary.