Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Can missing teeth on rear belt drive damage transmission?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 6, 2011 | 01:15 AM
  #1  
junior166745151's Avatar
junior166745151
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 7
From: New York
Default Can missing teeth on rear belt drive damage transmission?

Recenlty I was riding my 2006 Sportster 1200C with about 70,000 miles on a short strip highway and heard a screaching noise every half second barely over pipes at about 60 mph. I reached the end of the highway at a light and didn't hear it again. So I reved the engine and nothing but as I was ready to go through the light the bike was jerking slightly on level ground, when I was making a turn to go up a hill with my passenger on the back the jerking seemed to get worse. I pulled over where I was heading and inspected the bike and didn't see anything. So I left the bike and the next day had the bike pick up by my mechanic. When they got it to the shop, they said they put a jack under it and turned the rear wheel and heard some internal mechanical noise coming from the transmission. So they took off the covers and found that the rear belt drive was missing at least 4 or 5 teeth. They claim there was some damage to my transmission and it could be costly to fix. Then they called me another day and said the extent of the damage was not that bad, it was some small internal parts and the rest of the transmission was fine (gears and what ever) So my question is can a damaged rear belt drive with missing teeth do damage to my transmission? I have some low lever mechanic friends at a Harley dealer who say it is unlikely that there would be damage like that just cause the belt was skipping over the transmission pully. So I'm wondering if this information my mechanic was hitting me with in the head was a bit of a lie and was just trying to get some work out of it. He was never known for making things up. I question everything anyone tells me and somwhat knowledgable. Would appreciate someone with a definate answer. So I can aproach him regarding this.
 

Last edited by junior166745151; Dec 6, 2011 at 01:17 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2011 | 07:50 AM
  #2  
Von_Zipper's Avatar
Von_Zipper
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 67
From: Saint Amant, Acadiana
Default

No way to tell. Technically, missing teeth in conjunction with loose belt works as an impact wrench, hitting gears and primary hard every time it skips under load. So the answer would be yes, damage is possible. Whether it actually happened or not ... what part he said went bad?
 
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2011 | 08:12 AM
  #3  
Ramboamt's Avatar
Ramboamt
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 3
From: Montclair, CA.
Default

Originally Posted by Von_Zipper
No way to tell. Technically, missing teeth in conjunction with loose belt works as an impact wrench, hitting gears and primary hard every time it skips under load. So the answer would be yes, damage is possible. Whether it actually happened or not ... what part he said went bad?
+1 on the slamming of the gears and other components in the trans with a damaged belt. Small components? springs, drive dogs, cams???
 
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2011 | 08:58 AM
  #4  
Gpsjr10's Avatar
Gpsjr10
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 11
From: Elyria, OH
Default

I always ask for the old parts so I can inspect them myself if I have a shop do the work.
 
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2011 | 08:57 PM
  #5  
junior166745151's Avatar
junior166745151
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 7
From: New York
Default Sounds Just Like He Said

Originally Posted by Ramboamt
+1 on the slamming of the gears and other components in the trans with a damaged belt. Small components? springs, drive dogs, cams???
Yes, thats kind of what he said, small componets. I'm glad that it turned out he was telling the truth. But the thing is I made inquiries to HD service and the guy on the phone said it was highly unlikely that there would be damage like that, and thats what was keeping me up all night, pissed off thinking this guy just started lieing to me all of a sudden after 5 yrs of excellent service, but he did keep my ride running nice all this time after 70,000 miles. So I called him today and ran by him the information that I was told and he said they don't have the bike so they don't know whats going on, and reiterated to me that when they picked up the bike on a jack they heard something as they turned the rear wheel. So I gues I will go with that since you matched what he said. Thanks so much. Very helpful this forum. Lots of knowledge in here.
 
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2011 | 09:09 PM
  #6  
A Seabee's Avatar
A Seabee
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 554
Likes: 5
From: San Diego, Ca.
Default

I think he was probably trying to cover his a$$. Think of it the other way around..."yeah, it just needed a belt, $450,(or whatever) and everything is fine. have a nice weekend" 200 miles down the road your trans locks up and...You get the picture.
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2011 | 10:02 PM
  #7  
junior166745151's Avatar
junior166745151
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 153
Likes: 7
From: New York
Default You Disagree?

Originally Posted by A Seabee
I think he was probably trying to cover his a$$. Think of it the other way around..."yeah, it just needed a belt, $450,(or whatever) and everything is fine. have a nice weekend" 200 miles down the road your trans locks up and...You get the picture.
So you disagree with the previous post, that it can't do damage and all it needs is a belt replacement?
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
xhere
2014-2024 Touring Models
8
Jun 7, 2014 08:58 AM
NoRegerts
Softail Models
5
Jun 4, 2013 10:36 AM
riderboy1961
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
2
Apr 19, 2013 07:48 AM
WildBill2566
Touring Models
19
Dec 4, 2011 04:54 PM
psbikers
Touring Models
5
Oct 10, 2007 12:41 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:27 PM.

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