Early Belt Failure
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 152
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From:
Early Belt Failure
I posted on Softail as well, but was looking for more input.
My drive belt broke this weekend with less than 19k on the odometer of my 2003 Heritage. I'm wondering how many others have lost belts before the 80 to 100 thousand miles. Both of my sprockets look good to me and I'm wondering why the belt broke. I was hard shifting to 2nd when I lost it. No loud snap, just loss of rear wheel power. Belt tightness has been checked regularly. The rear sprocket has some slight scarring on the edges, but looks good to me. The front sprocket looks and feels like new. The area around the break seems less flexible than the rest of the belt.
Thanks for the input!
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/461C24C8779841C0BE45760519215AA5.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/0D538C37A8564584B10990EC625C8D08.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/FF34DB4112E5450991D8988C2F71C178.jpg[/IMG]
My drive belt broke this weekend with less than 19k on the odometer of my 2003 Heritage. I'm wondering how many others have lost belts before the 80 to 100 thousand miles. Both of my sprockets look good to me and I'm wondering why the belt broke. I was hard shifting to 2nd when I lost it. No loud snap, just loss of rear wheel power. Belt tightness has been checked regularly. The rear sprocket has some slight scarring on the edges, but looks good to me. The front sprocket looks and feels like new. The area around the break seems less flexible than the rest of the belt.
Thanks for the input!
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/461C24C8779841C0BE45760519215AA5.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/0D538C37A8564584B10990EC625C8D08.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/FF34DB4112E5450991D8988C2F71C178.jpg[/IMG]
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
RE: Early Belt Failure
Looks like you got a sizeable foreign object (rock, nut, etc.) between the belt and pulley. The belts don't stretch so they will break. The tab in the center of the break looks to have had that object go around the pulley pushing thru the belt. Are you sure there isn't a mark of some sort on one place of the pulley?
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: AZ
RE: Early Belt Failure
I’m on my third belt with 57k miles. I posted here and was told it didn’t happen. A good comment was, what kind of belt it is,seems that there are more than one type or what the types are made of. HD installed all three so not sure what they used on mine. Most of the answers to my post were indicating great life times so perhaps it’s just one of those things, sorry I couldn’t give you better information other than stay with good quality replacement belts.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
RE: Early Belt Failure
Looks like you ran a rock or some other hard object through the center of the belt. Do either of your pulleys have a shiney mark in the center of a couple of teeth?
Two biggest problems for belts are center punctures & tears from the side. The wider belts seemed to tollerate center punctures better.
Two biggest problems for belts are center punctures & tears from the side. The wider belts seemed to tollerate center punctures better.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 152
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From:
RE: Early Belt Failure
Thanks for the feedback. The pulleys look good to me. The transmission pulley looks and feels like new. The rear pulley is a little scarred on the ridges, but just kind of looks like minor wear. My impression is that it looks normal, but I want to make sure before straping a new belt around it. I thought if a rock got between the belt and pulley the pulley would show a sign of it. I guess no way to tell for sure. The last few months of riding did include some leftover winter gravel. I notice my lower belt guard is an L shape and is somewhat open on the tire side. My buddy's Road King has a lower belt guard that is U shaped and seems to better protect against rocks and such.
I didn't get a correctly focused shot of the rear pulley, but the "wear" is uniform. It seems to look the same as what it looked like on the last full clean/detail.
Thanks!
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/51111DDB02B14E5589E1AB9C2AEBAFFA.jpg[/IMG]
I didn't get a correctly focused shot of the rear pulley, but the "wear" is uniform. It seems to look the same as what it looked like on the last full clean/detail.
Thanks!
[IMG]local://upfiles/27698/51111DDB02B14E5589E1AB9C2AEBAFFA.jpg[/IMG]
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
RE: Early Belt Failure
I'd go with the rock theory as well, but you mentioned that the area of the break felt "less flexible" than the rest of the belt. Also, how was belt tension checked and by who? You should measure belt tension with a spring gauge and a rider on the seat compressing the suspension.
One thing to always keep in mind with composite drive belts. Petroleum products kill them. If oil, hydraulic fluid, brake fluid or any other petroleum based product comes into contact with the belt it can cause it to deteriorate. Also, many cleaning products are petroleum based as well.
One thing to always keep in mind with composite drive belts. Petroleum products kill them. If oil, hydraulic fluid, brake fluid or any other petroleum based product comes into contact with the belt it can cause it to deteriorate. Also, many cleaning products are petroleum based as well.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Beverly Hills, Fl. Swimmin pools. Movie stars
RE: Early Belt Failure
ORIGINAL: ga.mason
From the looks of the picture you had a rock get your pulley.
From the looks of the picture you had a rock get your pulley.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 152
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From:
RE: Early Belt Failure
I was pretty careful with the belt. It was overtightened once for a month, but that was a few years ago. I check the belt tension, I have the HD belt tool and I check it with someone on the bike. I keep cleaners away from it, but I'm sure some Bike Bright has gotten on it over the years as well as good old soap and water.
My riding buddy puts parifin or Poly-oil on his belt as prescibed by the dealer. I've always left mine naked as I considered any kind of belt dressing to be a compensation for a problem.
My riding buddy puts parifin or Poly-oil on his belt as prescibed by the dealer. I've always left mine naked as I considered any kind of belt dressing to be a compensation for a problem.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Akron, OH
RE: Early Belt Failure
Very, very likely that you got a rock, or some other hard, sharp object into the belt. These belts are extremely tough, but once integrity has been compromised, failure is imminent.