Drive Belts

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Oct 7, 2008 | 04:23 PM

#11

iclick

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 11,615

Likes: 50

From: Baton Rouge, LA

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKs Ultra Classic

I have seen a rash of Drive Belt failures lately.....anyone know what the expected life of the drive belt is?? I have seen one fail as low as 5,000 miles...(and no, the rider was not one who is hard on the machine)...

My '96 RK had 106k on its original belt, now at >120k with its new owner. It had a rock puncture early in its life but was repaired and has not seen any change since. Other than that, the belt looks like new and shows no signs of failing.

The rock puncture was near the middle of the belt. I removed the debris and globbed some JB Weld in the hole, placing some plastic food wrap on the inside of the belt as I rolled it over the pulley. This made the epoxy form to the pulley as it hardened and the plastic wrap kept it from sticking to it. On the top of the belt smooth the epoxy flush with the surface. The next day, remove the wrap and the repair is finished.

Punctures near the edge are less assured of a reliable repair, but it's worth a try. Just keep an eye on any repair for a while until you are confident that it will hold.

Oct 8, 2008 | 01:21 AM

#12

jamminjim

Cruiser

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 235

Likes: 0

From: Brownsville CA

Had a 92 Ultra with about 125,000 on it when I sold it with the original belt on it.

Oct 8, 2008 | 01:25 AM

#13

Avmech97

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 878

Likes: 0

From: Tellico Plains, Tenn.

belt life

My 2000 RG still has the original belt on at 122,000+ miles.

Oct 8, 2008 | 09:35 AM

#14

Beemervet

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 6,590

Likes: 444

From: Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by iclick

Punctures near the edge are less assured of a reliable repair, but it's worth a try. Just keep an eye on any repair for a while until you are confident that it will hold.

Damage in the middle does not necessarily mean replacement, but anything on the edge will lead to failure.

I had an aftermarket billet pulley on my bike. After losing a belt at high speed I tried to figure out why, and found the teeth had worn so that one edge had become sharp all the way around. Back to the harder OEM pulley.