Drive Belt and Sprocket replacement
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 6
From: North London, UK
Drive Belt and Sprocket replacement
So, after 22,000 miles my sprocket is eating my drive belt. Or it could be the other way around. But whatever - Harley won't cover it under the warranty and the dealer will want big ŁŁŁ to replace it. I've asked for a quote, but whatever it is - it'll be very expensive.
So the time is fast approaching when I'll have to wave some spanners at my Road King. Before I get started, what will I need? I'm going to skip the primary chain locking tool as I understand you can use a shop rag wedged in there instead.
I have: a lift, a couple of torque wrenches, a selection of sockets/spanners/breaker bar etc accumulated after doing lots of work to a 1966 Land Rover a long time ago and the Service Manual.
I need: a belt, a sprocket, a gasket kit for the primary and what else?
And I would be very grateful for advice from anyone who's already done this!
So the time is fast approaching when I'll have to wave some spanners at my Road King. Before I get started, what will I need? I'm going to skip the primary chain locking tool as I understand you can use a shop rag wedged in there instead.
I have: a lift, a couple of torque wrenches, a selection of sockets/spanners/breaker bar etc accumulated after doing lots of work to a 1966 Land Rover a long time ago and the Service Manual.
I need: a belt, a sprocket, a gasket kit for the primary and what else?
And I would be very grateful for advice from anyone who's already done this!
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 44
From: Back woods of Maine
Why??
So, why is your sprocket eating your belt after only 22,00 miles? Do you have an alignment issue , or possibly some kind of damage to the sprocket or belt? This kind of damage seems very premature to me.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,664
Likes: 184
From: Indiana, USA
Just replaced my drive belt on my 03 Electra Glide You need a lift, good allen socket set to get the outer primary off, wedge block to hold the primary chain while you crack the compensator sproket, an 1 1/2 socket and breaker bar to loosen the compensator. A set of wrenches for the back axle adjusters, may be 1 1/2 but I use 2 to be sure I don't get an alignment issue during tightening. If I remember you will also need a good set of Torx sockets for various other fasteners to get the inner and outer primary off. You will need a good pin punch and hammer to push the swingarm pivot bolt out. Do not disassemble the clutch hub, just pull the spring clip out of the adjuster plate, remove the plate and you will need another big socket, 1 3/16 maybe to pull the clutch hub. This one needs to be a thin socket to get inside the hub. You will also need a good torque wrench to put it back together. Iv'e only done this 2 times in 20 years so a little fuzzy on the process. Get yourself a quart of primary lube, new O-ring and outer gasket for the primary, new retainer clips for the inner primary, lock-tite red for the crank bolt and never seize to coat your swingarm pivot shaft.You are disassembling the primary chain case between the tranny and engine and removing the back swingarm to put the belt on. Took me about 4 hours, a shop can most likely do it in 2 or less, If you dont feel comfortable breaking it down that far and if you don't have a large socket set and good torque wrench I would take it to someone...
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 6
From: North London, UK
I have no idea why they've worn like this, but they have. The belt has no stone damage or anything and I've not ridden across sand or any gravel roads so it beats me how this happened! Point it is has and now I need to deal with it.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 6
From: North London, UK
Just replaced my drive belt on my 03 Electra Glide You need a lift, good allen socket set to get the outer primary off, wedge block to hold the primary chain while you crack the compensator sproket, an 1 1/2 socket and breaker bar to loosen the compensator. A set of wrenches for the back axle adjusters, may be 1 1/2 but I use 2 to be sure I don't get an alignment issue during tightening. If I remember you will also need a good set of Torx sockets for various other fasteners to get the inner and outer primary off. You will need a good pin punch and hammer to push the swingarm pivot bolt out. Do not disassemble the clutch hub, just pull the spring clip out of the adjuster plate, remove the plate and you will need another big socket, 1 3/16 maybe to pull the clutch hub. This one needs to be a thin socket to get inside the hub. You will also need a good torque wrench to put it back together. Iv'e only done this 2 times in 20 years so a little fuzzy on the process. Get yourself a quart of primary lube, new O-ring and outer gasket for the primary, new retainer clips for the inner primary, lock-tite red for the crank bolt and never seize to coat your swingarm pivot shaft.You are disassembling the primary chain case between the tranny and engine and removing the back swingarm to put the belt on. Took me about 4 hours, a shop can most likely do it in 2 or less, If you dont feel comfortable breaking it down that far and if you don't have a large socket set and good torque wrench I would take it to someone...
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Hi from just down the road! You need a factory service manual old chap! You will get your money back several times over if you do this job yourself. There are also videos out there showing how to do it. An alternative is a local indy and I can give you a nearby one if you PM me.
There certainly seems to be something causing your belt wear. Unusual wear patterns indicate another problem, at the least wheel alignment, possibly vehicle alignment.
There certainly seems to be something causing your belt wear. Unusual wear patterns indicate another problem, at the least wheel alignment, possibly vehicle alignment.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 601
Likes: 5
From: Pinellas County, Florida
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,029
Likes: 449
From: Michigan
Not that hard a job. You will have to remove the left side floor board, just take the bolts out of the inside of the frame. The nut on the clutch is a reverse thread. Keep track of what you take off and put it back in the same place. Make sure you have a torque wrench that can go to 165 ft lbs for the compensator nut. And as stated a manual is your friend for all the torque specs.
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 6
From: North London, UK
Hi from just down the road! You need a factory service manual old chap! You will get your money back several times over if you do this job yourself. There are also videos out there showing how to do it. An alternative is a local indy and I can give you a nearby one if you PM me.
There certainly seems to be something causing your belt wear. Unusual wear patterns indicate another problem, at the least wheel alignment, possibly vehicle alignment.
There certainly seems to be something causing your belt wear. Unusual wear patterns indicate another problem, at the least wheel alignment, possibly vehicle alignment.
The bike is a 2011, so I reckon I can rule out vehicle alignment being the problem. Although, that being said, I was gently bumped into from behind last winter by an inattentive girl at a roundabout. But that was so light it just slightly bent the rear light bar and the tip of the fender - not even enough to crack the paint. I don't believe that could have caused the sprocket/belt to wear this fast.
More likely that the rear wheel has been out of alignment. It had a new inner tube fitted about a year ago after I ran over a screw left behind by a careless builder. A dealer replaced it, but it could be that they put it on crooked...
I've searched the usual sites for videos of someone doing this, but haven't found any - I'll PM you for an Indy's details. Always good to have.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 6
From: North London, UK