Drive belt

[valet]

Hi Guys!!!
It is a true that drive belt dot live time guaranty on it? I have read lots of info about it from Uly test drives

 

[browland]

Life time garuntee that if it breaks its going to spank you in the ass... j/k I have no clue but I doubt it if they did why would so many places sell em

 

[StarFire]

I just had a drive belt snap on me last December (its Vancouver we can ride all year round), I never could find it on the road later. When it went, the engine screamed/revved, I thought I had blown a shift.

The local Buell/Harley shop (Trev Deeley) was back ordered for a month to get a new belt. I finally had to find one myself else where and then get them to install. There have been a few improvements in the belt since 2006, the alpha character on the end of the part number has increased several times, the new belt are supposed to last a lot longer, My original bit the dust at 24,000km.

 

[Midnight82]

I'm fairly certain they're not garunteed. I've had two Harleys and one Buell all belt driven and never had any problems.

The belts will eventually go, but they're a lot better than chain IMO. They're maintanance free. Gotta love it.

I just make it a point to inspect my bike thoroughly before rides. Once you start to see the edges of your belt fray or if you see dry cracks it's time to replace it.

Sincerly,
Eric aka Midnight

 

[bernhardgrave]

hi valet,
The newer Goodyear Blackhawk belts, used since MY 2007 I believe, have no recommended replacement schedule,so the implication is that Buell expected them to last a lifetime, but they don't guarantee it will.
If you are going on an adventure, and are worried, just take a spare(they are very light and clean).
Starfire is right about the part numbers, but if you are buying one and are not sure (and you insist on getting your money's worth)open the box and see if it is a Goodyear and not a Gates. Funny thing was that the price of the better Goodyear belt was about $25 less than the older Gates belt part number when thet first came out. Of course if a dealer is selling the older Gates belt for real cheap and you just need a back-up then go for it. The Gates belts come with a warning not to twist or bend them too tight, so packing it as a spare isn't the best bet.

If your dealer has to order it then you will get the latest version automatically.

 

[valet]

Thank you for that!!!! My bike is 2008 I have done only 5k and is started to fray on the edges dealer told me that is quet normal on Goodyear belt is kevlar...... [confused]

 

[bernhardgrave]

yes, a little fraying on the edge is nothing to worry about - it is like scrubbing in a tire. Chunking is cause for alarm. If you see heavy fraying on the edge, like someone is taking a cheese grater to it, then you sould worry, but you should also look into the cause, 'cause it means something is grating it...

Since they have no service interval, I would be interested in hearing from any one who has broken the Goodyear belt...

 

[valet]

Hi
Please advise me on what should I do go to the dealer and replace under warranty my belt as it look in some places worse than in others as you can see.Rear sprocket still got paint on the tooth’s bike done 4500 miles
[confused]

 

[ericry]

Not sure.....I'd ask a good HD/Buell mechanic.

Saying that I'd fit a FS (Free Spirits) tensioner....suppose to be easier on belts...I've just fitted one to my XT.

Eric.

 

[chains45]

I have a 2007 bought new in April 2008. May 2009 I was 3000 miles into a 7000 mile trip, with 13000 on the bike, and the belt literally fell off. I was stopped to reset my earplugs, put it in gear, let the clutch out..... and nothing. Looked down and the belt was draped across the rear sprocket. I carry a spare and replaced it right there in about an hour, most of the time was figuring out how, the rest was getting the swingarm section off with only a few degrees of arc for the wrench.

The place it parted looked a little ragged but otherwise the entire belt looked fine, and had no lash or anything visual to give me any clue it was about to go.

My suggestion is to carry a spare, and make sure you have the allen wrench that fits the swingarm hex bolts, and just replace it when it fails.

The dealership said they had never seen one part like that before, but not a warrantied part.

 

[bernhardgrave]

The fraying in your picture does not look like anything to worry about: when it gets to the edge of the belt teeth (which in your picture look untouched)then I would worry about the cause.

That said, as chains45 noted, and has been my experience (with cam belts in some car's motors I've owned as well)catastrophic is how belts go, when they go. no slow stretching or warning of any kind, just pop! straight across between the teeth. I also could have been wrong about when the Goodyear belts started being used - Chains45, do you recall if your failed one was a Gates or Goodyear?

Also, even if a dealer looks at your belt as is, and is adamant about selling you a new one, do what chains45 did and just carry that new one with you, and push your current one till it breaks. Belts don't wear and stretch like chains do, so you don't gain anything by changing it before then.

hope that helps...

 

[chains45]

I am not sure about the brand on mine, while I still have the belt the brand is worn off. From all i have read here and advrider the failure of mine is normal, and it can happen anywhere from 3k to 100k.

I would say 50% of my miles up till then had been dirt roads, so very possible i had at one point caught a rock in there. Done 10k since then on the new belt with no problems.

 

[Jerry C]

My orignal belt(2007 XBX) just broke at 26807 miles.