Drive belt replacement

[Doctor Doug]

Just wanting to know if anyone has had the belt replaced and what it cost?

[pigbike]

Still using the original on my 1990 Ultra. Still looks good.

[1550vt]

At $100 an hour plus....it will cost a BUNCH at a dealership. The entire primary (outer and inner) has to come off as well as the rear end dropped and the halves separated. I have never had it done at a shop as I am lucky enough to know how to do my own. BUT....I have a friend that was quoted 12-hours labor, which I think is a bit much, but it can be an all-day project. I'd say a reasonable labor charge could very well be 6-8 hours....you do the math and add the cost of the parts.

It's going to depend on whether-or-not it's a straight-axle or an independent suspension as well. If they are not mistreated and are taken care of......no reason why one won't run 75K-plus. A good one will dry-rot before it wears-out. It's usually the age, or some misalignment issue that are the biggest concern.

[bullet 10]

I replace one on my 1999 RK motor trike. (PIA) wasn't the falt of the belt though.

[1550vt]

I have seen what I consider to be one faulty belt that snapped on a Sporster after just a few thousand miles. The other broken belts I have seen were either caused my misalignment on the bike/trike, dry-rot of the teeth, or being penetrated by road debris. I had a dry-rotted belt on a Softail once and I knew it. I could see some of the teeth beginning to crack where they joined the belt......but I rode he!! out of it anyway....until it started stripping teeth around 300-miles from home on a "power move" around an 18-wheeler. I figured it was a trailer case, but kept tightening-up the belt and running it a few feet at a time until I had all the teeth stripped-off. I brought the bike home on the belt with no teeth. Yep...it slipped a little up hills and when it rained, but I got home with it. When I replaced it, it was about as thin as a dime, but never broke. Misalignment or loose belts are the worst enemies.

[pigbike]

I was told by a Indy that twisting the belt will ruin it. It would be hard to twist one unless the rear wheel was off, and it was loose, but I guess anything can happen. Maybe someone inspecting the belt with the wheel off could twist it not knowing it was bad to do.

[1550vt]

When the belt is properly tensioned, you should to be able to twist it about 1/2 to 3/4 inches. If you can actually twist the belt to the perpendicular, it's too loose. It would be about impossible to twist one unless it is running floppy-loose.

[Bob from NWHOG]

Has anyone experienced Drive Belt coming loose on sprocket. Thank you Bob