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Message started by presquile on 05/02/10 at 08:08:34

Title: drive belt
Post by presquile on 05/02/10 at 08:08:34

Does anyone know where i can buy an 07 drive belt online? The locals here want to charge $400, plus labour....thanks in advance

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by Oldfeller on 05/02/10 at 08:39:49

Why do you have to buy a drive belt, especially for a bike that is only 3 years old? We got '87 year models running their original belts and other folks running belts with holes in them from rocks poking thru --

Them durn belts are practically indestructible and immortal and you killed one in jest 3 years?

Wassup?

Jest curious ....

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by verslagen1 on 05/02/10 at 09:51:42

fleabay

but unless damaged these belts go forever

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by crabpainter on 05/02/10 at 11:23:12

I've got one but it's not an '07 ::)

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by presquile on 05/02/10 at 12:39:08

I guess like a lot of riders, i had a belt squeak....they put dressing on it, but said it may last 10,000 to 15000 km....just checking, because their quote seems outrageous. Maybe it is another example of repairshop robbers....

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by Oldfeller on 05/02/10 at 13:14:59

You named them correctly.

YOU DO NOT NEED A NEW BELT

Final fix for the sqeak is to bevel the edge of the teeth tops with a small angle grinder (take off the top edge of the tooth form shoulder, leave the flat part as is). A 15' to 20' angle would be about right. Don't remove very much material.

This works forever.

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by presquile on 05/02/10 at 17:54:51

thanks oldfeller, i owe you one! But because of the age and price quoted i was curious.....

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by verslagen1 on 05/02/10 at 18:03:40

797B6C7A787C60656C090 wrote:

I'll hope for the best and think they meant the dressing may last...

I've been able to fix several squeaking belts by simply aligning the rear wheel.

Jack the rear up, bike in neutral, spin wheel and watch the belt.
If it tracks to the side, loosen the axle bolt and loosen the axle adjuster on side it tracks to.
repeat spinning the wheel the opposite way.
If you can get the belt off the edges going both ways, it shouldn't squeak.

dressing is for turkeys and ...

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by presquile on 05/02/10 at 19:14:42

thanks for the advice, verslagen, had the alignment done twice by two different shops....the last one, a suzuki dealer, said that the belt was 'drying out'....always though that the belts were pretty much bullet proof and rubber 'dries out' after a lot longer than 3 yrs...but them im not a mechanic....

when i put new tires on a month ago, had it all aligned and belt tightened....the again to check with the dealer....but so far, no squeaks....

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by verslagen1 on 05/02/10 at 19:30:34

I still say... 'check it yourself'

the dealer isn't interested in making you happy if it don't cost you a dime.

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by buttgoat1 on 05/02/10 at 19:42:43

another vote here for aligning the belt.
mine squeaked badly till I got it to run true.

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by Routy on 05/02/10 at 20:20:30

When I bought my bike in july, the belt was quiet. Later when the mornings got cold it screeched perdy good, but only for a mile or so. As the mornings are warming again, not a sound. No sign of misalignment whatsoever. But once you guys told me what the noise was, I didn't care at all. And for 400 bucks, that sucker could screech all day long everyday, and I wouldn't care ! :o

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/02/10 at 21:30:06

& if the fixes dont work, get some canning wax & wipe on it.

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by Oldfeller on 05/03/10 at 03:05:56

A lot of mis-information exists about "belts" in general because Harleys use a rubber belt that has a finite life span.

Our belt is made of hard plastic (and I do mean HARD TOUGH plastic) and large diameter tire cord material in the flat portion.

It is made to be a Bando industrial power transmission belt and it is grossly over spec'd as a motorcycle drive belt. It is wider, stronger and tougher than a Harley belt.

Little cracks on the flat part are OK and simply happen with time -- the belt is waffled to allow the plastic to bend as much as possible but little cracks occur as the miles rack up. Remember, it is the strong tire cord hidden inside the flat part that holds the belt together and the little cracks mean nothing to the endless wrap of tire cord inside the flat part.

Remember -- it isn't made of rubber. It cannot "dry out" or dry rot. Little cracks on the flat part are meaningless -- the cords keep on being cords and the teeth keep on being hard plastic teeth.

Wait until you try to grind those teeth tips with your little grinder -- that is some more tough plastic !!!

===============

You can take care of your own bike -- this is a very simple durable machine and is very easy to work on.

We all do it ourselves.

Quit giving your hard earned money to the stealership for bad advice and poor (uneducated) service. Spend less money and get better upkeep, that's our motto.

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by presquile on 05/03/10 at 09:01:25

thanks for all the advice everyone...

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by presquile on 05/03/10 at 15:13:16

I don't mean to whine, but for everyone that says work on it myself, i have cancer, diabetes and nearly 70 yrs old. I'm also taking care of my wife who has kidney failure, so i am quite weak and get tired easily.

This is one of the only bikes i can' pick up', and i bought it when i learned i had cancer. So it is a form of escape and maybe a reminder of better times.

I'm able to change the oil myself, but that is about it....so i am at the mercy of the repairshop robbers.

Thank you all again!

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by Reelthing on 05/03/10 at 15:32:28

I picked up a "like new" one ebay a couple years ago and replaced the belt on the '95 - problem there was I picked up a rock and the pulley pushed it clean through the belt with a pretty long crack beside the hole - not sure how miles it takes to wear one out but I'd think more like 40 or 50k miles

picture of the belt w/rock hole:

http://www.savageriders.com/reelthing/pics/savage/DSCF0124.JPG

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by verslagen1 on 05/03/10 at 16:51:03

cheers to you, pq
you might take note of what I told you in to the shop.
you might just teach the basterd's something.
have an invoice ready, note on it 'belt alignment lesson' for however much time you might think it should take, 10 minutes for me.
and hand it to them when they hand you your bill. ;D

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/03/10 at 19:45:09

You rock, dude,,Do what ya can & what someone else has to do,, thats just how it is, man. Any help we can be that saves you a dime, thats what we want to do,.

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by BurnPgh on 05/03/10 at 21:42:52

where are you located? Maybe someone here would be willing to roll your way. Seriously...shop prices...just terrible. We cant let that happen.

Title: Re: drive belt
Post by Digger on 06/08/10 at 21:51:31

Presq,

I've never had a squeaky belt, but if you live near the Springs, PM me. I can have that rear wheel aligned in 10 minutes.