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Message started by Tanker2Biker on 08/03/10 at 15:50:33

Title: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by Tanker2Biker on 08/03/10 at 15:50:33

Came off a stop light this afternoon, about the time I got to the far side of the intersection (4 Lane w/ turn lanes) I was about to shift into 3rd, and all of a sudden there is the horrific banging and bumping. First thought was "did I blow a tire?", so I'm heading for the shoulder and the nearest parking lot. I get to the side, and realize the tires are OK, the engine is running, and while stationary, no banging. I walk/drive in 1st into the parking lot, and I realize I'm getting a CLUNK every now and then as I move forward, so I'm thinking this is tire or drive related.

Shut down, get off, get the gear off(it's only about 175 degrees in Houston this week :P) and start looking it over. 10 min of checking and I have it narrowed down to the drive assembly somewhere. Another 20 min of laying on the hot concrete, inspect, get up and roll the bike forward a couple feet and repeat till I can inspect al the things I think I can see.

Now, I find the problem, and here is where the weird luck thing comes in: Apparently, as I was going across the intersection, I (or a car next to me) kicked up a small rock that hit the belt and got pulled into the rear drive pulley, and lodged between two of the teeth. Then, every time that part of the pulley came around, it CLUNKED. Got out the Buck knife and pried it out, and shazamm, no more problem.

So, get it home, inspect the belt all the way around and can't see any damage, so...can't believe the luck; the bad luck to have the pebble get stuck in there, but the good luck to be able to find and correct it.

Title: Re: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by Skid Mark on 08/03/10 at 15:54:04

If only they all have a happy ending like this.

The drive belt is one tough cookie. You rarely hear of any issue with them.

Title: Re: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by verslagen1 on 08/03/10 at 16:38:01

And was it tensioned to the 90° method or by the gage?

Title: Re: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by Tanker2Biker on 08/03/10 at 16:54:25

140710110E0305070C53620 wrote:

And was it tensioned to the 90° method or by the gage?

No idea. Belt tension was checked by mechanic when in for last service 750 miles back.

Title: Re: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by Max_Morley on 08/03/10 at 17:27:19

Wait until the first time you get stuck on a chip sealed road, you get the sealant and the crushed rock chips and the flaggers get real upset when you stop after the work zone but still between the flaggers to clean the rocks out. One summer they did all the roads from our place to town the same week. What a mess, they got to de tar our PU as they forgot to post one road, understand the county paid to detail over 300 vehicles before they were finished. Max

Title: Re: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by Routy on 08/03/10 at 20:28:55

Glad it turned out good.

Ironically, I was inbetween flaggers a week ago on a patching repaving job, lots a small rocks and gravel everywhere, when all of a sudden there was a helluva bang,....which made a big jolt thru the whole frame. Scared the hell outta me,.....but to my surprise there was not a sound after that. After slowing....preparing to come to a stop, I slowly brought speed back up,....not a sound, and nothing in the pulleys or belt upon inspection at home. Don't know, but I suspect a rock got inbetween something it shouldn't have,.....ya think ? :)

Title: Re: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by Digger on 08/04/10 at 21:09:49

I've had little rocks jam the rear tire momentarily:

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1218766842/8#8

Title: Re: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by Moofed on 08/05/10 at 13:23:46

When I rode to the Knob Creek range by Louisville for the machinegun shoot it was so muddy that while trying to get out of the "grass" parking lot enough mud got in the pulley to cause it to skip and make the loud bang. Some guys in the lot thought it was the belt loosing teeth, but that made no sense with the Savage's belt reputation. After a few hundred feet on pavement everything smoothed out, though it took several months for all the mud to wash away from the tires.

Title: Re: Can't Believe My Luck!!
Post by Chief Gunner on 08/07/10 at 11:13:56

I've had a rock wedge on top of the drive pulley and jam in between the belt and the engine case. Got home and smelled the burnt rubber smell and couldn't for the life of me figure out where it was coming from. Checked the tires, wires and under the seat till I noticed the groove on the top of the drive belt. Had to bust to rock out of there with a hammer and screwdriver as the rock was wedged in good. The groove is about 1/8th of an inch deep but still kicking after several thousand miles. These belts have earned that tough reputation in my book!!