Hutch wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:


Hutch, it shouldn't be too difficult.
Cruising at 5000rpm? Multiply x stock ratio, divide by new ratio.

5000 : 2.94 x 2.59 = 4400rpm  

Hutch, so I guess the point you're making is:  "chains are easier to swap than belts"?  I'll agree with that for a one-time job, but over the life of a bike, are 6 chain swaps easier than 2 belt swaps?

barry68v10 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:
 
For me yes, I would rather replace a chain ten times than spend 8hrs on one belt change on a softail frame bike. It's not that bad on a standard shock bike,but at least I can chew stuff up that gets in a chain, instead of the other way around. Someone just had a post about the tar and stone from a road repair getting in his belt. If you check your bike over once and a while, chains are fine. They worked for how many years???? Just cause it's new, doesn't mean it's improved. You don't see belts on dirt bikes. Let's face it, it's a dirty world out there. I can replace a chain and be on my way in30 minutes, no 8 hrs to it.AND I'M GETTING OLD AND SLOW.

I wonder what the deal is with allen from England. Man he must have a weird bike or something. There is no way you can run the spacer on the inside of the sprocket like in his picture. Maybe he is using a different offset rear sprocket or something.All I know is it is pefectly aligned with GS550 (cast wheel) sprockets ,with the front sprocket against the factory spacer, and then the splined spacer on the outside next to the washer with the nut tightening everything down. Hope my chain gets here tomorrow. I can see now that the old bars are going to go back on for a test ride, if the weather man is wrong. Calling for rain/snow mix. Not over 40' for next 4-5 days. Sure was glad for the 72' Tuesday.

barry68v10 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

You may have asked the eternal question here.  

Got to wonder why Harley introduced them on their Softtail back in the '80s, but the whole world didn't change right along behind them...

Of course, has a belt ever knocked a hole in a tranny case when it broke?

Mr 650 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:


Its really not that bad.  My friends 1200 Bandit has a huge chain on it and he lubes it on a regular basis.  I don't see him cleaning his bike any more than I do. (Who doesn't own a clean bike anyways?)...    I would *think* dirt bikes use chains because well their a bit narrower and "holoer" (not a word I know and probably spelled wrong to boot!..) than a belt.  I.E. common sense tells me that chains are good a slinging goo off than belts.  And to me, for dirt application thats a good thing.  

I  like the simplicity of the belt, the smoothness in power transitions of the belt, etc.  I think this discussion comes down to what you are comfortable with honestly.  I don't see any major problems with either method of cycle locomotion.

I am enjoying seeing this mod coming along.  Who knows  maybe I might do it some day. (Well the wife is resisting any change on *her* bike..)  Its *her* bike when she gets permitted...  *Grumble*


- Roadie

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:

You are right there Greg, if they made different size pulleys, I know a lot of you would be playing with ratios. I think that it might be an engineering challenge for the belt pulleys, when you think about it. If you look at the size of the STOCK pulleys, they are huge compared to the chain sprockets OD's, even for the same ratio. I'm not sure how much smaller you could go with the front pulley without throwing a belt, and you sure can't go bigger because of lack of room. It looks like you would only be able to play with the back pulley to change ratios. I don't know what the price of the back pulley is, but I know the back sprocket is a lot more than the front, and the front is a lot simpiler to change once you get the nut off the first time. I just looked up the price for a Harley back pulley, OEM is $230. As I said before, I have had nothing but bad luck with belts, and years of no trouble with chains. The new chain lubes are awesome, no mess, and I just like being able to fix things quickly. The playing with ratios is a VERY big plus.
As long as the chain is checked frequently and adjusted, along with the other spot checks, like oil and bolt tightness, there is no problem. If You just want to start and go,and never check anything, then all I can say is GOOD LUCK with anything you own. Everyone has there preference, mine happens to be chain.

Wait until the temp gets into the 40s.  The chain might be long enough then

Hutch wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:


Hutch, I think i have made a big bobo with the spacer, I think you are right about its position, when we took the bikes out for a warm up on sunday, the 400 made a lot of noise from the front sprocket (clicking) when we got into it Tuesday night we found the chain trying to climb off the side, (puzzled) now the only major change has been the swingarm (corrosion) so I dragged off the swingarm and laid it next to the old one, the old one is bent, closer inspection shows the stiffner support to be severly coroded underneath,why i didnt see this before bothers me, any way going back to the plot, swapped the spacer round like you have done and every thing now ok,
all I can say is please except my apologies for the mis direction to you and others on this thread,

allan.