SV og LS wrote on 12/04/08 at 23:30:46:Rockin_John wrote on 12/04/08 at 19:44:03: .. don't the more hardcore Savages with turbos and stuff exist if the builders haven't provided you with a parts list, complete list of tools needed and documented build diary? Half the fun of motorcycling is solving technical dilemmas and finding solutions. One more tip: Minor welding is needed. An angle grinder is handy, although not essential.
If you've contacted belt manufacturers and found nothing, you didn't know what you were looking for. Just find out what you need (the specs of original belt, I suppose you know that?) and what industrial belt is the closest you can get. Then you'll already know the correct replacement and you can feel smug about it. If you find nothing I'll tell you the replacement belt specs.
Just more big talk... and nothing to back it up. It has become a pattern. One that I'm bored with. I just wondered if you would come up with the goods if pressed. Of course you didn't.
I have done the homework before, and don't care to travel that ground again. And though I'm adept with any fabrication tool outside of the machine shop; it sounds to me like re-inventing the wheel. If you have to weld and grind or do much modification work at all so you can use a slightly cheaper, but inferior belt, (by your own admission). What is the point? Sounds like you did a lot of work to degrade the quality of the bike. That type of information is of no interest to me, and best left out of the hands of "beginners" anyways.
Not to worry though... I did a chain conversion on one of my Savages, so I know the feeling
. All that work and expense just to have a greasy old chain. And the gear change sounds like a good idea at first, but when you have two Savages side-by-side to do real A&B test rides... It turns out that the stock gearing is really about spot on for overall use with the bike under load. I wouldn't recommend the chain conversion and higher ratio to anyone unless they are a real lightweight who doesn't pack a lot of gear on long rides. Maybe a skinny long-distance commuter, who likes to cruise at 80MPH. Otherwise, the stock belt is a much better drive system.
OTOH, I've been really tempted to gear one of the Savages WAY down to where the red-line in top gear was about 75-80mph, and have some serious fun with the low gears; tractor torque, and some tight curves!