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[Camojeeper]

Ok guys my scoot is in the shop again! One more broken belt 2total in the last 33,000 miles last one has aprox 9200 miles and had been Indy adjusted 5 times in that mileage. One H-D belt and one aftermarket. Now ? my 110 is for the most part stock so ground shaking belt snapping power is not a big problem! I'm not a burnout or wheelie guy either. My Indy said to convert to chain drive. It's stronger less money etc etc.  I also have about 1/2 mile of gravel road to ride out to the main road from my ranch so splitting the belt with rocks is on my mind as well? Help? Please
Thoughts and opinions?


Steve

[hd-dude]

I see you have aftermarket wheels, Do you have the stock rear pulley or an aftermarket pulley? Is the stock belt guard fully in tact? Have the pulleys been thoroughly inspected?

Aftermarket belts for these years are not as good as the factory belt.

My choice would be to keep the belt. They run quieter and have less maintenance. Chains will through lube all over the rear of the bike too.

[Camojeeper]

Stock pulleys in great shape. Belt guard in stock location.

[tdkkart]

2 belts in 30,000mi on a basically stock bike(even a 110") points to some sort of issue. Many people are running much
more power and miles on these belts without issue.

The "indy adjusted 5 times" statement bothers me.
My last bike had 27,000mi when I traded it. Other than a slight initial adjustment early in it's life, the belt was never adjusted again.
When I changed tires I marked the cams and put them back in the same place when I put them back on.

Something's not right, but the last thing you want to do is a chain conversion, absolutely not needed. 

[Camojeeper]

I had the Indy adjust it 4 times in 4000  (last belt) I would stretch enof to skip the rear pulley. Then once more the day before it snapped. My real concern is the gravel road I ride on dropping rocks in on the belt.

[twinotter]

  The aftermarket belts are nowhere near as good as stock. Having said that, a belt that goes out of adjustment 4 times in 4000 miles, has other issues. I would suggest that its not being set up properly, maybe the axle is not torqued to specs, the new cam type adjusters can cause issues if the axle is not torqued properly (100 ft/lbs).
Gravel roads are hard on belts, especially if the guards have been removed or modified.
 A chain drive eliminates the breakage problem, especially if top quality components are used.
I run a EK 530ZZZ chain, Baker tranny sprocket, Drag steel wheel sprocket. Using Maxima chain wax eliminates 90% of the fling (when used as instructed), chain should last forever.
When I ran a belt, I avoided gravel roads if at all possible, just asking for trouble imo.  twinotter

[RayG]

How is the alignment from the front to the rear sprocket?  As HD Dude said the aftermarket belt is a crap shoot.  I put on a Falcon belt when I went to a 30 tooth front sprocket, I took it easy but the belt shredded in 3,000 miles.  Found a Harley belt that fits but I have the same issue as you concerning a very long gravel driveway causing me problems.  I had a rock in my last belt so I had to install my spare belt last winter.  My oil cooler on the lower front looks like it has been shot blasted.  The rocks from the gravel road present a problem that will continue to have the potential to do some damage.  Something just doesn't make sense on your belt issue.  This should be an easy fix.  I would spend time thoroughly checking the alignment and depending on the amount of damage you get from the gravel find a way to protect your belt or chain even if you do go the chain route.  By the way I have an S&S 124" and I still don't do burnouts but I will get on hard once it's moving.  I used to love doing burnout and wheelies with a passenger years ago but since it takes me so long to replace the belt I smartened up and just do roll-on's for my quest for adrenalin.  Hope you find the problem and a solution.

[windjammer]

I have only broken 1 belt in my lifetime and it had 50000 miles on it. It also had a hole in it from a rock which I think was the primary cause. Best thing Was blacktoping the road to my house. Also a friend just traded a 2005 RoadKing with 96000 miles and no issues with belts.

[FlaHeatWave]

I see you have aftermarket wheels, Do you have the stock rear pulley or an aftermarket pulley? Is the stock belt guard fully in tact? Have the pulleys been thoroughly inspected?

Aftermarket belts for these years are not as good as the factory belt.

My choice would be to keep the belt. They run quieter and have less maintenance. Chains will through lube all over the rear of the bike too.

It sounds like you have an underlying issue with the bike? alignment? pulley(s) out of wack?

If it was mine, I'd go back to the OE Belt, and go over the alignment and pulleys with a fine tooth comb.

'Don't think the gravel is that much of an issue (unless you're going fast enough to kick up a bunch of pebbles?) My Bud has over 1/3 mi. of gravel driveway, does > 15k mi. / year has no belt issues for the last 6 years...

No way I'd go to a chain...

[Camojeeper]

How is the alignment from the front to the rear sprocket?  As HD Dude said the aftermarket belt is a crap shoot.  I put on a Falcon belt when I went to a 30 tooth front sprocket, I took it easy but the belt shredded in 3,000 miles.  Found a Harley belt that fits but I have the same issue as you concerning a very long gravel driveway causing me problems.  I had a rock in my last belt so I had to install my spare belt last winter.  My oil cooler on the lower front looks like it has been shot blasted.  The rocks from the gravel road present a problem that will continue to have the potential to do some damage.  Something just doesn't make sense on your belt issue.  This should be an easy fix.  I would spend time thoroughly checking the alignment and depending on the amount of damage you get from the gravel find a way to protect your belt or chain even if you do go the chain route.  By the way I have an S&S 124" and I still don't do burnouts but I will get on hard once it's moving.  I used to love doing burnout and wheelies with a passenger years ago but since it takes me so long to replace the belt I smartened up and just do roll-on's for my quest for adrenalin.  Hope you find the problem and a solution.

Chain and sprockets ordered! After speaking with two local builders here. They both said belts fail quickly with anything bigger than an 88" both recommended the chain set up. The final piece of the puzzle was to check the alignment of the bike,which is in spec.
Thanks all for your time. I will post results as I can

[ultrarider123]

Camo, good luck with the chain and I hope this works out for you better than your belt issues.

As for the comment from two local builders stating "

....belts fail quickly with anything bigger than an 88" both recommended the chain set up.

I will have to question that statement.  I've never had any issues with a belt and all of my HD's over a span of 28 years with belts were traded/sold with many tens of thousands of miles on them....no belt issues.  Not all of the motors were stock but none were racing motors either and all were used on the street, not the drag strip.  Actually, over the years of riding alone and with others, I've not seen any belt issues.  The belt is a good thing...cleaner, easier to maintain and from my experience very strong.

However, the bottom line is how comfortable you are with your bike.  So, good luck with your changes and I wish you many, happy and repair free miles....

[Camojeeper]

Camo, good luck with the chain and I hope this works out for you better than your belt issues.

As for the comment from two local builders stating "
I will have to question that statement.  I've never had any issues with a belt and all of my HD's over a span of 28 years with belts were traded/sold with many tens of thousands of miles on them....no belt issues.  Not all of the motors were stock but none were racing motors either and all were used on the street, not the drag strip.  Actually, over the years of riding alone and with others, I've not seen any belt issues.  The belt is a good thing...cleaner, easier to maintain and from my experience very strong.

However, the bottom line is how comfortable you are with your bike.  So, good luck with your changes and I wish you many, happy and repair free miles....

Well I hope this works out if not it was about the same cost as a belt. I too have not had any belt failures in any of the 3hogs I've owned an80" FXDWG 80,000 when sold oe belt. 98 anniversary flhtc 95" 50,000 oe belt when sold. And now I have this thing with 2 busted belts?
Again thank you guys for you help and opinions

[Camojeeper]

Chain and sprockets ordered! After speaking with two local builders here. They both said belts fail quickly with anything bigger than an 88" both recommended the chain set up. The final piece of the puzzle was to check the alignment of the bike,which is in spec.
Thanks all for your time. I will post results as I can

so to be clear these builders said belts can be easily snapped with a big bike
Bigger motors and quick throttle changes are not a belts friend. I also would like to build a bigger motor over the winter so that was a factor as well. The last thing was there were 3 bikes there with chains. Not one had any mess.

[hd-dude]

so to be clear these builders said belts can be easily snapped with a big bike
Bigger motors and quick throttle changes are not a belts friend. I also would like to build a bigger motor over the winter so that was a factor as well. The last thing was there were 3 bikes there with chains. Not one had any mess.

I question statements like that!
I have many customers with big builds 130hp/tq that run the stock belt, very rarely do we see a broken belt. These bikes are ridden hard as well. I even have a customer with 150hp+ motor that drag races on the stock belt....never had one break after hundreds of runs down the quarter mile.....

Point is that a belt adjusted properly can and will last, even on big inch high horsepower and torque builds.

[dartman]

Very True, been running Belt drive since 1985 thousands of miles on gravel, no breaks.