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[havoc]

I don't know if this post belongs here, but hey I'm the new guy. 

I have myself a 08 SE Springer with only 800 miles on her.  Today I was getting on the gas at the light and as I took off I broke the drive belt.  I wasn't trying to smoke the tires or anything like that but I broke the drive belt.  As I took off you could hear a weird noise coming from the back end, which now I figure was the belt slipping.  This has happened other times also.  The belt was broken pretty much in half like a nasty tear.  There were three teeth missing and some other tears in the teeth on the belt.

Has anyone ever had this happen in the past and if so how did the dealer handle this?  Also what could be some of the possible causes for this?

Thanks guys for any help.

[SBB]

sounds like a defective belt


BTW

Welcome to the site!

S
  /
    B

[naitram]

new bike should be warenty work. could be rear axle out of alingment. needs R/R to do belt anyway

[110tHunDer]

 
Either a junk belt, or something got caught between it and the pulley and punctured a hole in it.  Should take care of you under warranty, though.  Did you have it transported somewhere?

[Fired00d]

Another nod here for it to be warranty repair. Let us know how it goes. Good luck.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Twolanerider]

Over the years twice have a belt break.  Both times belt had stone damage.  They're awfully rugged. 

[rednectum]

Over the years twice have a belt break.  Both times belt had stone damage.  They're awfully rugged. 

yes they are. testing different heads, cams, clutch, etc: we abuse the heck out of em. HD offers a belt for sidecar bikes that is even stronger.

[igofar]

Here is my guess...
At 800 miles the belt was more than ready for an adjustment. The missing teeth are proof that the belt was too loose causing it to slip.
You mentioned it made a noise other times too? This also is proof of it slipping before.

When the belts are new, they stretch ALOT and if you ride it hard during the break in, the belt should be tightened up sooner than the 1000 mile service.


Brad

[grc]

Here is my guess...
At 800 miles the belt was more than ready for an adjustment. The missing teeth are proof that the belt was too loose causing it to slip.
You mentioned it made a noise other times too? This also is proof of it slipping before.

When the belts are new, they stretch ALOT and if you ride it hard during the break in, the belt should be tightened up sooner than the 1000 mile service.


Brad

DING - DING - DING!   I believe we have a winner (I didn't say weiner, I said winner).  A loose belt will "jump" sprocket teeth under load, and that is extremely hard on the belt.  With three "teeth" missing from the belt, and a few more damaged, this would be my first guess as well.

As for the warranty question, unless there is direct evidence of damage from a foreign object this should most definitely be covered under warranty.

Jerry

[Texas Lurker]

A big CVO howdy from Texas. I go with the defective belt, but with only 800 miles I would certainly expect them to replace under warranty.

[Break-In]

 sounds like a warranty item to me

[reo]

Hope it didn't ruin your day Havoc. I agree sounds like the belt did get loose and cause the premature failure, should be covered under warranty as all has been said. Now you'll know what it feels/sounds like when the belt gets loose. You can usually feel the belt ratchet when decelerating or on a down shift.

I might add this bike should have the narrow belt due to the wide back tire setup making it more fragile even though HD seems to be using better materials for these belts. I might also add no sidecar belt available for these.

Roy.......

[Cerdo]

Loose belt all the way, should be under warranty!

Cerdo

[Hoist!]

You got the bike new. Less than 1K on it, and prior to the first service. Damn right w.....ty! They couldn't adjust your belt prior to delivery. They owe you a new one. PROPERLY ADJUSTED!!! That's if you trust them enough to ever touch it again!

[havoc]

Thanks for the respons guys.

They took care of it with no questions asked.  I couldn't get an answer out of them for a possible reason why i.e. loose belt, alignment.  Since it's a springer I just had it in for service at 500 miles all the more reasons to make you go hhhmmmm!!

On the warranty side it was covered and thank heaven it was, 696.44 for the repairs.  The only thing that could have happen and it wouldn't be covered by the warranty was if debris got in there.  I did ask them about the sidecar belt and got the deer in the headlight look.

Take er easy and if she's easy take er twice...

Chuck