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[North Star]

This has been discussed a fair bit recently in various threads, but I thought if we can have all the "belt breakee's" report some info here, maybe we can find a common denominator with these failures. So, if you all don't mind, just respond by answering the following questions:

1) What year is your bike?

2) Which brand pulley did you install?

3) 30T or 31T?

4) Which brand belt did you use that broke?

5) Did you do the recommended newly installed belt tension adjustments?

6) How many miles did you have on the pulley/belt set up when it broke?

7) Would you describe your riding style as: a) Aggressive b) Moderate c) Easy

[North Star]

Oh by the way, I think you all finally convinced me to go for the 30T instead of the 31T. I'm planned to order the HD Tri Glide pulley and Gates belt soon, but before I do, I want to figure out this belt breaking issue first.

[cahdbiker]

Northstar, I have never really thought about belt breakage until I read your post. If I changed belts I would also change pulleys made by the same company if possible. If the teeth of the belt and pulley don't mesh up correctly it just make sense that the belt would wear out prematurely. The only positive thing I can say about HD belts and pulleys is that my buddy rode over 180,000 miles with his original belt(he has a 2001 Heritage with a rigid mounted engine) Finally when the internal  balancers went out and took the engine with them, which was running great up to that point, did he get a new belt. I know I am a little off the point here, but I guess IMHO get a belt and  pulleys from the same manufactuer and it would make sense that a person would have a better fit tooth to pulley. I like my 09SEUC with a Fulsac stage one kit and 1.75 baffles, open air cleaner and download. I don't know how many HP or Torque I have and I don't care. It runs good and has plenty of power even with passenger and luggage. I feel no need to change the gearing .If  a person wants to put that much power to the ground why not switch to a chain drive. They are easier to fix unless of course you screw up the front sprocket. Sorry for the long response, but I wanted to express my feelings about this, and I just don't understand why so many people feel the need to go down to 31 or even 30 tooth front sprocket. The stock gearing works great for me. Sorry for the long post.  CAHDBIKER

[North Star]

I think if most of had a choice, we would stick to the HD parts for this mod, since everyone has praise for the reliability and dependability of the OEM belt. Problem is HD doesn't make a 139T x 1" belt that the 2009+ bikes need.

I think for the money, it sounds like the best "bang for the buck" performance mod (about $275 in parts and about 3 hrs labour). My impression is that it will feel like you added 10 hp to your ride.

Another benefit is that it seems to sort out the tall gearing. If you are happy with your gearing, and don't think you feel like your starting off in second gear, then that's great- more power to you- but I would like the bike to engage into first "normally", like all the other bikes I've owned. Also at moderate highway speeds, 6th gear does feel a bit low, and for the bike to feel like it's in it's groove, I think this gearing change will also help that out.

So, like most of the mod's we discuss on these forums, many are certainly not necessary or wanted by everybody. But, since we are all bike nuts that enjoy enhancing our riding experience in varying degrees, this is just one of those mod's that some of us feel is worth doing. 

[RayG]

From what I have been told the 07's & 08's had taller gearing than the 09's.  Therefore the 30T solved that problem.  The first year of the TBW was known to have a flat spot at take off, add that to the tall gearing and when two up and loaded down it was like taking off in second gear.  Good advice on the Tri Glide pulley with the OEM belt.  That's the best set up period, you need not look any farther.  The book on belts, pulleys, swingarm modification has all been dealt with.  I will agree that it is like adding extra HP, how much I don't know.  Worth it for me even with an aftermarket belt that broke.   

[timtoolman]

I installed the falcon Belt and stripped about 13 inches of teeth at around 4 thousand miles, i use the andrews pulley and i ride it pretty hard, i will be doing the weld reinforce gussets as per fullsac posting and reinstalling a new factory belt. Id never go back to a 32 pulley, my 09 ultra runs 120/120 and i love the quickness and less shifting

[Limited Lou]

What would be the difference in changing rear sprocket over the front ? Would it be the same ? I read someone did the rear sprocket but forgot what was said and can't find the post..

[RayG]

I am unaware of any rear sprocket that is available to achieve the same results,  if their was one that was a turn key installation we would not be having these discussions.  I may be wrong. 

[smiley1049]

I think there was a bad batch of belts out there have not heard of any problems lately of bikes having a problem I have the Baker 30 tooth and a gates belt put 18 K on it last year no problems belt still looks new.

[Rooster]

I believe you can change the gear on the clutch basket also.

[Limited Lou]

I believe you can change the gear on the clutch basket also.

I have read that also somewhere, gettin old sucks.. If I wanted to change gearing I'd reserch rear sproket options first, as that would be the easiest. Then check out what you said on clutch basket... JMO

[Dan_Lockwood]

Does HD make a 130T belt in any width, not just the 1"?  I see the 1" wide belts on the new bikes as the rear tire has just gotten wider and wider over the last many years.

But if HD does make a 139T in some other wider configuration, why not just get that belt and have one of the many industrial belt makers slit it down to 1" and go with HD original belts?  We have several vendors that make belts for us to be used in our new machines, but mainly in "L" pitch and not Polychain.  But these guys split wire reinforced belts to special widths everyday.

Of course if HD does not make a 139T in any width, my idea is not going anywhere.

Just a thought...

[grc]

To achieve roughly the same ratio while changing the rear sprocket instead of the front, you would need to add 4 or 5 teeth to the rear versus subtracting 2 from the front.  I'm not aware of any 72 or 73 tooth one inch rear sprockets that will fit a late model Harley, and of course you would need a 4 tooth longer belt that probably doesn't exist either.

32 tooth front, 68 tooth rear, 2.125 ratio (standard)
30 tooth front, 68 tooth rear, 2.267 ratio
32 tooth front, 73 tooth rear, 2.281 ratio
32 tooth front, 72 tooth rear, 2.250 ratio

On another note, changing the primary ratio will also allow you to change the overall gear ratio, and it will do so without affecting the speedometer reading like the changes to the trans output sprocket will.  But changing the ratio in the primary will affect the rpm versus speed sensor reading that the ECM utilizes for things like the 6th gear indicator light, and possibly the cruise control.  I seem to remember some folks reporting problems with those items after changing to a different comp sprocket a few years back.  It would be a good idea to research this thoroughly to see what negative affects it might have before tearing into the primary and changing a bunch of parts.    Just a thought.


Jerry

[North Star]

timtoolman's answers-

1) What year is your bike?
2009
2) Which brand pulley did you install?
Andrews
3) 30T or 31T?
30T
4) Which brand belt did you use that broke?
Falcon
5) Did you do the recommended newly installed belt tension adjustments?
?
6) How many miles did you have on the pulley/belt set up when it broke?
4,000 miles
7) Would you describe your riding style as: a) Aggressive b) Moderate c) Easy
Aggressive

[Dan_Lockwood]

To achieve roughly the same ratio while changing the rear sprocket instead of the front, you would need to add 4 or 5 teeth to the rear versus subtracting 2 from the front.  I'm not aware of any 72 or 73 tooth one inch rear sprockets that will fit a late model Harley, and of course you would need a 4 tooth longer belt that probably doesn't exist either.

32 tooth front, 68 tooth rear, 2.125 ratio (standard)
30 tooth front, 68 tooth rear, 2.267 ratio
32 tooth front, 73 tooth rear, 2.281 ratio
32 tooth front, 72 tooth rear, 2.250 ratio

On another note, changing the primary ratio will also allow you to change the overall gear ratio, and it will do so without affecting the speedometer reading like the changes to the trans output sprocket will.  But changing the ratio in the primary will affect the rpm versus speed sensor reading that the ECM utilizes for things like the 6th gear indicator light, and possibly the cruise control.  I seem to remember some folks reporting problems with those items after changing to a different comp sprocket a few years back.  It would be a good idea to research this thoroughly to see what negative affects it might have before tearing into the primary and changing a bunch of parts.    Just a thought.


Jerry

Jerry, I checked with EVO Industries about their clutch and primary driven gear baskets a few years ago.  Back then they had an aluminum setup with new primary chain for about $325.00.  They found many issues with parts made from aluminum and have stopped making that kit.  They now offer the kit with either complete kit with new clutch, clutch basket, primary chain etc or just the primary chain and clutch basket.  Their new basket has a 49T driven sprocket and that gives about an 8% lower gear overall, similar to the 30T output belt sprocket change.  They said with bikes using the TTS Mastertune system, changing settings to "adjust" the rpm in the ECM to match again with the cruise and 6th gear light, is not a big deal, just like recalibrating the speedo settings with the same TTS system when changing to the 30T output sprocket.

Some say that the increased rpm between the clutch and compensator will make the primary chain noisier and that would be noticeable.  Myself, I can't see that change as a big deal.  It will allow very basic changes in "hard" parts like sprockets and chain versus pulley sprocket and belts from aftermarket.  The pricing for the EVO Ind kit went up a lot, I think around $600.00, but you do not have to break into the inner primary or trans output to do the work.

There are several options, as well as the Baker solutions in their DD6 kit and DD7 kit.

Or just doing what Steve has done on his bike with the reinforced rear axle slots retaining the original HD belt.