Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Twism_23]

I am curious as to whether open primaries are harder on the engines drive train and whether they have compensators?
Thanks.

[hd-dude]

Are you referring to an open belt drive primary? If so there is no compensator assembly. They are not hard on the engine.

[Dan_Lockwood]

Are you referring to an open belt drive primary? If so there is no compensator assembly. They are not hard on the engine.

Jim, I was wondering that too.

Just to add a bit to your comments, when I had my '40 Willys coupe with a blown 392 hemi, I ran without a harmonic balancer.  I was told that the belt running on the crank pulley acted as a "shock" to the crank and hence no need for the balancer.  Now I would have used the balancer, but on the old hemis they are usually in pretty poor condition and have to be cut down and reworked.  In my case I just cut off all the old vulcanized rubber and outer ring and had the remaining disc balance with the crank and internals.

So how does the V-Rod get a way without a compensator?  Does it not have all the shake and pulses that the standard 45 V has?

Always enjoy your comments.

[hd-dude]

The belt does act as a shock absorber between the tranny and engine. I can tell you that the belt drives that I have done (including on my own personal bike) work very well and the shifting is smooth as silk. There is no gear clunk at all. The only draw back to the open belts is the noise from the clutch basket.

[Twism_23]

Thanks for the answers! Yes I meant open belt primaries, specifically a 3" open belt primary. I just re-read my original post and it was obviously made in haste  . I am/was concerned with the fact that seeing there is no compensator with these belt drives that they may be harder on the engine or transmission.

[mjb765]

I was thinking about a belt drive as well instead of dealing with HD's crappy compensator and the new oil delivery setup. Any downside other than cost Jim? Any brand recommendations--nothing crazy and I still want the floorboards.

[hd-dude]

I have the Rivera on my own bike, BDL also makes a good unit. Only downside is noise.

[mjb765]

I have the Rivera on my own bike, BDL also makes a good unit. Only downside is noise.

More noise that that damn compensator??

[hd-dude]

Yes, At idle the clutch discs and plate rattle quite a bit, on the road you do not hear it though

[willyB]

Yes, At idle the clutch discs and plate rattle quite a bit, on the road you do not hear it though

Then again there's something refreshing about the open primary clatter sound.

[mjb765]

Yes, At idle the clutch discs and plate rattle quite a bit, on the road you do not hear it though

But am I better off with the belt drive or taking my chances with the new Comp???   Other than the initial cost of course......

[Puzzled]

Jr1000yarder, Al123 and myself all have the PM/BDL belt drives either on its way or sitting there to be installed. 

[timo482]

on my 77 in about 1983 i had some problems with the clutch basket and some problems with the compensator [and folks think thats new.. ha] so i installed a belt drive...

soooooooooo nice, noisy when the clutch was released, but silent with the clutch engaged. quiet, smooth, better shifting.

what slays me is that going belt drive was about 50% cheaper than fixing the chain primary - now folks get a small fortune for a belt drive! its crazy expensive. most guys then just ran the inner primary bare - or cut it down so it was not as noticeable and made a wire mesh guard for it. the belt drive kit only had the basket and the belt and the pulley, nothing else & i think it cost me 180 or so with tax all in. now they are only available with all this chrome plated billet aluminum unneeded crap to make them look nice. the plain, open, home machined inner primary, hand polished deal was really cool...

can't do that today -

bummer

to

[mjb765]

Jr1000yarder, Al123 and myself all have the PM/BDL belt drives either on its way or sitting there to be installed. 

BDL told me they didn't have a unit for a 2011 CVO with hydraulic clutch

[Puzzled]

I hope that isn't the case... we weren't told any different.