Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech possibility for belt drive

there is an emergency belt repair kit but you better be close to home if you want to make it there they don't last long.

I wonder if it's similar to a v-belt repair kit I bought about 10 years ago when the alternator belt on my cage broke. It lasted for about 10 miles. But it got me close enough that I could run on just the battery to a nearby service station.

The kit I saw was kind of like small staples for lack of a better word. Only made it a couple miles, if that.

At some point I'll get a belt. The only downside seems to be the "broken belt on the road" thing that's being discussed. I would be interested in hearing from drive belt users if the following would work.

Can a spare belt be installed when the swing arm is removed for the original instal? The front end would be zip tied to the leading edge of the swing arm (remove the rubber chain guide), the back end zip tied around the right swing arm fork (behind the pipe hanger area), and the middle of the belt arranged up under the rear fender somehow. This way, if a belt broke it could be replaced by removing the front sprocket cover, passenger peg bracket, and right shock.

This might be a beans / beer blowby idea , but would it work?

Heckuvanidea! Not sure as I haven't played with one of these belts yet...

Interesting idea. I don't think there's anyway to make it significantly unobtrusive.

"the middle of the belt arranged up under the rear fender somehow"

That's the problematic part. If it could be folded without damaging it you might pull it off. But the belts are of pretty stout construction. One of the biggest PITAs when installing a new belt is getting it to curve tight enough to wrap it around the small front sprocket.

When I travel I carry all the tools I'd need to swap out a new belt, except a jack and a spare belt. When my belt broke in '05, I was blocks from the dealership (~120 miles from home). With a borrowed jack from the dealership, and a loaner bike so I could run to the Harley dealership, I was able to replace the belt in a few hours.

Not ideal but doable. If I'm not near a shop? Well, that's what road hazard insurance and my cell phone are for. I know I can get a replacement belt from Harley. I don't think they'd loan me a jack, though, so I could install it in their parking lot.

Not to mention all the road dirt and debris it would be subjected to before it even gets installed.

I've never actually handled a belt. As I understand it then, the fender is big enough that the middle of the belt might loop sideways without touching the tire, the passenger footpeg bracket would cover the end that wraps around the right fork, but the radius of the belt's bend wouldn't wrap around the front of the swing arm inside of the working belt?



Hmmmm.... Evil moderator

I guess one of these could be packed as road repair jack. Kind of clumsy to pack around though.

Supplier link



Would our side stands be strong enough to use it?

Steve

Hey, I just noticed: Lethbridge. You're practically a neighbor. Are you going to the Kootenay Raid?

I guess if I was really concerned about changing the belt on the road I'd get the Rivco center stand. That should do the trick.

I've got that July weekend marked in my schedule, but it depends on what's happening at work. I don't get to pick my times off like the staff can. I need to work for someone else for a while.

I poke into southeastern BC fairly often - good riding! The stretch from Creston to Crawford Bay ferry and on through to Kaslo is considered among the best in the province.

Sorry all for hijacking your thread. I also look forward to perhaps a cheaper way of going to a belt.

Steve

Everything was belt drive -related until I brought up your location.

"My bad."

just wanted to bump this up and see if there is anymore interest

Frank

Yes