Rear Belts

madass140 · Mar 1, 2017

I've been setting up a rear belt drive (not this one)for a very special project at the end of this year with a Norton drum brake on the right side, it will have left side gear shift. So I thought I'd have a look at setting one up for "normal" situation. This one pictured is set up with my (now not so new) 6 vane cush drive with one piece axle. Its come together reasonably well , Somewhere down the track I'll fit it to one of my bikes and see how it goes.
It would be a big maybe if I was to produce a lot of these as I doubt there is a market for them
Don

acotrel · Mar 1, 2017

It would be nice to race with front and rear belts, but changing overall gearing would be a bugger.

madass140 · Mar 1, 2017

Sorry Al but I didnt have you in mind when I was dreamin this up, , when is your next race? which track etc ?maybe I can get organized and put together a.........

ashman · Mar 1, 2017

Who know Don if it works as good as it look so far, there might be a market for it, but untill you get one on a bike that can be road tested, belts have come a long way and Harlies have been using them for sometime now, it would be good to have a choise these days, if you can keep the price down you be on a winner for sure, be very interesting.

Ashley

grandpaul · Mar 1, 2017

I'm guessing you could build a batch of a dozen and sell them within the space of a year.

Or, build 3 or 4 at a time.

nixwiefort · Mar 1, 2017

wow, could you do such belt drive also for the disc brake commando ?

lcrken · Mar 1, 2017

Nice looking conversion, Don. Comnoz has been running a similar belt on his Commando now for a number of years, and has posted the construction details and real world results (many thousands of miles) here on the forum. A little search effort would probably turn up most of that. It has it's advantages, but also some disadvantages. I suspect there would be a market for it, as long as it was basically a bolt on mod. In my case, the limiting factor is the extra width of the belt, which means I couldn't use it in my current build. For me, the most bang for the buck change to the rear drive is just a sealed chain. In most of the bikes I've done that to, it required switching from 530 to 520 chain to get clearance.

Ken

Fullauto · Mar 1, 2017

Great idea. I was looking at it for a future project. The only thing that's a real issue is the complication of a belt change. A fairly involved procedure by the side of the road. With the modern narrow belts, clearance would not be an issue.

I run a '99 Buell X1. I got 101,000 km out of my first belt. Trouble free, set and forget. NO messy oil flung over the back of the bike. Heaven.

madass140 · Mar 1, 2017

Tire clearance is not a problem with 3/4" belts .
Don

Brooking 850 · Mar 1, 2017

Don, I would be happy to do some testing on my race bike at track days if you need some assistance.
That would give you feed back from a higher performance bike if you need it.
I already have your one piece axle in that bike.
As I have modified the existing cast sprocket and drum to accept different sized rear sprockets, the smallest I can fit now is a 44, although tend to run a 46/47 for most of my racing. I cant fit a 42 .
I run a 21 front sprocket on 18" rim with a 110 tyre , there is still 13mm clearance from tyre edge to 530 chain edge.
Also have a large cutaway opening on a modified inner primary for quick front sprocket changes , although not needed so far, so there would be no clearance problems for testing.
Only issue would be the fact I run a TTI gearbox.
Just a thought.
Regards Mike

madass140 · Mar 1, 2017

Mike, you are a bit early for me to do testing, I'm not that ready yet. the gearing on this setup is 2.1-1 same as a 20t sprocket and standard 42t rear
Don

kerinorton · Mar 1, 2017

Hi Don. With Iwis chains available now, would this exercise be worth your while. Considering the effort required to change a belt against a chain. I realize Fullauto said he did 100,000 kms on his Buell, but cost verse convenience???? Sure, rear chains do make a wee mess, but with bikes that are meant to be ridden, what the hell. If you are going to use your bike very little, then chain is still the answer. You may be better spending your time on the brake mods and the shock mods, hubs etc etc you are doing. Just my 2d worth. Don't want to see you wasting your time.

Dereck

madass140 · Mar 1, 2017

Dereck, the original plan and still is in designing this belt drive and the other one I have put together was not to produce these in numbers
but both one offs for my own personal builds. Its unlikely that I would go into production however I may consider it down the track.
My brake and shock mods are under control, so I'm not really wasting my time.I dont consider product development a waste of time. There maybe other interesting new products that may surface later in the year (that I'm wasting my time on)
Don

lcrken · Mar 1, 2017

madass140 said:
Tire clearance is not a problem with 3/4" belts .
Don

That sounds reasonable, given how wide a 530 chain is. I was assuming the belt was wider, a bad assumption on my part.

Ken

norsa1 · Mar 1, 2017

Don

does your belt drive use a tensioner?

madass140 · Mar 1, 2017

I've not considered a tensioner and dont think its needed in this application, considering the amount of swingarm travel, or have I missed something?
Don

Brooking 850 · Mar 1, 2017

Hi Don, it was just a thought in case you needed some testing.
I think the only pitfall that comes to mind would be alignment of the back wheel, would need to be very accurate to get the belt straight, chain has a bit more sideways give and take in that respect.
Thats the reason I use snail cams with numbered indents up against roll pins in the swingarm on the race bike with your one piece axle.

Regards Mike

madass140 · Mar 1, 2017

alignment of the back wheel and belt tension, Owner messes this up, breaks a belt and I get blasted all over the internet for supplying faulty product.
Sometimes its not in my interest to venture to far.

jeffdavison · Mar 2, 2017

I have a '74, but with a '75 rear disc setup. If you decide to produce, market and sell, you'll have a customer here..... of course after making sure the unit has proven itself for reliabity.

Jeff Davison

madass140 · Mar 2, 2017

Jeff, I would be long out of business if I was.............but unfortunately if the belt drive was to proceed with production, MK3's would
not be on the short list.

Rear Belts

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