Reliability of belt drives

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maylar

maylar

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With Jerry's post about his shredded drive belt I'm a bit anxious about installing my new cNw e-start kit. I don't thrash my 850 much but I do expect it to hold together to 6200 when called upon. So, I guess what I'm asking here is has anyone regretted switching to a belt?
 
Zero issues with my norvil belt drive
I did change it at 15000 miles as a precaution
I regularly touch 7000 rpm on my commando (750) in the lower gears
 
I changed to a new belt after some 18,000 miles on the old one

just thought it was a good idea, nothing wrong with it otherwise
 
1up3down said:
I changed to a new belt after some 18,000 miles on the old one

just thought it was a good idea, nothing wrong with it otherwise
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Did you see any wear on your belt? There's no wear on mine,I carry it with me sometimes just incase but have never needed it
 
Shredded a belt due to incorrect tension and/or alignment problem, after correcting these issues, the new belt from RGM (white belt) still is fine after thousands of miles.
 
Steve maney belt drive here.
Love it. No problems. But I do keep a spare belt under the seat on long trips.
Just preventive maintenance.
Quite like the whirr sound compared to the loud primary chain.(and I do like to give it a good hand full) .
 
All belts are not equal. Take care and do your homework on what belt you choose. Not really a belt drive issue but durability of belt. From what I have seen, properly designed belt drives will stand up to some of the toughest assignments and continue performing.

As an example, I started with a Steve Maney belt drive and I included with my purchase a spare belt. They only failed due to some nasty debris.

A while back I purchased a hand full of “Jason” branded belts (great purchase price) and would be lucky to get through a race weekend without a failure. A self inflicted penny wise and pound foolish.

Kenny Cummings did his research and sourced a supplier which he and I now use. I install the belt and forget about it. Belt failures are a vague and distant memory. Again, these are some really abusive application I am referring to.
 
I have the oldest Norton belt drive in existence. I've been using Goodyear HTD or Gates powergrip GT2 belts with no failures in 30+ years even though a pebble got into my open primary and punched a small hole in the belt (replaced of course).
 
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I am going to always keep the belt drive on my 750, less weight and no oil. I just need a stronger one. I am going with the cNw belt drive kit next I think. It looks very well made.
 
I have the Newby belt drive and clutch on my 1360 Vincent.
I haven't done a huge mileage with it yet but so far so good.
It has to transmit a lot of power with that one.
Also have his setup on the 650ss, no problems.
The belt he uses is made in Germany as I recall.

Glen
 
maylar said:
With Jerry's post about his shredded drive belt I'm a bit anxious about installing my new cNw e-start kit. I don't thrash my 850 much but I do expect it to hold together to 6200 when called upon. So, I guess what I'm asking here is has anyone regretted switching to a belt?
Click to expand...

Good point. Don't fit it. Let me have your details and I'll take it off of your hands...:D
 
Jerry Doe said:
I am going to always keep the belt drive on my 750, less weight and no oil. I just need a stronger one. I am going with the cNw belt drive kit next I think. It looks very well made.
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I still you could get a better quality belt and be fine. Maybe there is some manufacturing flaw with your pulleys that is only apparent at extreme thrashing? Belt pulleys are pretty well known and I suspect are subjected to way higher stresses than even our bikes can produce.

The quality on the RGM is on par with the price. The only one I saw that the value seemed to exceed the price was Maney.
 
I'm running a Maney belt kit now on the 920. It really is a nice looking thing, very well made.

I had a Norvil one on the 850, cheap n cheerful perhaps, but it was still 100% fault free, inc frequent track use.
 
Jerry Doe said:
I am going to always keep the belt drive on my 750, less weight and no oil. I just need a stronger one. I am going with the cNw belt drive kit next I think. It looks very well made.
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Do I sense that will be followed by the E-start not too long after?
 
Hi Mike,

I am not going to put an electric start on my 750 (well not while I can still start it with kicker). Since i put the pazon on it, the bike starts first kick every time and its easy to start with the RGM Folding kick started.

Jerry
 
worntorn said:
I have the Newby belt drive and clutch on my 1360 Vincent.
I haven't done a huge mileage with it yet but so far so good.
It has to transmit a lot of power with that one.
Also have his setup on the 650ss, no problems.
The belt he uses is made in Germany as I recall.

Glen
Click to expand...
Bob Newby himself told me of a customer with an old Dominator that has done 25k plus miles with no problems.
 
Jerry Doe said:
Hi Mike,

I am not going to put an electric start on my 750 (well not while I can still start it with kicker). Since i put the pazon on it, the bike starts first kick every time and its easy to start with the RGM Folding kick started.

Jerry
Click to expand...


RGM kicker? You running rear sets now?
Need pictures..
I'm considering the same..
 
Parallel Alignment of the front pulley with the Clutch basket is crucial. Fitting new sleeve gear bushes will help to attain this.
 
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