How serious is a stone in the Belt..?

[Nimrod]

I was looking at my drive belt, having taken the panniers off.

There was a small (4mm) stone actually inbetween the toothed side of the belt and the smooth side.

I got it out with a pair of needle nose pliers...

The pulley doesn't seem damaged, but the belt does have noticeable damage.

I realise that describing these things is pretty hit and miss, but from the above, how serious is it..?

New belt... new pulleys and belt... or just leave it..?

Any advice would be helpful ;-)

Thanks in advance, David ~

[grbrown]

Hi, from one 1990 FLHS to another - and ouch!

The only stone damage I have actually seen was to a Firebolt, which the twit of an owner had taken the 'naff' belt cover off! His stone was a lovely sliver of flint which was lodged through the belt and had scarred both pulleys.

I don't know the answer to your question! These belts are variously described as doing many tens of thousands of miles, even going round the clock. My Firebolt's belt is said to have a service life equal to that of the bike.

I replaced the belt and pulleys on my bike (I have owned it from new), at around 30,000 miles, because I was doing some serious tuning work, not because they needed it, although the rear pulley looked pretty battle-scarred. It is quite a time consuming job and not cheap!

If you are not going on that world tour just yet, it might be worth riding on and keeping an eye on it, just to see if it starts to deteriorate quickly.

PS. Great photos, but where is the FLHS?! I'll join you with an Old Speckled Hen - got an MG?

[Mr B]

I check mine regulary. The manual does say that a stone in the middle should be kept an eye on, and a stone or cut on the edge...the belt should be changed.
Personally, if I ever noticed anything wrong with my drive belt, I wouldn't take a chance with it, I'd change it straight away.
My mate sat at traffic lights and went to pull away...gave it a handful of throttle, and didn't move more than a foot. He looked down to see the belt on the road.

Brian.

[ACE]

I ran with my dyna for 3 years with a stone hole in the centre of the belt, It went one day as I pulled away from home. As I also had to do a seal behind the front pulley, so I done two jobs in one.

A bit of a mission but only a mornings work.

So keep your AA card handy and keep riding, give it some stick pulling away from home and there is a good chance it will go there in a few years.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by ACE

I ran with my dyna for 3 years with a stone hole in the centre of the belt, It went one day as I pulled away from home. As I also had to do a seal behind the front pulley, so I done two jobs in one.

I had forgotten about that seal! It is one of the weaknesses of the bikes of that era - I did the same!

David, I have tried to pm you, but got: "David Nimrod has chosen not to receive private messages..." so cannot get through!

[Nimrod]

Originally Posted by grbrown

David, I have tried to pm you, but got: "David Nimrod has chosen not to receive private messages..." so cannot get through!

I got a strange message to that effect when I pm' you... I'll investigate ;-)

[Kiwi]

there is no point in worrying about it

the belt may last forever in which case there is nothing to worry about

or it may fail in which case you have to fix it

its about a 5 hour job to change it, and if the pulleys are shagged which is a high probability on a 17 year out bike it can work out quite expensive

chain drive conversion is a cheaper option and if fitted with a scotoiler maintenance is checking chain tension and topping up with oil every oil change

replacing a worn out chain is a 15 minute job vs 5 hours

[Nimrod]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

chain drive conversion is a cheaper option and if fitted with a scotoiler maintenance is checking chain tension and topping up with oil every oil change

replacing a worn out chain is a 15 minute job vs 5 hours

Sounds like a good idea... but just how easy/simple is the conversion..?

[the_monster]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

replacing a worn out chain is a 15 minute job vs 5 hours

er yeah, but not if you replace the sprockets as well, like all good mechanics would.

the life of a chain is very limited compared to that of a belt, but of course the chain does carry the benefits of oiling the back wheel and covering your hands in greasy black crud as well as requiring regular checking - and of course no one's ever had a split link fail.

[grbrown]

I haven't owned a bike with an exposed chain since I sold my shovelhead - bought new in 1974. I have no intention of doing so ever again!

They have had their day for normal road use. We have three belts, a shaft and an enclosed chain in our garage. The days of the last two are numbered, but tell them just yet.

Belts are the new chains....