To Belt or not to Belt............?

[Cloudy but dry]

Got a belt drive if you don't mind second hand Grum. Its been under me bench for yonks gathrin dust.
Took it off me pan for reasons stated above
No starter ring gear on the clutch drum tho.
Pm me if ya want it.

[Panhead Boris]

I fitted 1.5 inch BDL to my pan, and raised the gearing 15% in the process. Probably the biggest single improvement I've made to it. BUT it runs open.

I had considered belt for my 77 shovel, but would want to run it enclosed, which is not a great idea.

The Tamer kit and proper setup generally sorts clutch woes. Belts do make everything much smoother, and stop bolts working loose, but they don't like heat, as others have said.

[45grum]

Cheers for all the info guys.
I was looking in my clutch this evening and it has a Big Fix roller kit and a Ram Jet Retainer fitted, the Ram Jet looks like it has melted a bit and molded to fit the back of the first clutch plates and there is play in the bearings. It has a 5 stud clutch hub but the pins are a bit grooved also the spring retainer is a 3 stud that has been drilled and welded (badly) to convert it for use on the 5 stud hub, it also has an alloy pressure plate.
The chain seems OK but there is a lot of rotary free play in the cush drive sprocket thingy on the crank is this normal?
From what everyone has said I think I will buy a new hub and spring retainer, a Tamer kit and a set of plates and keep the chain as I dont want to run an open belt on a dresser (It just dont seem right).
I have slung it all back together for now and will look around for bits, anyone recommend any good shops for Harley parts?
Cheers Graham

[45grum]

Originally Posted by Simon_Y

If you fit a belt with an enclosed case make sure the tranny and engne seals are oil tight ANY oil will seriously screw up the life of the belt. another issue is heat as that also F*&cks a belt sharpish even if the thing has kevlar in it the rubber matrix holding the thing together is key.

I had a 1.5" belt on my 79 shovel for 2 years and was left standing by the road side twice when the thing broke, both times when trying to start the bike since going back to the duplex chain with the "dry " clutch set up with the system sealed so as not to circulate the chain grindings through the engine I have had no problems and IMHO I would steer well clear of enclosed beld drives and set up the existing clutch with a tamer , long roller bearings and Aluminium centre , may also be worth looking at a 5 bolt hub set up to get a more even loading on the plates. Also sand the plates to get rid of any oil inmpregnation/debris. Correct adjutment of the primary chain is also critical so a hayden may be a worthwhile investment its something I'm looking at getting next.

R

Simon

What's a "Hayden" ?

Cheers Graham.

[Limey_Dave]

Originally Posted by 45grum

What's a "Hayden" ?

Cheers Graham.

http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...ll-review.html

[Simon_Y]

Grum you mentioned 10° play by hand in the front drive fitted to the crank shaft, I'm no expert but this sounds a bit excessive. I'm sure that some else will be able to give more advice but as far as I can recall its a spring loaded affair with ramps to dampen the tramission shocks.

I don't have my manuals to hand at present, they are en route from LA with my bike, but if memory serves there is a greasing regime that needs to be done to keep the unit operational.

BR,

S

[Simon_Y]

You'll proobly find the either the spring is broken or the splines are shot either way you'll have to dismantle the thing to see what's going on. Sorry 'bout that!


From what I recall the torque setting on the bolt that holds the thing onto the cranckshaft is hernia inducing and you have to use Red loctite!

Good luck with it

Simon

[Kiwi]

try some kevlar plates on the clutch

they worked wonders on my Panhead it no longer slips and it no longer drags

[45grum]

Thanks for the advice Simon, I will take a look at the pulley and see what is going on in there.
Oh the joys of owning an old Harley (it all come flooding back).
I will sort it one way or another, Watch this space.
Cheers Graham.