Drive Belt Problem - Stoned!

[Folkie]

I've just found a stone in my drive belt, it looks like it's got stuck between the sprocket and belt and pushed nearly through the belt. It's about 1/4" in diameter.

Should I leave it in there, or should I try to prise it out? Does this mean I have to replace the belt? Should I just take it to the dealer for them to check it over? Is it even safe to ride there (50 miles).

Thanks

[Hawkeye]

Cant give a definate answer but my friend has a fatbot that has a stone in it, he must of done about 3k with it so far still in there.

Guess it will be a gamble. I should think the dealer would say change it....just to be safe ;)

[sue_M]

I would guess it would depend whther it has broken through any of the fibres, or whether it is just embedded.

[Folkie]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

Cant give a definate answer but my friend has a fatbot that has a stone in it, he must of done about 3k with it so far still in there.

Guess it will be a gamble. I should think the dealer would say change it....just to be safe ;)

Look Hawkeye, I really don't want to hear about your friend's fat bot, OK?

Sorry!

Thanks for that. Someone's told me to "read the effin manual", and now I have, it seems a stone in the centre of the belt is OK for a while, but if the belt is split at the edge, it could fail any time. Luckily, mine's in the middle.

I've took the stone out, just left a little hole. So, it might be OK for a bit, but I think I'll worry about it.

[SJC69]

From what you said take the stone out don't leave it in there and forget about it.

If or when it breaks replace the belt.

I believe you have a sporty, piss easy to change the belt compared to a big twin, two hour tops from start to finish.

I had a stone go through my belt on my FXR in 1988 a piece of flint it pushed through the belt near the edge and dislodged the ribbed plastic coating.
I made the decision to wait and see then glued the ribbed coating back in place and ran it. That belt lasted until 1998 and a further 50K, yep 10 years, by which time the pullies were shagged too.
It still never broke just lost a lot of teeth and they were not where the hole was either.
I just hope you have the same sort of luck.

[Folkie]

Thanks SJC69, I'll just leave it then. Your 50K after stone damage makes my question about whether It'd hold up for 50 miles look kind of silly, huh?

[Phil]

Push the stone out of the belt from the outside in, if it is not at the very edge it should not be a problem, had a couple in mine for 10,000 miles.

[Folkie]

Thanks Phil. I already pushed it out like you say. It's not at the edge, it's about 1/3 in from one edge. Hopefully it'll be OK.