I had to write a staff training program for a well known belt manufacturer. I also had to deliver the course. Knowing how these belts are made (one bloody great wide belt that is then cut into required widths) it is far to say that if it where the belts at fault they would all fail. Belts, unlike chains require a controled amount of tension on them that should not vary. On a Buell it bloody does vary. As the suspension compresses the belt tension changes and infact its worse when you do a stoppy and the belt get stretched over the OE pulley. The FS pulley allow for this variance.
the buell system is flawed in several other ways as well.
belt life will be effected by:
1/ getting covered in dirt/stones/dust/grit/etc. (why do you think all cam belts are kepted covered)
2/ tension should not vary (see above)
3/ Run out and alignment between pulleys and tensioner must be accurately controlled. A knackered wheel bearing could do it, knacked g/box bearings, knacked tensioner pully bearings could do it.
4/ take care of all of the above and your belt should last for ever!!!!! it won't!!!

I could dig out the notes if anyone is interested but I warn you now its prity borring stuff written for non technical staff.

I will check the pully Pash and I hope you are right Adam
It isn't through to the fabric but close.

Maz supplied it to me and I don't really want to mither him really, he nearly has less hair than me!!

I have mailed Fools uk (Buells uk) with suitable demands, cucking funts!

Nate.

Ooh, matron!

Never mind the matron I'll strangle the bastids with it if I get half a chance!

N.

They do not keep much of anything in stock because it costs them money and not because people do not need the stuff. It is not just HD though. All bike and car dealers are the same today and is the fault of Maggie Thatcher

Maz is about the only one.

Thanks, I thought you were starting to talk sense for for a bit there but you've just reaffirmed my initial perceptions.

HD stock levels are down to Maggie!

_________________
Good in straight lines
2001 X1 "The Tart's Handbag"
2001 FZS1000 "The Fridge"

Not very likely is it

As it goes this is the reason, in part at least, for stock levels in the UK. Tell me if I am wrong.

Maggie brought in a tax on company stock levels, which you do not pay if you keep your stock outside the UK. So they keep stock in places like Holland and ship it in as an order is placed. Also they do not have to spend cash on stock that just sits about on the shelf.

Lots of firms work out of places like Jersey, IE - HMV, for the same reason and VAT as well.

You might be able to get the high turnover bits off the shelf but other stuff will be shipped in.

I wanted a set of Buell ignition leads but they did not hold them in stock. Maz had them though but then again he does not hold the levels of stock to service to whole of HD parts for the UK even at the levels HD do now.

Wanna bet

_________________
Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Not right for me to presume so much .

Most apalogess to you Sir

Do you have any more details on that one?

_________________
Good in straight lines
2001 X1 "The Tart's Handbag"
2001 FZS1000 "The Fridge"

The City culture seeded in the 80's is what's being reaped on us now.

But back to the point - a survey is a great idea - how about an ongoing poll

How many miles did your belt last 1k-5k, 5k-10k etc
Was it running with an FS?
Who fitted it: qualified/unqualified
How soon after fitting an fs did the belt fail

Could even do a gearbox question?

_________________
If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

The belt on my standard 2005 XB12S was looking good at 13000 miles when I sold it. The sprocket was well pitted as the lower belt guard was useless at keeping stones off. Buell appear to have recognised this and fitted a very effective, but ugly, guard to my 2009 SS.

I think we should give Erik some credit for his geometry. The belt would get tighter when the suspension compresses, but at the same time it moves away from the fixed tensioner which creates slack to compensate. That said my new bike (done 900 miles) has a very tight belt and I suspect it is contributing to harsh transmission and the stiff gearchange.
I am not convinced the tension harms the bearings as the load is nothing by comparison with what happens when you open the throttle. But I was going to buy an FS just because of the gearchange - now I'm not so sure.

Buy it 'cos it's blingtastic!

Bungle,

I do not think we can judge the FS tensioner from T965m's unfortunate experience cos his belt looked well past it. Other evidence on belt reliability is mixed and inconclusive. So I am going for it.