Snapped Belt.

My Drive Belt snapped again, second time in two years ! The first was just after I baught the bike and I figured it was because the bike was very low miles and it had obviously been stood a long time, I thought the belt had become brittle some how or developed a tight spot. New Belt, Bowker Harley £190. This time I had a tyre repair, I had to send off for a Valve for it and the bike was stood over the Christmas period without a rear wheel on, in this down time I used the opportunity to replace the bearings on the tensioner wheel. Now when I put the belt back on the wheel ( and yes I tightened the axle bolt, backed it off two turns then re tightened to 50"1bs only ) there was a stretching sound as I turned the wheel. I thought it may have been because the belt hadn't had any tension on it for a couple of weeks and the slight extra tension of the new baerings may have caused this. I thought it would settle down. Wrong !
So Guys any ideas ? What am I doing wrong? Can you adjust the tension on the belt in any way? Some one said that you get 30,000 out of a belt, this one has done three. Is there a special tougher belt you can buy? and the best place to get one please?
Cheers Des.

Is it possible that you twisted the belt slightly and hung it from the rear footpeg while the wheel was out? It's quite a common cause of breakages when tyres are fitted.

In my experience you would be lucky to get 30,000 miles out of a belt on a Ulysses. On my 06 model the first went at 20k and the next at 30 k. On my 10 model the first went at 16.5k. A lot of well prepared people here carry spare belts and all the tools on touring trips, it's a fairly quick job and I find a belt to be infinitely preferrable to chain and sprockets.

Steve

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Back on the road again!

Free Spirit tensioners were the way to go, I guess they still are, don't know how much difference they actually make

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Wear the fox hat

Any pics of the failure? Stone damage? Are the teeth on the pulley damaged?

How long did it last? Try taking it back to the dealer. It should have lasted longer than that assuming no damage from foreign objects (like Pan du Chocolat, Chorizo and Willywurst ).

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08 Specialized Langster

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IF IT BLEEDS WE CAN KILL IT ,THIS STUFF WILL MAKE YOU A GODDAM SEXUAL TYRANASURUS ,YOUVE BEEN PUSHING TOO MANY PENCILS DILLON .GET TO THE CHOPPER

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Feros Ferio

Thank's for the info lads, very helpfull, I've put a couple of pic's of the belt up and no don't think there was any stone damage, I still have all the gards fitted. Thinking back the only thing that comes to mind is that the bike blew over ( in those high winde we had ) off the stand. This must've damaged the belt some how, it looked ok but you never know.

Des.

I would take it back. Seriously.

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08 Specialized Langster

as Nick said worth a try ,good luck

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Feros Ferio

the teeth along one side look battered on the edge, is the belt misaligned?
I would be tempted when fitting new belt to get advice from an expert Buell mechanic.
This of course depends where you live.

I would say the same. I would look at that and get a Freespirits tensioner.

My assumption was that the damage was caused after the break. After all, it only affects half a dozen teeth...

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08 Specialized Langster

There does appear to be a scuff on the edge opposite the damaged teeth, is this normal?

"damage was caused after the break" or before it snapped?

Thanks for the input fellas, I rang Bowker HD, the Guy b told me that they only do one year warranty on counter sales. ( I've had it two years, almost to the day ) I've had a close look and as a few of you say there is some damage to a few teeth near the break, the belt was run over a few times though while it was in the rd.

Where is the best place to get a new belt please?
Des.

Try Riders of Bristol, very good service , mention ukbeg for discount.Tel 0117 958 8777.Or try Maz at the Emporium but he does not do mail order so you would have to rely on beggar post. Tel0161 637 1211.