I am re gearing the wifes hack using a 139 tooth belt and a 70 tooth softail sprocket. Want to make 5th more usable.
Right now she is running international gearing which uses a 62 tooth rear sprocket and a shorter belt. It's just too tall for her evo.
When it comes to the belt I can go with either a Panther or Gates for $140
from Jireh or a Severe Duty belt from Chicago HD for $190.
I haven't kept up with the evolution of drive belts in motorcycling but I know that industrial belts have improved greatly in the last several years.
That leads me to wonder if I am going to get anything more by spending my money with Harley than I would by buying a Gates of a Panther.
What are your thoughts.
I had no trouble with my stock belt on my 03Ultra&TLE for the first 5 years. Then when I replaced it I went with the HD heavy-duty belt.I still can't feel any difference but it makes me feel better. I always replace any belt after 5 years,no matter what the miles,that's when dry-rot starts just like car tires. My HD dealer says they have bikes come in with 80,000 miles on the belt with no problems, but I kept a original belt on a Tourglide for 8yrs/58,000 and had all the teeth shear off on a trip. So I don't wait that long anymore. Let us know what you decide.That $190 price from Chicago HD is pretty good, Kutter HD in Wisconsin is $240.
Originally written by fastjoe on 2/5/2008 12:21 AM
I am re gearing the wifes hack using a 139 tooth belt and a 70 tooth softail sprocket. Want to make 5th more usable.
Right now she is running international gearing which uses a 62 tooth rear sprocket and a shorter belt. It's just too tall for her evo.....
FastJoe, how many miles are on the belt you have now. We've been putting on the HD heavy duty belt on all bikes we service now for a couple years with or without sidehacks. My opinion if you've got quite a few miles on the belt replace it with the heavy duty model. AND you know now that you've started talking about it something is going to happen. LoL!!!
Also putting an old belt on a new sprockets might be an issue...wear patterns and such. Every time we change out a sprocket or pulley I put on a new belt.
My opinion.!!
o~o
I've gone from a 61 tooth International sprocket to the (earlier) 70 tooth US sprocket for sidehack usage with EVO FXR's. Works great.
Either Gates or other belts are suspect at around 50K with normal usage.
Most failures are from gravel punctures or not replacing the sprockets and belt as a unit (installing a new belt with old sprockets or a used belt with new sprockets).
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
