primary belt

[david lee]

cant remember if i posted this q before..how long would one expect the inch and half primo belt to last..mines been on for around 30 yrs has no cracks and done around 10,000 easy klms if that. thanks

[76shuvlinoff]

Can't tell you how long it would last, lots of variables. At 30 years I'd change it out, save the old one at an emergency spare.

[motorhogman]

After breaking 2 Primo belts in a short time I switched my 73 shovel over to a Karata belt.. That was over 30 years ago.. Sold the bike to a friend (RIP) about 20 years ago and he was hell on wheels with it,  His brother has the bike now and it still has the same Karata belt on it.. He also had a 50 pan chopper with a belt drive with over 30 years of time on it.  Me....I'd change it unless all you do is short rides.. As said.. save it for a spare.

[david lee]

around 5 yrs ago when the clutch hub was changed i said to my hd mech check the belt and was told its in exellent condition. thanks

[Hillside Motorcycle]

We used to push over 145 ft/lbs and 170 hp thru Primo belts on our AHDRA Mod bike.

[Buglet]

   Is that with an inch and half belt?

[JW113]

In first gear, the rear belt sees 3x as much torque as the primary belt does. Is anybody worried that the rear belt is only 1-1/2 or even 1-1/8? Anybody other than the drag race dudes.

-JW

[david lee]

yrs ago a mate had his rear belt break on his 93 fxr in the middle of no where. luck he was in a group who organised a pick up and spend 1hr on the side of the road

[JW113]

The only time I recall seeing a rear belt break was due to a rock getting in it. Other than that, they seem pretty damn reliable. The one in my '91 had 175,000 miles on it when my brother in law took it 16 years ago, and as far as I know, it's still there.

-JW

[Hossamania]

Had a friend with a shovel, 93" motor, broke 1.5" primary belts on a regular basis. He was the kind of guy that could break a ball bearing in a round room.

[JW113]

And I broke one in my Shovelhead, for no apparent reason. Just taking off nicely from a stoplight, then no power. Pushed it home (a mile & change), removed belt set up, installed chain set up, has been trouble free ever since. All I can say about belt primary, it's not for everyone...

-JW

[david lee]

And I broke one in my Shovelhead, for no apparent reason. Just taking off nicely from a stoplight, then no power. Pushed it home (a mile & change), removed belt set up, installed chain set up, has been trouble free ever since. All I can say about belt primary, it's not for everyone...

-JW

i thought about that at one stage

[kd]

I did the same with my 56 stroker / Primo set-up after breaking one.  I realized it could happen when I was 1,000 miles away and in Canada you didn't just get it overnight from California back then. 

[david lee]

I did the same with my 56 stroker / Primo set-up after breaking one.  I realized it could happen when I was 1,000 miles away and in Canada you didn't just get it overnight from California back then. 

maybe they just dont like horsepower. mines just a cruisin stock shovel

[JW113]

Mine too. Like I said, just pulling away from a stop light...

I would not suggest you replace your belt set up just because of my bad luck. If/when you have your own bad luck, something to think about. What I would be willing to wager almost anything, primary belts break more often than chains. In fact, I have never heard of a primary chain breaking. Except for Turbo, and that was because something else broke first as I recall.

-JW

[kd]

Mine too. Like I said, just pulling away from a stop light...

I would not suggest you replace your belt set up just because of my bad luck. If/when you have your own bad luck, something to think about. What I would be willing to wager almost anything, primary belts break more often than chains. In fact, I have never heard of a primary chain breaking. Except for Turbo, and that was because something else broke first as I recall.

-JW

  Actually I broke a chain on that same bike too.  I was hundreds of miles from home passing a car on a highway in farm country.  It piled up in the back of the primary and locked the rear wheel just as I was at the car's front bumper but not in front of it.    I did a controlled skid off into a field.The difference was that I was able to get a length of double row 60 and a master link at a farm supply and get back in gear in a couple of hours.  I was glad I turfed the belt that day.

[JW113]

OK, so you're number two for me, but you have to admit, a broken primary chain is a rare event on a Harley-Davidson. Belts, not so much. What do you suppose inspired the chain to break?

-JW

[bump]

I run a 1 1/2"  132 tooth belt in enclosed primary, have done so for 40 years. I have broke belt doing burnout and just pulling away from stop. Broke maybe 4 or 5 belts over the years. The last one was about 10 years ago and I knew it was getting bad. It is not as hard to install new belt as it is to install new chain.

[kd]

OK, so you're number two for me, but you have to admit, a broken primary chain is a rare event on a Harley-Davidson. Belts, not so much. What do you suppose inspired the chain to break?

-JW

Ohhh, nuthin.    I found a weak link?   Seriously, I did daily burnouts and wheelies on a sticky 15" radial car tire and it had been a while since the primary was off for inspection.   

[JW113]

It is not as hard to install new belt as it is to install new chain.

No argument. But of the two, which one is more likely to never need to be installed? I really, really hate getting stranded. And in the last 40 years and many bikes, the one time a primary drive stranded me was a belt. Well, not stranded, I was close enough to push the bike back home. Not that that wasn't a little bit embarrassing. Fool me twice...

Like I said, belt primary ain't for everybody. If you're having good luck with them, that's fantastic.

-JW

[Trouble]

Alignment of motor and tranny first. Then I found running one tooth looser than instructions called for stopped belts from breaking. Open primary 1 1/2" 11mm Primo belt with sealed bearing roller adjuster. Setup 24 years old now, don't use it much anymore, but broke the Ton with a Ducati rider last week. no problems. Lost my license plate.

[david lee]

It is not as hard to install new belt as it is to install new chain.

No argument. But of the two, which one is more likely to never need to be installed? I really, really hate getting stranded. And in the last 40 years and many bikes, the one time a primary drive stranded me was a belt. Well, not stranded, I was close enough to push the bike back home. Not that that wasn't a little bit embarrassing. Fool me twice...

Like I said, belt primary ain't for everybody. If you're having good luck with them, that's fantastic.

-JW

could be why they invented mobile phones

[kd]

It must be nice to have total cell tower coverage wherever you are.

[crock]

It must be nice to have total cell tower coverage wherever you are.

Not to Hi Jack the thread but 20 years ago I had a sat phone that looked like the early bag phones. Fit in a saddle bag nicely Calls cost a dollar a minute. Pricey but had service ANYWHERE I went. Cell phones became popular and I quit using it. Don't know what ever happened to it

[76shuvlinoff]

 I always thought oil was bad for belts.... and my shovel has rarely been drip free.