Belt Drive

[blowndodge]

I have a question for you 1700 belt drive boys.

It you throw a belt or break it what would you have to dismantle to put a new one on?

I'm thinking pulling the shock and dropping the swing arm if the front pulley is in line with it. ::)

[Jared]

If it would have happened on my old VN 900 all you would have to do is remove the rear tire, which has the rear pulley on it and remove a small engine cover, under the left side cover, which give you access to the front pulley.

[Sin City Stan]

Drop the tire. Or just call Triple A. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[glwilson]

...and you're asking for what reason ???

[gv550]

I've replaced mine twice.
The rear wheel does not need to be removed.
The axle does not need to be removed but needs to be loose for adjustment. The swingarm does not need to be removed but the pivot shaft does need to be pulled to allow the swingarm to slide rearward enough to slide the belt past. The rear caliper has to come off (or the hose disconnected) and the ABS sensor to allow the swingarm to move back. The complete exhaust system has to come off to get to the swingarm pivot nut.
The left shock needs to come off.
The clutch slave cylinder needs to be removed, then the front pulley cover, and the front pulley (requires an impact wrench and special holder tool) because the pulley has a flange that is too close to the transmission housing to get the belt on.
The whole job takes about an hour with proper tools.

Garry

[drno]

U have a 1700 and have replaced your belt twice ?

[gv550]

Yes.

[markclark57]

Gary,
Just curious, what caused your belt failure?

[gv550]

The first belt was replaced at 45,000 kms, due to noise and wear on the side of the belt and pulley flanges. I made my own motor mounts to align the engine pulley to the rear pulley so the belt now runs in the center of both pulleys and there has been no more noise or wear.
The second belt was replaced at 110,000 due to a stone puncturing an 18mm hole in the 28mm wide belt. I actually rode it 10k with the hole in the belt while waiting for a new one on backorder. The stock belt guard leaves a section of belt exposed beside the rear tire and a stone can easily get lodged in there. I added a section of plastic to extend my belt guard and have had no more problems with stone damage.
140,000 on the bike now.

Garry

[drno]

WOW 140,000 on a bike design thats only been out for just barely two years !
You are a biking GOD !

[glwilson]

That is clearly more riding than any one I have ever known. Geez... I am jealous. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[blowndodge]

140K kilometers is roughly 90K miles.... Still amazing...

[Dave]

He must know Marty.

[glwilson]

Good point BD... but still... 90k in couple years?

That type of mileage is usually done by local/regional truck drivers driving a 40 hour week.

For one year that would be an average of 123 miles per day for 365 days straight. This was done over a two-year period. Even if the bike was 2 1/2 years old, that is still a lot of miles.

Not sure where or how he is riding that much, unless he is paid to ride every day... or is retired and just simply rides that much.

If the later... I am still jealous. ;)

Would like to know the area he lives in. I may want to move there.

[gv550]

I live in Ontario, Canada.
I bought the Voyager in May, '09 and traded in our '05 Nomad with 239k on it at the time. The Nomad was resold and is still touring across Canada, likely has close to 300k on it now.
I also have a Kawasaki Drifter, 210k on it.
Before switching to Kawasaki bikes in 2002, I rode BMWs for 600,000 kms.
Nobody pays me to ride.
I don't know Marty.

Garry

[glwilson]

That's cool. I remain jealous!! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[drno]

Well, im pretty happy the bike is working good that long. I have hope for the future!

[Dave]

Marty's a guy Brad and I met down here. He rides around 50,000 miles a year.

[Dave]

.... stone puncturing an 18mm hole in the 28mm wide belt. I actually rode it 10k with the hole in the belt while waiting for a new one on backorder.


That really says a lot about the technology and advancement they've made in belts, including the serpentine belts in cars now days.

[markclark57]

I'm with the jealous ones. Most of my riding happens to and from work, about 50 miles a day. Crescent City will be my longest ride since the 1970's.