Belt Blew on #434......

[John Ritter]

Hello all,
Sunday on my way home from Northern MN, I was accelerating on an on-ramp, rolling thought the gears, when I thought #434 did a traditional "miss" of a gear. When it revved, I pulled the clutch and tap it again, and still revving.
Turns out I blew the belt. I just had it in for dealer maintenance 3500 miles ago and they said the belt looked great.
I found the belt, and it was ripped across the belt, not with, with no fraying on the sides. The edges of the actual cut were frayed. The cut was between two cogs on the belt.
I have done very few burn-outs with the bike, with none being done this year. (none of which were break stands)
I do not pull a trailer.
I ride solo and am about 175 lbs.
I usually shift between 3 1/4 to 4 1/2.
I have 14k on my bike and have at least 4k more miles left on the original rear tire....so I really don't abuse it...
I would expect to get at least 30k out of a belt, or at least more than the set of original tires.
Is this typical?
If so, do they make a heavier duty belt?
Also, I had to pay the towing, as the belt is not a waranteed part, so they will not cover it. The bill was 100 bones for 3 miles to a friends house....

Thanks!
-Ritt w/o #434 and going thru withdrawal...

[Swiffer]

It sounds like you may have picked something up, had it wedge in the front or rear pulley and this caused the belt to be cut in the middle. I don't think 30,000 is too much to ask, but I wouldn't ask much more than that...at least on the '99's. Be sure you check both pulleys REAL good for anything abbynormal that may have damaged the belt. You don't want to put a new belt on only to have one of the pulleys eat it up again. If a rock or some other "foreign object" got sucked in to a pulley, it could do just what happened to you, AND damage the pulley as well. Good luck, hope you're up and riding again soon!

Steve:bounce:

[quickvictory]

I blew my first belt at 18,000 but it was due to "excessive driver input"! :D Had 25,000 on the second belt when the cogs stripped while cruising down interstate. The 99's do have a shorter life than the others. 2000 and newer have a different style belt and sprockets.

Randy

[Sparky_Bill]

Originally posted by quickvictory
The 99's do have a shorter life than the others. 2000 and newer have a different style belt and sprockets.

Randy

True but they also cost more. $130 compared to $200. Those figures are close but not right on.

[Choirguy]

John,

A ton of things to say.

1) If your bike breaks down, do some checking. I'd be willing to bet that there were some other options for towing the bike...Warners? Or how about myself? I just bought a trailer for said purpose. I would have been happy to help you out, if I had time (and I have had time the last few days).

2) You've got the old belt. The new belt, which does cost more, and you do need to change the sprockets, is much longer lasting and reliable.

3) You broke the belt in a way that does not indicate abuse. It may be covered underwarranty for that reason. With 14K, I'd talk to Dean at Warner's and see what he says. He did have someone come in with a broken belt that had split the OTHER way (along the belt), which is the result of improper driving techniques. They were unable to help that guy.

4) Probably another case of the idea that if you buy your bike where you get the service done, some special instances can be worked out.

5) Where do you have the bike in for service?

[framy]

Just one more recommendation, if either of your pulley's, most likely the back one, are bad and need replacement, it might be a better deal in the long run for you to go to the newer belt and pulleys- but expect to pay around 7-800 or so. I have 25,000 on the original belt, and with luck hope to make it thru this year without replacing it. However I am on my third back tire, probably caused by heavier weight and riding double most of the time. Have only been able to get around 10-11,000 out of the back tire. Best of luck Jim

[BATMAN]

I was a bit worried about my belt at just under 20,000 miles when I changed the tires, so I went ahead and changed it. It looked good on the bike, but after it was off, Tom from Warners showed me some cracking in it. Glad I decided to swap it.