Chain vs Belt Primary

[47knuck]

Can some explain to me why people switch from a factory designed chain to an aftermarket belt primary?

I know there is less lubrication and adjustment issues to deal with, but the factory guys knew that when they designed the belt system.

[frisco-rigid]

Hi 47

I installed my first belt in 1978 and never looked back..

You mentioned the biggest reasons,, NO maintenance..

No mess, no adjustment, less noise and vibration..

Since then I've developed a method to change gear ratios in mere moments by using a belt idler and inter-changeable motor and clutch-shell pulleys..
Try that in moments with a chain..
I run 1.5" 8mm belt systems..

Since then I've broken only 3 belts doing literally countless hole-shots..
In minutes I can slip a spare belt (always carried) in place and I'm gone baby..

Hey Frisco, I've thought about going to a belt drive on my Electra Glide but have had a difficult time finding one for a bagger. Maybe I just ain't lookin hard enough or in the right places. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks, Clif

[frisco-rigid]

Hi Clif

Gee, for as long as you've been a member, how come it says "guest" under your name..?

What is it about Baggers that made it diff for you to find a belt drive, I've never heard that..

All I have are my catalogs to look in..
I have Drag, Jireh, CC, Dennis Kirk, J&P, etc etc..

What year and model is yours, heck, I'll give it a look bud..

Frisco,
When they did the update switch I guess I missed out, then I tried to re-register which didn't work, and the I notified admin which didn't work. So I'm a guest It don't matter too much as it is still a great place to visit, listen and learn. I like the idea of a belt drive for all the obvious reasons you stated. The belt drives I've looked at in JP/or online catalogs all seem to be geared for thee older type bikes ot softtails...or maybe I'm blind!!! My bike is a 2001 FLHTC, carb fed. Thanks my man. Clif

[frisco-rigid]

Hey Clif

I found a couple units in Jireh Cycles..

One fits 94-present Softtails and Dynas..

The other fits 94-present Fxr and Flt..

Both BDL Beltdrives-- $460, 1.750" belt and bolt-on replacement..

I simply do not try to keep up on all the diff Alphabet soup designations of these sickles so I am not sure which one of these, if either, will bolt-on to your 01 FLHTC..
Can you tell me which models your sickle can inter-change with.? Hellooo,, anyone else.???

I'll look some more cuz now I'm curious..

Thanks Frisco. As I'm sure you're aware, an FLHTC is an Electra Glide Classic. I would imagine andything reflecting FLT would fit. I'll call and make sure as most of the reps know thier stuff pretty well. At least that has been my experience. SteelRider, I'm positive you have to change out the clutch pack and most full kits include them I think. Not sure about rotor/stator issues. Gonna have to do more research and get more info from ya'll smart guys. I got a great 180 miles down today. Be safe and THANK YOU! Clif

[milindh]

I have a 3" BDL open primary on my FXR4. It had been installed by the guy I bought the bike from. I've been riding the bike for eight months now and I'll give my opinions on this particular set up.

As far as dependability goes this bike has run this setup for over 20k. It has a nice smooth and positive clutch and when you pull the lever in there is no drag at all so I can only say positive things about its operation. No downside at all that I can see.

There are two big gripes I have with this particular setup, however, and I don't know if they would be the same if you ran a 1 3/4" belt like Frisco. I think his setup is more of a semi-enclosed deal using mostly stock primary covers that have been modified a bit to let cooling air into the belt area.

First, when you pull in the clutch it makes fairly loud ding-a-lingy racket which is, I believe, coming from the exposed dry clutch plates. With a chain primary they're normally enclosed and running in a wet oil bath which quiets them down almost completely. It drives me nuts if I'm not wearing my ear plugs and it's a bit embarrassing too cuz it makes your bike sound like there is something wrong with it when you're stopped with the cluch plulled in. BDL says this noise is "normal".

Second, on my FXR you are forced to run forward mounted foot controls. I'd prefer to run mid controls, especially FXRP controls, for better cornering clearance. On fast right hand turns I've dug in the forward foot brake control so hard that I thought I was going to lose it. Like I said, I don't know if the foot control thing would be a problem with a semi enclosed system like I think Frisco has. I'm thinking you could probably run mid controls with the narrower system. Frisco would know better than I would.

At this point I'm thinking about trying to raise and bring in the foot controls and just live with the noise. It would cost a bundle to convert it all back to an enclosed system or even a semi enclosed system.

[frisco-rigid]

Hi Steel
Since there are no cooling processes to cool the fluid in an enclosed wet system the heat just remains in there,, thus I bet the rotor and stator are hotter than in a open belt drive.. Never measured it though..

I run old style 4-spd 1.5" 8mm belt set-up that simply uses stock or any 4-spd clutches.. Clif is correct about most new set-ups coming with their own clutches which makes them virtually bolt-on..
Hmmm, trying to remember back to my Pans and their chain primaries (mid 70's) to remember a lag upon clutch release, don't remember any..
However, most chain set-ups like yours run a compensator sprocket while all belts that I'm familiar with do not.. That could be the crispness you speak of..

Heat and oil are the enemies of a belt.. All catalogs, dealers, manufacturers highly recommend ample cooling.. I always suggest purchasing a second after-market primary to modify alot,, for waay ample cooling.. For example, I remove the derby then cut-away the entire front half the the outer primary.. Never built an electric start so don't know about any probs..

Ha, yup Milndh,, I get approached at least once a week about some noisy broken thing in my sickle.. I simply explain that I run old-style clutches with no cover or oil to dampen the noise and that if it wasn't making that noise there would something drastically wrong.. My buds always know when I'm pulling in..!

Didn't your FXR originally run mid-controls,, do you still have the OEM inner.?
If yes, I would guess there are extensions for use with a 3" belt no????
If not,, maybe you can install a mid-control inner and go from there..
I always run floor boards so I can only guess about that..

[milindh]

Hey Frisco

No I don't have the original inner primary cover. The BDL setup has its own proprietary inner cover. The other drag about the left side is that even if you rig some extended peg mounts your foot would be right next to all that spinning and whirling stuff unless you had a fully protecting belt guard which would reduce ground clearance even more. A new HD inner primary cover runs $540 from the dealer. I haven't been able to find any used ones although I believe FLT units are the same. I figure total cost to convert back would be around $1800 for parts only while I could sell m old BDL system for something to offset that but, at this point anyway, I won't go that route.

The right side peg/foot control stuff is even worse to deal with although I'm pretty sure I could, with the help of a really sharp metal fabricator I know, make something workable. Still...a big deal and probably a lot easier to just bite the bullet and convert back to the old enclosed system.

I really do like the way the open system performs. It has so little drag it makes shifting really nice. I'm working up a little plan these days to address the cornering clearance problem while still keeping the forward pegs and BDL primary. My plan will have to address pipe clearance too with some custom offset mounting brackets and pipe "S" bends for the mufflers.

You know I just wanna ride the bike and have some fun in the twisties without dragging stuff all the time. I think I could stun some crotch rockets if I had the clearance. Actually, as I'm writing this I'm thinking to myself, "You must be nuts......!"

Oh well.