Drive Belt Broke - Harley Forum

admin · #1 05-25-2007, 11:47 PM

Went for a ride last week on the Electra Glide. Stopped for a while. Started the bike up, put it in first gear and the belt broke. A nice clean break just like you cut it with a nice sharp knife. Belt tension and deflection had just been checked and was good. Only 20 k on the belt. No signs of wear anywhere at all on the belt. Got a new one and the old one looks just as good as the new one except where it tore! Anyone ever seen this before? Anyway, I'm in the process of taking it all apart to install a new belt. It gives me something to do while the weather is still crappy. Ride safe.

Posted by: clif02 on Mar 4, 07 10:09:08 pm

admin · #2 05-25-2007, 11:48 PM

I had the same thing happen on a 01 Road King. I don't remember what the milage was exactly when it happened but it was still under the warranty period which was only 1 year back them so I know it was under 10k. It was the weirdest feeling putting the bike in gear and watching the speedometer move but the bike didn't! The dealer told me that there was a couple of other 01 bikes that it happened to also. Musta been a bad batch of belts or something along those lines.

Posted by: FLHX on Mar 5, 07 1:57:16 am

admin · #3 05-25-2007, 11:48 PM

i have an 01 electra glide that the belt broke at around 12000 miles. i dumped the cluch in first when it did. it looked like a clean break but a harley mech. said i had probally punched a hole in it with a gravel. maybe, the summer before while riding the natchez trace we ended up riding about 10 miles on gravel where they were redoing the roadbed.
anyway good luck, i changed my belt out and it was a pretty good job. it made me wish for the old days and chains....

Posted by: wsg on Mar 6, 07 8:11:12 pm

admin · #4 05-25-2007, 11:49 PM

My Glide is an 01 as well. I'm waiting for the primary drive lock tool to come in and I'll finish. I have it torn down to that point. I agree about wishing for a chain. Or to have my Sporty back and have it break on that as there is much less to remove on that bike. I'm taking my time and going step by step as the service manual depicts. I hope to have it up and running again by this weekend. Ride safe. Clif

Posted by: clif02 on Mar 6, 07 8:51:53 pm

admin · #5 05-25-2007, 11:49 PM

Man, what is happening with these belts? I've had 2 on my '94 ultra, and changed both of them bcuz gravel punctured the belt. I probably didn't need to, but if I hadn't, well, you know what would have happened. Got my cam and gaskets today, so I won't be far behind y'all. I hope.

Posted by: 94flhtcu on Mar 6, 07 10:29:23 pm

admin · #6 05-25-2007, 11:50 PM

I dunno what is going on with them, but if it happens again I'll start looking for a chain conversion kit! You need to change them if they are punctured so you did a good thing there. Otherwise you could have been stranded in a cold rain like I was. Good luck on your cam install. Ride safe. Clif

Posted by: clif02 on Mar 7, 07 1:33:56 pm

#7 07-10-2007, 11:31 PM

Had a 01 sporty with the same problem it only had 8000 miles on it. I was told the same thing about the gravel.

duhowell · #8 08-03-2007, 02:07 AM

Only 500 miles on my 1200 XL and my belt broke, nice clean cut

Mike05 · #9 08-05-2007, 11:57 PM

Now I'm gettin' worried. I've got 19,850 on my 05 Heritage. I guess I'd better be checkin' into a new belt.

#10 08-06-2007, 08:36 PM

Mike05. Do not run out and buy a new belt. Those that break clean have either been cut or a defect from the factory. You have 19,000 on your ride. If it was defective it more then likley would have failed prior. I would just do the normal check for cracks/shredding and proper tension. I have known a knuckle head that put on a new rear tire himself. Tire was not lined up and belt tension was too tight. He did it to himself. I believe them belts are good for about 50,000.