Posted by Hogryder on April 27, 2002 at 18:49:33:
In Reply to: Belt drive snapped...! posted by Jaz on April 26, 2002 at 10:55:05:
The belt should last longer than that. Your's is the first belt I've heard of that snapped like that. I've heard of belts being cut, cracking from age (over 10 years) and exposure to salt (the owner replaced the belt as a precaution), etc. but never just snapping. I know one guy who went over 100,000 miles on the original belt (on a HD, not a Savage) before replacing it. It didn't break, he just wanted to be safe.
Did you save the belt? I would check it for manufacturing flaws (unlikely since it lasted 30,000 miles) or signs it was damaged by rocks or someone's pocketknife.
The worst thing you can do to a drive belt is to run it too tight. That can cause the surface to crack and expose the interior to weathering. Not to mention it's hell on wheel bearings. Most dealers (even HD dealers) set the belt way too tight when they change a tire or do the periodic maintenance. The "tensioning tool" in the tool box is also no good. As long as the belt doesn't slip or skip, it's not too loose. And with a belt, the looser, the better.
Good luck with the new belt.