BUMP IN DRIVE BELT

[tmcquain]

Ok, so we're on a short ride yesterday, stop to stretch for a minute, while standing at the back of the bike I see a bump in the middle of my drive belt. I think oh crap I have a rock under the belt. So my friends and I roll it forward to get the rock out, and there is no rock. Just a bump in the belt. I wish I had taken a picture, but it reminded me of like a steel belt breaking in a tire and causing a blister or knot. Has anyone experienced this ? I will take it to the shop Wednesday and have them check it out, but I was just wondering if I was the only one ?

[4 MARIE]

the plys of your belt are separating, or delaminating if you want to think of it that way.

if the blister or bump looks like trouble, it probably is. Besides tension, visual is "what you got" with these belts.

[Bob Denman]

I'm sorry to hear of your belt problem. It sure sounds as if a replacement will be needed.
How many miles do you have on your bike?


Please try to get us a picture of this...

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Ok, so we're on a short ride yesterday, stop to stretch for a minute, while standing at the back of the bike I see a bump in the middle of my drive belt. I think oh crap I have a rock under the belt. So my friends and I roll it forward to get the rock out, and there is no rock. Just a bump in the belt. I wish I had taken a picture, but it reminded me of like a steel belt breaking in a tire and causing a blister or knot. Has anyone experienced this ? I will take it to the shop Wednesday and have them check it out, but I was just wondering if I was the only one ?

#1. I'm betting the dealer will tell you replace replace replace only $350+....... ...#2. but first , look inside , are teeth missing ????....because it they aren't tell them the belt is defective and they should replace under warranty !!!!!! #3. buy a belt ( on-line ) and have it ready, the one you have may never break .... jmho..... Mike

[tmcquain]

A little over 5000 miles. If I got one, there is no way I could put it on, I would have to get the dealer to. Most want to sell you the part, correct ?

[Chupaca]

something may have penetrated the belt but not enough to go through. If so your still good to ryde but the chances of it giving you a problem do increase a lot. Best would be to replace it. As Mike (BLUEKNIGHT911) mentioned you can get good deals online and other parts sellers like cheapcycleparts.com and save some bucks. This way you will only have to deal with the shop labor...

[SpyderAnn01]

If you do decide to have it replaced you can always ask your dealer to match the price from cheapcycleparts. They sell the belt for $309.99 with free shipping. Sales tax may still make it cheaper to purchase online though. Doesn't cost anything to ask for a discount.

On my 2010 RT I rode from Michigan to Nevada spitting teeth from the belt. I knew something was wrong but I didn't say anything, the belt finally broke and it was replaced under warranty. There was no sign of rock damage on it.

Last week we replaced the belt on my friend's F3 Ltd, she had caught a rock or something in it and had ridden with the belt like that from WI to NV. Who knows when it would have broken it could have been on the next ride or next year. 2016-12-14_09-07-26_009.jpg

[ARtraveler]

Belts go in the $280 - $350 range. Install adds another $150 or so. A replacement belt--if done by your shop--will run around $500 not counting the tow fee if any.

Belts are supposed to last 75,000 miles. If you ride through rocky anything, that can come to an end quickly. Rocks were my downfall both times. First time--we just had to go down a country road to explore a campsite--spouse picked up a rock--which led to replacement. Second time--right in my driveway. Wanted to get the out to early. Became stuck in the gravel. When I gunned it--it ate rocks and snapped the belt in half.

Costs can be scary. Most of us are also members of the $350 oil change club too.

[JayBros]

With only 5K miles on it that belt should be covered under warranty if there are no signs of rock damage anywhere on rest of belt. If there are signs of rock damage dealer might squawk but push the issue.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

If you do decide to have it replaced you can always ask your dealer to match the price from cheapcycleparts. They sell the belt for $309.99 with free shipping. Sales tax may still make it cheaper to purchase online though. Doesn't cost anything to ask for a discount.

On my 2010 RT I rode from Michigan to Nevada spitting teeth from the belt. I knew something was wrong but I didn't say anything, the belt finally broke and it was replaced under warranty. There was no sign of rock damage on it.

Last week we replaced the belt on my friend's F3 Ltd, she had caught a rock or something in it and had ridden with the belt like that from WI to NV. Who knows when it would have broken it could have been on the next ride or next year. 2016-12-14_09-07-26_009.jpg

If that had been mine I would probably cut the little projection off and continue running it. The reinforcing fiber is a continuous spiral and I'm sure the belts are well over sized so the there wouldn't have been much reduction in total strength. Kind of like the belt type tracks on tractors. A rebuilder of them told us in a Lion's lunch presentation that they will retread a belt with breaks at the edge, but not in the middle. They'll retread a track with up to about a 20% reduction in width from breaks. I know a tractor track ain't the same as a Spyder drive belt, but the principle is the same.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Belts go in the $280 - $350 range. Install adds another $150 or so. A replacement belt--if done by your shop--will run around $500 not counting the tow fee if any.

Belts are supposed to last 75,000 miles. If you ride through rocky anything, that can come to an end quickly. Rocks were my downfall both times. First time--we just had to go down a country road to explore a campsite--spouse picked up a rock--which led to replacement. Second time--right in my driveway. Wanted to get the out to early. Became stuck in the gravel. When I gunned it--it ate rocks and snapped the belt in half.

Costs can be scary. Most of us are also members of the $350 oil change club too.

Last I heard from Spyderjockey who has 125,000 + miles ..... He is on the orig. belt now ..... I think if the tension is kept on the low side 250,000 is reasonable ....Kevlar is very tuff stuff...jmho.....Mike

[acpd22]

Could it have gotten bitten by a mosquito? Lol!

[Buckeye Chuck 54]

Ok, so we're on a short ride yesterday, stop to stretch for a minute, while standing at the back of the bike I see a bump in the middle of my drive belt. I think oh crap I have a rock under the belt. So my friends and I roll it forward to get the rock out, and there is no rock. Just a bump in the belt. I wish I had taken a picture, but it reminded me of like a steel belt breaking in a tire and causing a blister or knot. Has anyone experienced this ? I will take it to the shop Wednesday and have them check it out, but I was just wondering if I was the only one ?

I had a bump in my belt too. I though it was a stone so I took
to it have the dealer check it out. MY 2014 RT-s had 16,000 miles
on it at the time. I was told to replace it but decided to see if it got
any worse. My RT now has over 100,000 miles on it and it doesn't
look any different. It's up to you to do what you want, a new belt
is over $300.
Chuck

[Windagetray]

If the stone is not big enough, it could be captured by the belt fibers and not push all the way through. You can't see it from the "inside" of the belt (teeth side) because the belt tries to "heal" itself and fills in right around the stone. Running with the stone in it makes the stone smooth on the inside and it looks just like the belt especially after picking up rubber off the sprockets. If it is too small that it did not puncture the outside of the belt AND if it is not within about 1/8" of the belt's edge, I'm sorry to say that it should only last about 80,000 + more miles!! Got a stone in mine right now. Keep an eye on it and ride on. IF you decide to change the belt, make sure you install the "missing belt guard" at the SAME TIME!

[SpyderAnn01]

If that had been mine I would probably cut the little projection off and continue running it. The reinforcing fiber is a continuous spiral and I'm sure the belts are well over sized so the there wouldn't have been much reduction in total strength. Kind of like the belt type tracks on tractors. A rebuilder of them told us in a Lion's lunch presentation that they will retread a belt with breaks at the edge, but not in the middle. They'll retread a track with up to about a 20% reduction in width from breaks. I know a tractor track ain't the same as a Spyder drive belt, but the principle is the same.

I would have done the same as you Mac but her husband wanted it replaced.

[cyclekid58]

If you do decide to have it replaced you can always ask your dealer to match the price from cheapcycleparts. They sell the belt for $309.99 with free shipping. Sales tax may still make it cheaper to purchase online though. Doesn't cost anything to ask for a discount.

On my 2010 RT I rode from Michigan to Nevada spitting teeth from the belt. I knew something was wrong but I didn't say anything, the belt finally broke and it was replaced under warranty. There was no sign of rock damage on it.

Last week we replaced the belt on my friend's F3 Ltd, she had caught a rock or something in it and had ridden with the belt like that from WI to NV. Who knows when it would have broken it could have been on the next ride or next year. 2016-12-14_09-07-26_009.jpg

Dealer here will not replace anything with aftermarket period, it has to be bought through them nothing can be brought in from outside. They will also not install any farkles, tires other than Kenda bought from them, makes buying a bike from them hard.

[pegasus1300]

And what is the name of this paragon of virtue? I do a lot of riding in Idaho and would not want to get stuck near this dealership.

[Windagetray]

...in the Hanover, PA area either! Wanted a fortune to even BALANCE a rear wheel with a tire they didn't install. Told them no thanks... Ride-On was cheaper, works better, and provides a little extra insurance. Other than a decent price on the new machine I'm not even a little bit happy with them.

And what is the name of this paragon of virtue? I do a lot of riding in Idaho and would not want to get stuck near this dealership.