Good evening everyone,

I'm building a mild custom from a basket case (first build, having a ton-'o-fun).

Among other things I'm doing to make it "mine", I'm currently toying with the idea of converting to an enclosed belt primary (BDL, Primo or Karata) with the chain final. As I am shopping on this wonderful internet, I am getting a little confused as to what will actually fit my beast. It seems that most are listed for L78-84 BT four speed. Does anyone out there know if the primary and trans mounting provisions are the same for the stock five-speed that I am keeping? My manual doesn't even touch on any differences between the four speed and five as far as the primary is concerned.

Thanks,
John

 

jwcholland,
If you decide to go with a belt drive, be sure to vent your primary to get air flow around the belt drive. Totally enclosing it will build up heat in there and kill it. I hope you have more luck with a belt drive than I did. I'm sticking with a chain drive primary from here on out.
Sorry I can't help you with the 5 speed question.

 

Megawatt,

Thanks for the response - I was planning on making a mesh derby cover and inspection cover. I certainly don't want to replace belts any more frequently than necessary. I was reading the post before mine where the guy only got a couple hundred miles on a new belt - not the situation I want to be in. I'm building on a budget, and that seems like it would be a budget killer....

 

I don't think they make one for the FLT/FXR primary.
Personally I wouldn't want one,I'd go just the opposite with a primary chain and a belt drive final like a modern bike.

 

Y2K - thanks for the reply - I had already decided to stay with the chain final, as I have all new gears and o-ring chain, plus I want to go a little wider on the rear tire without changing the swing arm. I'm down to the primary and thought that it might be cool to have the belt drive so I don't have to worry about sealing the primary or coming up with a chain oiler.

 

Look in the Jireh cat P/N 58-342 It's a BDL set up for 79 thru 83 5 speed (shovel) You might have to grind some of the alum at the bottom inner prim sections to clear the belt I always vented the primary by spacing the derby/inspection covers with 1/4 in spacers behind their respective covers Good luck Jireh phone no. 877-681-0448

 

Thanks for the reply George. I'll look into it, maybe call them and see what they say about it.