A friend just bought a 1980 sporster with a belt drive primary. It's had 2 belts put in it and the last one just gave out. He said when he pulled the cover the belt was almost like goo. Who vever installed the belt has it running in oil, is the correct ? I believe he said it was a Katana belt drive ? I can't believe a belt would run in an oil bath. Anyone have any insight with this ? I told him to locate stock parts with the chain and never look back, but he's ready to order another belt and give it another try.

 

Two more questions. Can the primary on this bike be run dry ? And is the trans oil and primary oil shared in these bikes.

 

I know virtually nothing about Sportsters but can assure you belts must be run DRY.

 

Sportsters as big twins used to have a dry clutch. Don't remember the dates for Sportsters but it seems the big twins went with a wet clutch around 84 or 86.