Chain drive vs. Belt drive
#51
12-26-2016, 05:07 PM
Club Member
" Chains are just SO last century and well worth leaving there. They have little merit on a modern vehicle....."
*
Comments along those lines never impress me much. We still like WHEELS and they are so prehistoric. I do wish that the change to belt drive had been accompanied with a modification to the primary case that would allow a belt change on the road. As it is, the chain was replaced with a belt with little additional engineering effort made and a belt change is a major operation. I have thought about a chain until I remember back to a bike I repaired after a chain failure and the chain bound up on the front sprocket and destroyed two gears in the transmission. A broken chain on the road has the possibility of several days in the shop just like a belt replacement does now.
*
Comments along those lines never impress me much. We still like WHEELS and they are so prehistoric. I do wish that the change to belt drive had been accompanied with a modification to the primary case that would allow a belt change on the road. As it is, the chain was replaced with a belt with little additional engineering effort made and a belt change is a major operation. I have thought about a chain until I remember back to a bike I repaired after a chain failure and the chain bound up on the front sprocket and destroyed two gears in the transmission. A broken chain on the road has the possibility of several days in the shop just like a belt replacement does now.
The following users liked this post:
smitty901 (08-20-2020)
#52
12-26-2016, 06:22 PM
Chains offer more ratios than belt drives do. Belts use less HP, especially at higher RPMs. I've seen 300+ horse power nitro dragsters running belts. But he went back to chain for easier changes of sprockets at the track.
Last edited by Goose_NC; 12-26-2016 at 06:23 PM. Reason: spelling...
#54
12-27-2016, 05:06 AM
Club Member
#55
12-27-2016, 01:46 PM
Years ago all of my bikes had chains. When I sold my last bike I said I would never own one with a chain. I used to put a lot of miles on and no mater how wet I kept the chain it would always wear out the sprockets by dishing out the grooves between the teeth then stretch. Rear sprocket not a problem but the front sprocket was another story. Then you also have the slinging of out. For me the belt is all I would have.
#56
12-27-2016, 10:00 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
#57
12-28-2016, 06:12 AM
#59
12-29-2016, 12:35 PM
#60
12-29-2016, 05:29 PM
Club Member
Some owners of 120" and 124" engines change to chain, but others stay with the stock belts. Belts are pulling trikes and sidecar outfits, with the added demands they make of the driveline.