[longride]

Isn't a belt about $60? I'd replace it but I'll bet it will be fine until it breaks.

I think the belts are closer to 200 bucks, and of course, you must remove the inner primary and seperate the swingarm to replace it. According to the service manual, if there is a slight tear in the middle of the belt, it is OK to keep running, but monitor the condition regularly. If it was me, I would run it for a while, but replace it at the earliest convenient time.

 

[longride]

You've been reading those service manuals in bed again, haven't you?

Already been down the belt replacement road. Mine got cut hitting something on the highway. I actually do peruse the manual from time to time!

 

[longride]

V2R, I'd run with it unless you plan on doing a cross-country trip. For that matter, get the AAA policy; it's probably a lot cheaper.

Mark the belt on the outside where the stone came out, maybe with a white paint pencil, and check the "wound" regularly.

Failure of a belt is usually caused by the loss of a bunch of strands across the belt. It sounds like yours was minimal. Bear in mind the belt is WAY over-engineered for the application, and will survive almost any abuse, except maybe snatch wheelies. Of course, my crazy buddy with the Ultra does it regularly, and his belt has 45K on it. YRMV.

One thing that will trash the belt in a hurry is misalignment of the rear wheel. You start overheating and shearing the teeth off, you're buying a new belt sooner than later.

In the bad old days when HD first started with the belt final drives, there were a lot of drive-end failures, where the drive sprocket would come off the transmission drive shaft. Not only would the transmission oil start leaking out, but it'd peel a bunch of teeth off the belt. Big bux, and a lot of ridicule from the "Metric Bike" guys.

I found out the hard way that if the belt gets cut on either edge, it will tear itself up in a very short time. His wound was in the middle, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem, but any type of edge cut, and the belt must be replaced very quickly, or it will leave you walking.

 

[longride]

LR,

Roger that!

Something else for the long-distance guys to consider is the Belt Repair Kit. They used to be available for $100 and some at HD dealerships, and probably elsewhere. The idea is similar to the emergency fan belts and now serpentine accessory belts for cars.

So, you can carry one of them in the bottom of one of your bags for use if your drive belt breaks. Of course, Murphy has a corollary that says something like, if you carry the thing, you'll never have a problem. Kinda like a tire repair kit.

I have one of those belt kist, along with a tire repair kit and air pump. Cheap insurance! ;-)