There I was, minding my own business when a handful of Babydoll's teeth decided to let go. Belt was only twenty-something years old. Okay, let's replace it.
Hey Mike, I've finished rebuilding my classic 1988 XLH 1200 Custom. Got it as a basket case with 2650 original miles. Now it runs and looks like a brand new Harley. I love your vids, you actually show your work and explain how and why you do what you do. Thanks for all your advice. 👍
THANK YOU...for sharing. Be thankful it wasn't a rear-drive belt, pain to change/repair on the side of the road. Babydoll is lucky to have a chain. Watched and very much enjoyed.
Thank You. I've changed more than my share of final drive belts. Never by the side of the road, that's what I call "an all day sucker" on a Harley Big Twin. No big deal on a Sportster.
Terrific as always Mike. When I bought my 63 in in 1990, it had a karat belt drive installed. It still does with the SAME belt 30 years later!. I think it may be time to retire that one, after hearing your story, but then again, if it ain't broke.......
Karata is still in business. If you're not going to replace a thirty something year old belt, just keep the back of your pickup cleaned out and ready to go. I don't know how I managed to nurse mine home with all of those teeth missing.
I certainly worked on some of those. They were okay. But, like anything else, we've learned a lot since then. Those were the days before Kevlar. Which is pretty neat stuff. I remember Phase III in the seventies. I assembled prototypes for Super Max in the early eighties.
i enjoy watching you tinker with your bike. i just do oil changes and make adjustments and make sure things are tight. i used to do more to my bike and car but just turned 70 and can't bend down like i used to. i have an 02 heritage now with a twin cam and will have to deal with that but i'll farm it out. thnx, steve
When I first got a lift, I was sure I had died and gone to Heaven. They aren't that expensive any more. Lots of people are making them, and, you just "borrow" the kid next door to help you push it on.
I agree, 2 decades plus of duty is pretty much more than you can reasonably expect. Just goes to show how miraculous the modern belt drive components are. If the belt has a gates part number, replacements will likely be available forever, or at least until our species succumbs to extinction, lol. Always educational and entertaining Mike and friends!
Just wanted to say thanks for putting these videos out. They are great. I really enjoy them. Your a very good teacher with a kind disposition. No doubt a good man. Thank you
Hi Mike, I just installed a BDL belt drive primary on my 76 FLH and it runs GREAT, I noticed that you didn't have a "BACK" belt guide behind the front sprocket.... But as you said, if it is true, you really don't need it (I guess), anyway, love all your videos and I constantly refer to them when working on my bike. THANKS for all the great content that has tremendous value for all of us working on OLD bikes.... Tommy D.
Thank you Mike. This helped me a lot when I changed my belt. I had some serious issues since I tightened the whole driveline too much on my Panhead ’55. Your knowledge is a goldmine, Thank you for sharing the knowledge.
Glad it helped. We all had to learn how to set belt drives, and the differences between rubber and Kevlar belts. It's just stuff. We all learn however we can.
man you have a great channel !!!! just what I have been looking for in a channel !! you guys keep up the great work with the videos !! and I will keep watching and learning !! thanks for sharing mike !!
Mike, sometimes you can succeed by using baby powder and a rubber hammer to slip the belt on. Removing the drive pulley is no big deal on that bike, thanks for sharing.
I had a 49 FL that I built from a basket and had put a 1.5 inch belt on it, after blowing the belt off 3 times I finally went to a 3 inch belt and had no more trouble. Nice video.....
Love the belt drives had one on my 781/2 dyna guild was awesome running a lot smother then the chain drive keep the videos coming they bring back memories of when I was building them bikes love your work
Lol @ Denny's comment . Great video Mike 👍 I have an old very nice 74 shovel that I love . Your instruction all along have helped me become a better wrench. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with those of us who care.
Cool. Who ever thought we'd get to be this old? I think you've probably got about ten years on me. I looked at the new 58 "Duoglides" with my Dad. I wasn't old enough to have one yet.
Well Mike, you got your moneys worth out of that belt, which shows by spending a little time fitting things properly; is time well spent. Nice-one, anyway, you may remember I told you about "WellSeal" gasket sealer, which in my opinion is the best sealer ever. If you look on ebay, and just tap in "Wellseal" maybe add a UK, because it comes from Great Briton. I just bought a 100g, £12.00 tube today. Please just have a look, you won't regret it. it's so good that even if you don't use, you could have a sniff, now and then! Only joking, is dose have a really good write up, even if you think I might have got it wrong. Take Care now.
i SHEERED the splines off my motor sprocket pulley (primo primary belt) on my stroked, Saturday night drag bike Sporster back in the day. Back then, primo swore they never seen that happen before and sent me a new primary belt pully for free. No damage to the motor sprocket shaft. I still got that bike. Heads were ported and polished personally by Jerry branch.
Very nice informative video,I still own my first big twin a 1978 1/2 FLH chain primary,no belts back then unless customized. Your scooter is 1 year younger than I am!Sweet panheads, Greetings from Tampa Florida 😎
Great video mike - if I might incur your wrath, It certainly might be appreciated to see how you dove in to get to the belt assembly and replacement stage....these videos are so enjoyable...in this case I would have enjoyed seeing you do the prep of the trans and wheel and primary cover removal....
I ran a belt on a shovel head 2 years in the 80s and the belt broke .so I stick with that double roll chain in there from now on ,it’s pretty tough. Coming back from Kentucky back ito Indiana where I live I had a 93 Evo dresser and it burned a valve or chipped valve it was hard to tell it sound like a corn popper I could do about 35 did that for almost 250 miles got me home
In the beginning, belt drives had rubber belts. Then came Kevlar. Then it was just a matter of proper installation. I worked on the development of some early belt drives. But, I still only put belt drives on my "kickstart only" bikes. And, I consider that a vast improvement. But, to each his own. As for that Evo, you get kind of attached to one that always makes it home.
That's why I stuck with a chain when I built my shovel. They are bullet proof. I floated a valve and bent it one time on shovel. It was cold out and i started it and took off fast to catch up to some people and bent the valve.
@@pacificmike9501 Hi Mike, I'm wondering why you said you only put belt drives on your kickstart only bikes? I have 3 FLH shovelheads. An 85 FLHP that I geared up by putting a 65 tooth back sprocket and a 124 tooth belt but there is very little adjustment left to tighten the belt. An 83 FLH that I am putting together now and was going to try and gear it up in the primary with a belt drive instead of the way I did the 85. Do you not recommend the belt? Then I have a 77 FLH that I run a 45 tooth on the back. Like you I ride my bikes so running stock gearing isn't practical.
My wife's nickname is BabyDoll, and a while back, she lost all her teeth. I told her that could be useful in some ways, and she called me a Knucklehead.
Think of it this way (I didn't take physics, so I just get a picture in my mind with no rules): The wheel is a gyroscope. As such, it has weight. You're steering that heavy weight. How about, I get a larger diameter (within limits, you can go too big) gyroscope with less weight to have to menuever? Now, we're having more fun. I think I blew it on the spelling though.
Hey , Mike a couple of questions: what kind of palm ratchet are you using, and on that note would you ever make a video of the tools you use like specialty ones or a shop tour? Thanks.
That is a Snap-On palm ratchet. It is a few generations back. So, if you bought a new one, it would look a little different. Specialty tools apply to specific year groups. I'll try to show more as we go along.
I once Drove a Chevy pick up to the transmission shop in reverse, the only deer I had left. I went backwards through an intersection and saw a woman looking at me like I was doing that just because I didn’t know which and of the truck was the front…
Pacific Mike really? I thought she must’ve been dumber than a bag of hammers for looking at me that way; did she think I was trying to save gas? Did she think I’m from somewhere where they drive backward?
Mike....you may have worked with Phil Ross since you commented you had worked on a prototype. I've run and continue to run his stuff on my 51FL(primary) and 47FL(primary and secondary). Sure miss him....walt...tulsa,ok
Yes, I assembled his bike with the yellow basket and pulleys on it. Sugarbear made the machined parts. Sadly, I never met Sugarbear until recently. He's a great guy. I could have learned plenty from him. Phil was quite a character. He had his own little nickname he called me. But that's another story for another time.
@@pacificmike9501 Huh? See you DO have stories you could tell. Haha. Love your bikes, opinions and videos. I don't own a bike, just used to ride on the back. Anyhow, enjoy seeing the ol' classics. Thanks.
Somebody put up a video showing their Harley "drive" belt shredded and strangely enough it was 27 years old as well. My dealer says 100,000 miles or as soon as you seen any sort of decay - cracks, stiffening etc it should be changed. I know I will never have to worry about it that's for sure.
Mine is a primary belt. I believe Harley has tried to stay "non-comittal" about how long their final drive belt will last. In the beginning, Dealerships used to say 30,000 miles. We now know they will last alot longer if they're adjusted properly and not abused. We also know that the atmoshere, depending upon where you live, will also eat it over time. No doubt about it though, they have a good system there.
Are you running a sealed bearing in the clutch basket, or the original style cage bearing? If you are running the cage bearing, how often do you need to grease it? Always a pleasure watching a guy who knows what he's doing.
Thank You. That bike has a stock caged bearing in the clutch basket. When I assemble it, I lube the bearing rollers with a good wheel bearing grease or moly lube. Next time I disassemble the clutch for cleaning or repair, if it needs it, I lube it again. It really doesn't need it often. Some people are harder on clutches than others. They're in there oftener. If you ride in heavy traffic, you'll be in there oftener. If you ride easy in the country, clutch probably doesn't get looked at that much.
I've heard that the belts can get warm when they run in a closed primary and eventually break. Apparently the rubber gets warm and soft which causes the failure. I've never experienced this myself and im guessing after 20 years of running one belt you haven't either? Thanks for another cool video.
I've always heard it. I know our modern belts being made with Kevlar are way superior to stuff made a long time ago. I did do prototype work with belt drives in the early eighties. I don't have a problem with my belt drives and they are on early bikes with closed tin primaries. Babydoll's belt just died of ole age.
I ran a primary belt on a drag bike early 80's in closed sportster primary with old 1960's 900 enclosed dry clutch and 50 wt for transmission and I don't think I ever tore a belt itself up and that thing got about as abused as it could get with that stroker motor. Bike was VERY light though.
I have 83 belt shovel new in 83 Electra Glide in my Literature for my bike it said it would last 100,000 miles well it didn’t.Thunder Bird in Wheat ridge Co.replaced it 5 years ago just one 38yrs. I had about ten teeth missing. Scooter Trash in Denver Co. works on my bike now.not many men work on old shovels anymore. Definitely not dealerships...
Yes, that's true. Realize that what makes a belt rot is actually the atmosphere and all the wonderful things in it. There are so many variables in that much time. But, that's certainly a great bike.
Pacific Mike 😂. Dummy me was going to change it when i changed the oil seal.... but just couldnt find one at the time. It was and odd ball. Oh well we learn....sometimes. Thanks for all you do....
Pacific Mike, Great videos. Can you explain how to remove a primary belt on a 1983 FXSB. The compensating sprocket is the one with the four rubber dampers. Thanks
I don't remember. I thought it came right off. It's on a splined shaft and should slide right off unless it is stuck. Those four rubber dampers go bad and I used to have the two halves of the pulley welded together.
Yah, my belt on my Panhead only made it for about twenty-five years. The proper belt, properly installed on the right bike is awesome. Again, personally, I love a belt drive inside tin primaries, on kick start only bikes. It is an tremendous improvement that way and will outlast a chain about three to one. My 77 FLH has run a chain all it's life. These are just my experiences. But I was learning and working with prototype belt drives in the early eighties. Early belts weren't Kevlar. And people didn't understand proper installation. And , again, I don't like them in every application. Just me.
Love your videos. Thinking about adding a primary belt drive to my '65 FLH. I was under the impression that there is no seal, behind the compensator, and that engine oil will weep in to the primary. What are your recommendations to resolving that? It seems your primary is so clean and dry.
65 FLH has a "screw-in" motor seal. Look it up in your service manual. Use the right manual it is the 1959-1969 manual, although each of those years is not the same. Be sure you read the manual.
I love all your videos even though I ride a “modern” bike. Did these Bikes come with belts back then? If so, when did they change to the chain and compensator set up? Yes I’m ignorant of old bikes, but learning all the time.
Thank you. Harley never installled belt primaries until about 1980, on the Sturgis model. They tried it on a couple of other models and then abandoned the idea and have used nothing but chains ever since. My usage of primary belt drives, that is, my preference, is, I love them on old bikes with tin primaries and kick start only. Just my preference. More power to everyone who wants a big exposed belt drive with a big modern motor and an electric starter. Not the combination for me. I don't like how they function. An enclosed chain the way Harley built it works perfectly. They came out with aluminum, enclosed housings on Big Twins in 1965. They work great. The earlier ones, gimme a belt.
You’re lucky (I hope) that you didn’t destroy something. When the belt climbs or miss times and runs on top of the cogs because or missing belt teeth it’s been known to rip the gear case apart or crush bearings. Kevlar in even an old belt is stronger than anything else in the bike. Replace them sooner and keep them tensioned properly or be ready to pay. On this bike, not only would I be changing the belt but the outboard engine and transmission bearings too. Hopefully the bearing bores are not oblonged and shafts not bent.
With all due respect, you're a bit of an alarmist. The bike is great. I've worked with belt drives since the early eighties. Yes, things can go wrong, but not regularly.
Pacific Mike Yeah paranoid maybe. I don’t know when the switch over was, but the Kevlar is a lot stronger than the old types. Pretty rare for these types to outright snap (good brand) but the teeth are a another matter. Time is to be respected.
Hey Mike, I was wondering if you ever did any videos on a Harley twin Cam motor. Specifically change out the cams and the Cam chain tensioner to modified unit?
Yes, trim the tube so it points straight back. Attach a hose and run it straight back (and down). Do this behind the inner primary so the breather never enters the primary covers. Then go to the oil pump and turn off the adjustment screw to the oiler. Done.
Mike I've got a shovel head with Delkron case and a belt drive, motor is out of frame. Thats all I know about this motor. I went to to try and turn the motor to make sure it wasn't locked up and there was no nut on the belt drive pulley. Any idea what the nut size is and do I need a puller to get that pulley off? I didn't want to start bangin on it with a dead blow or trying a crow bar before I asked the question. Thanks as always!
A "steering wheel" puller is what you need to remove the pulley. There are two holes on the face of the pulley where you screw in the two bolts from the puller. You can find that nut in any "aftermarket" supplier of Harley Parts Catalog that sells belt primary drives.
Great video Mike! What is your tip for tightening the sprocket shaft nut? How are you locking it all up? I considered just putting the bike in gear and holding the rear wheel whilst torquing the nut down, but I don’t want to damage anything. Thanks!!
I would have run a stock chain on the "65. In fact, I did run a stock primary chain on my '65. If you're not using aluminum primaries, you can slide that trans a little, but, I don't know what kind of combination you have.
@@pacificmike9501 Im running tin primaries with the trans shaft support ...had to do a lot of mods to get it to work …..the worst was the belt , but it has been 10 years almost 7k miles
Do any of the older motors have better quality control or design than the twin cams or the M8...what about S&S? I want to get a cool bike to ride and don’t like what I have read about the design/quality control of the newer engines?
Wow. I'd rather not throw stones at anyone. I just love old motorcycle quality and designs. But, I've never had a motorcycle that I didn't like better, once I had gone through it and "breathed on it" here and there.
Thank you. The clutch is an old aluminum plate Barnett. The releasing disc is an old HES Products made by Andy Hanson a long time ago. It's all just "stuff." There's lots of good stuff on the market.
Service manual says to use a drop of red threadlocker on the compensating nut. I don't believe threadlocker was in business yet for the early bikes, but, it's one of the few places I use Loctite.
I´m no mechanic by any means. But i assume that whould be a oil free clutch. Since you whould not want to lower friction on a belt. Is that stock on panheads? Just random curiousity. Anyone knows?
All of the old Harley Big Twins ran "dry clutches" up until the mid eighties. The primary dive, with very few model exceptions were chains. The chains were oiled, back then, by a "drip system" supplied from the engine.
Mike, just purchased a Panhead bobber in late 2019 and am now in the middle of “making it mine” with a few changes. It came with a belt primary drive but was not in an enclosed inner/outer OEM style primary case. I want that look rather than the guard and plate apparatus it came with. I see on this bike and a yellow Panhead you worked on and showed clutch maintenance that you run belts in enclosed primary. I’ve been told not to do that because of heat eating the belt. Any words of wisdom on that? Seems like a 25 year old belt puts proof in the pudding so to speak and of course results may vary.
Yes, belt drive with its motor pulley, belt, and belt driven clutch basket takes the place of the original front sprocket, chain, and chain driven clutch basket. Most of the bikes prior to 1954, did not have a compensator. A few did, although they are quite rare. The big twins , prior to 1965, had dry clutches and a drip oill system onto the primary chain. It was a "total loss" system that drained it's oil on to the ground.
Hi MIke. I just picked up a slightly used Rivera Primo belt drive kit from a friend and will be installing it on my 52 Pan build. My question is what is the torque spec on the front pulley and what is your method to tighten it?
I don't know of a torque spec for a tapershaft. However, one drop of threadlocker on the nut and I buzz it on lightly with an air impact. Anyone who disagrees, okay. But, that's the way I've done it for about forty years.
Great video's Mike. My father-in-law just gave me his 1956 FL Panhead and we have been watching your videos continuously. We watched your videos where you mention the primary multiple times before we changed out the primary chain with a Primo Primary Belt (my wife and I actually bought the belt for him about 10 years ago and he never put it on so it was still new in the box) which really made the job easy, so I wanted to thank you for the videos. I do have a couple of questions which I was hoping you could answer. How did you tighten up the front 1 1/2" compensator nut? When I tried, the belt just turns which causes the nut to also turn so I am not able to tighten down the nut let alone torque down the nut. How do I keep it from rotating so I can torque it? Also, the instructions which came with the belt says to torque it to 60-90 pounds, but that does not sound right, I thought it should be torqued to about 175 pounds. I also noticed there is a little oil drip coming out of the same compensator, at first I thought it was because I didn't have the nut torqued, but noticed in one of the comments below you mentioned a "screw in motor seal", but I could not find anything about it in the manual and was wondering if you had any guidance on where the "screw in motor seal" was and how to go about fixing/replacing it? Will I have to take off the primary belt and compensator to get to it? Sorry for the long note. Again, thank you for the tremendous videos. I'm new to the Panhead world and they are sure different than anything else I have ridden or worked on.
Lucky you! A father-in-law that gives you his 56 Panhead. That's what I call a "loving family." Now, please understand, you may be a little deeper in than you're comfortable with. Not to be insulting, just realize first, "Anything you look up for this operation will apply to a 55-57 Panhead." It's a real good idea to have a 48-57 service manual. Okay, I tell it like I do it. To remove and/or install the sprocket shaft nut, I use an impact wrench. The "motor seal" will be referred to in the book as a "bearing nut." It has a flat outer surface with two shallow holes to be engaged by a special wrench. It is a left hand thread. I've devised a number of ways to deal with it. Just be gentle and kind and you can do it. When installing your new belt drive, use Primo Rivera directions on tightness and anything else they say. Your breather tube that runs through your engine and into the primary is also your primary chain oiler. Turn it off at your oil pump. Your book will show you. It's just a tapered screw with a locknut. Again, be kind, no brute force. Shorten that breather tube so you can attach a hose to it and run it behind the inner primary cover and out behind the trans where it can vent but not puke oil on your tire. Sorry if that was too long.
@@pacificmike9501 Thanks for the tips Mike. The Panhead sat for the past 10 years, and is a little different than other bikes I have worked on. But between all my resources, I will hopefully get her back out on the road, but time is always a factor as I'm also working on a vintage Honda with my Dad, and they can only be worked on in my spare time. So, I did as you suggested and hit it with my impact, and that seems to have done the trick. I saw some videos put a small board between the teeth on chain drives to torque it, but I was hesitant on trying that technique on the teeth of a belt drive. I had already turned off the oiler and ran the hose behind the inner primary cover for the oiler/breather like you talked about. Again, thanks for the tips and videos and keep up the great work, always enjoy your videos.
Thank You. Enjoy that Panhead. Belt drive, oiler turned off. Breather rerouted. It becomes a better and better ride, once you address things like that. I'm pretty much addicted to my Panhead.
@@pacificmike9501 Thanks Mike. I can see why you are so addicted to your Panhead, as every day I find new things about this ole girl of mine and becoming more and more excited about getting her put back together and on the road. Have a great day and again thank you for the comments and keep pushing out those awesome videos.
Thank You, But, breaking a chain can cause a lot more damage. That belt outlasted several chains, gave a smoother ride, and required no oiling from a total loss system. Just my opinion.
@@pacificmike9501 You paid cash for your opinions, and back that purchase up with skilled work. This makes you more than entitled to voice that opinion and I, for one, will listen carefully to those opinions.
Hey Mike I like the easy tone of your videos even though I don’t own one. Would you make any recommendation on a HD for someone that owns something from every country except the US and works on all of them himself and likes vintage motorcycles?
ANy chance you can tell me what the tooth count is on that bike ? I have a 1950 EL with a 39 front, 62 rear and a 132 belt...but its too tight. cant figure out whats wrong Any help would be great
Mike your riding that old bike to hard ! Just kidding , love seeing old bikes being driven . I myself swore off new bikes back in the Evo days , I've been riding my 48 panhead for years now and have had one belt fail me .
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Mike, your videos encompass the best aspects of motorcycling, which is having fun, taking life as it comes, and not getting into a rush.
Wow. That is what I try to do. Thank you.
Hey Mike,
I've finished rebuilding my classic 1988 XLH 1200 Custom. Got it as a basket case with 2650 original miles. Now it runs and looks like a brand new Harley.
I love your vids, you actually show your work and explain how and why you do what you do.
Thanks for all your advice.
👍
Thank You.
THANK YOU...for sharing. Be thankful it wasn't a rear-drive belt, pain to change/repair on the side of the road. Babydoll is lucky to have a chain. Watched and very much enjoyed.
Thank You. I've changed more than my share of final drive belts. Never by the side of the road, that's what I call "an all day sucker" on a Harley Big Twin. No big deal on a Sportster.
Nice! I think your channel is the only one with no haters Mike and rightfully so.😎🖖
I want to enjoy life. In a perfect world, everyone would have a good time. If we all work toward it, it gets better all the time. Thank you.
Wish your shop was i Miami Fla . Thanks Rick in miami
25 years on one primary belt!!!! Impressive!!!!
Thank you. A properly aligned and tensioned Kevlar belt will last a long time before the things present in the atmosphere deteriorate it.
Terrific as always Mike. When I bought my 63 in in 1990, it had a karat belt drive installed. It still does with the SAME belt 30 years later!. I think it may be time to retire that one, after hearing your story, but then again, if it ain't broke.......
Karata is still in business. If you're not going to replace a thirty something year old belt, just keep the back of your pickup cleaned out and ready to go. I don't know how I managed to nurse mine home with all of those teeth missing.
@@pacificmike9501 I know, I know..... Time to change it out! Cheers!
Once again this proves friends are everything.we love you , glad to hear your home 🇨🇦
Thank you, and man are you right.
Thank you for the post. I ran a Phase 3 11mm belt on my Shovelhead for many years ,before going back to chain. Changed belt 2 times. In 25 years.
I certainly worked on some of those. They were okay. But, like anything else, we've learned a lot since then. Those were the days before Kevlar. Which is pretty neat stuff. I remember Phase III in the seventies. I assembled prototypes for Super Max in the early eighties.
You’re awesome Mike!
Always great videos!
Hope that beautiful babydoll hangs with ya another 20yrs!!
Thank you. We're counting on more than that. We've already gotten old together. Now we're going for "ancient."
You the man MR Mike, you the man. Thanks for all the lessons.
Thank you.
i enjoy watching you tinker with your bike. i just do oil changes and make adjustments and make sure things are tight. i used to do more to my bike and car but just turned 70 and can't bend down like i used to. i have an 02 heritage now with a twin cam and will have to deal with that but i'll farm it out. thnx, steve
When I first got a lift, I was sure I had died and gone to Heaven. They aren't that expensive any more. Lots of people are making them, and, you just "borrow" the kid next door to help you push it on.
I agree, 2 decades plus of duty is pretty much more than you can reasonably expect. Just goes to show how miraculous the modern belt drive components are. If the belt has a gates part number, replacements will likely be available forever, or at least until our species succumbs to extinction, lol. Always educational and entertaining Mike and friends!
Thank you.
I feel your pain Squire. I myself shredded one about 60 miles from home in the middle of a steep grade at what we laughingly called Rush Hour.
No pain. Just a slow, hold your breath, ride home. Thanx
Just wanted to say thanks for putting these videos out. They are great. I really enjoy them. Your a very good teacher with a kind disposition. No doubt a good man. Thank you
Thank you.
Way to work Mike. It’s nice to see Babydoll smiling again
Thank you. She really likes her new belt.
Hi Mike, I just installed a BDL belt drive primary on my 76 FLH and it runs GREAT, I noticed that you didn't have a "BACK" belt guide behind the front sprocket....
But as you said, if it is true, you really don't need it (I guess), anyway, love all your videos and I constantly refer to them when working on my bike.
THANKS for all the great content that has tremendous value for all of us working on OLD bikes.... Tommy D.
Thank you. Glad to be of help.
Thank you Mike. This helped me a lot when I changed my belt. I had some serious issues since I tightened the whole driveline too much on my Panhead ’55.
Your knowledge is a goldmine, Thank you for sharing the knowledge.
Glad it helped. We all had to learn how to set belt drives, and the differences between rubber and Kevlar belts. It's just stuff. We all learn however we can.
man you have a great channel !!!! just what I have been looking for in a channel !! you guys keep up the great work with the videos !! and I will keep watching and learning !! thanks for sharing mike !!
Thank You.
your welcome !!!
Man I love your channel I learn all kinds of stuff every time I watch 1 of your videos
Thank you. I'm glad.
Mike, sometimes you can succeed by using baby powder and a rubber hammer to slip the belt on. Removing the drive pulley is no big deal on that bike, thanks for sharing.
Thank you.
I had a 49 FL that I built from a basket and had put a 1.5 inch belt on it, after blowing the belt off 3 times I finally went to a 3 inch belt and had no more trouble. Nice video.....
Thank you.
Sitting at home passing some time and found this video. Loved the video and definitely a sweet scooter.
Thank you. We have about eighty videos on TH-cam.
Love the belt drives had one on my 781/2 dyna guild was awesome running a lot smother then the chain drive keep the videos coming they bring back memories of when I was building them bikes love your work
Thank you.
I really liked this video and I really like the bike. They just don't make them like they used to. Even the EVOs in the 90s are fun bikes to own.
They're all fun. But, I'm so in love with my relics, it's funny.
And just think some where out there is going to be bikers who will say the same stuff about the Milwaukee eights and stuff. We become relics one day.
Thanks mike. Another great video to help me with my build. Appreciate you taking the time to teach.
Thank You. Glad it helped.
Damn Mike, looks a lil loose, but i've never run a belt on a primary, great work, You got it going on!!
it is loose because he has not tightened it yet pay attention
Thank you.
Lol @ Denny's comment . Great video Mike 👍 I have an old very nice 74 shovel that I love . Your instruction all along have helped me become a better wrench. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with those of us who care.
always good practical guidance, thanks P Mike.
Thank you.
Excellent, 58 and 62 Panhead's forever.
Thank you. I love Panheads. In fact, every year Panhead is pretty cool.
@@pacificmike9501 Didn't mention, I bought both brand new, I'm an old sucker, but still building rods and Harley's. Cheers.
Cool. Who ever thought we'd get to be this old? I think you've probably got about ten years on me. I looked at the new 58 "Duoglides" with my Dad. I wasn't old enough to have one yet.
Well Mike, you got your moneys worth out of that belt, which shows by spending a little time fitting things properly; is time well spent.
Nice-one, anyway, you may remember I told you about "WellSeal" gasket sealer, which in my opinion is the best sealer ever.
If you look on ebay, and just tap in "Wellseal" maybe add a UK, because it comes from Great Briton. I just bought a 100g, £12.00 tube today.
Please just have a look, you won't regret it. it's so good that even if you don't use, you could have a sniff, now and then!
Only joking, is dose have a really good write up, even if you think I might have got it wrong. Take Care now.
Okay, Will do.
Another great video enjoy them all thank you for sharing your knowledge hope to see you out on the road
Thank you. I look forward to it.
Aawww geeez. Granny just needed a new set of dentures!😁😁💖👍
She doesn't know she's old.
Good stuff Mike as always!!
Thank you.
i SHEERED the splines off my motor sprocket pulley (primo primary belt) on my stroked, Saturday night drag bike Sporster back in the day. Back then, primo swore they never seen that happen before and sent me a new primary belt pully for free. No damage to the motor sprocket shaft. I still got that bike. Heads were ported and polished personally by Jerry branch.
Very cool.
Great video. Thank you.
Glad you liked it! Thank You.
Just stumbled upon your channel I can't get enough of old motorcycles great video mike
Thank you.
This is why I like my shaft drive bmw;)
But you are a heck of a good mechanic and I enjoy watching you work on these old harleys .
I love it all. This just happens to be my passion. The feel, the sound, my stuff for me. I have friends on BMW's.
20 some years on a primary belt....I wouldn't be complain neither. thanks for the vid Mike...Good Job.
Thank you.
Baby Doll has some new teeth, take care Mike, ride safe ✌🌴☮
Thank you.
Very nice informative video,I still own my first big twin a 1978 1/2 FLH chain primary,no belts back then unless customized. Your scooter is 1 year younger than I am!Sweet panheads, Greetings from Tampa Florida 😎
Thank you.
Baby Doll is ruthless and toothless
Nah. She's a little nasty with a bit of a tude. But she's truly sweet.
Just by watching this it has made my day😁
Cool. Thank you.
that reminds me of my old Chrysler tapered rear axles. throu 1964. iam so glad some things are not here any more.
Okay. I get it. But mine works perfectly.
Great video mike - if I might incur your wrath, It certainly might be appreciated to see how you dove in to get to the belt assembly and replacement stage....these videos are so enjoyable...in this case I would have enjoyed seeing you do the prep of the trans and wheel and primary cover removal....
If I make videos too long, people don't watch the whole thing. Sorry 'bout that.
@@pacificmike9501 well, heck with those folks - I am always sad when the video ends! haha! Keep up the great work, Sir!
I ran a belt on a shovel head 2 years in the 80s and the belt broke .so I stick with that double roll chain in there from now on ,it’s pretty tough. Coming back from Kentucky back ito Indiana where I live I had a 93 Evo dresser and it burned a valve or chipped valve it was hard to tell it sound like a corn popper I could do about 35 did that for almost 250 miles got me home
In the beginning, belt drives had rubber belts. Then came Kevlar. Then it was just a matter of proper installation. I worked on the development of some early belt drives. But, I still only put belt drives on my "kickstart only" bikes. And, I consider that a vast improvement. But, to each his own. As for that Evo, you get kind of attached to one that always makes it home.
That's why I stuck with a chain when I built my shovel. They are bullet proof. I floated a valve and bent it one time on shovel. It was cold out and i started it and took off fast to catch up to some people and bent the valve.
@@pacificmike9501 Hi Mike, I'm wondering why you said you only put belt drives on your kickstart only bikes? I have 3 FLH shovelheads. An 85 FLHP that I geared up by putting a 65 tooth back sprocket and a 124 tooth belt but there is very little adjustment left to tighten the belt. An 83 FLH that I am putting together now and was going to try and gear it up in the primary with a belt drive instead of the way I did the 85. Do you not recommend the belt? Then I have a 77 FLH that I run a 45 tooth on the back. Like you I ride my bikes so running stock gearing isn't practical.
Great video very nice scoot
Thank you. There's more of her in our list of videoa.
My wife's nickname is BabyDoll, and a while back, she lost all her teeth. I told her that could be useful in some ways, and she called me a Knucklehead.
You sound like a perfect pair. I salute you. You probably love John Prine's song "In Spite of Ourselves." I hope so. My best to you and your BabyDoll.
This proves the point that primary belts are bad, mine only went 35yrs and then I had to replace it...
It should have lasted atleast 36yrs... 😎
And, there you have it.
Love your bike Mike , never had a Pan before but would like to get one in the future .... thanx
Thank you. Panheads are just great old bikes.
Hey Mike please tell me how a 21" front wheel helps in the mountain roads. I very much enjoy your videos.
Think of it this way (I didn't take physics, so I just get a picture in my mind with no rules): The wheel is a gyroscope. As such, it has weight. You're steering that heavy weight. How about, I get a larger diameter (within limits, you can go too big) gyroscope with less weight to have to menuever? Now, we're having more fun. I think I blew it on the spelling though.
Hey , Mike a couple of questions: what kind of palm ratchet are you using, and on that note would you ever make a video of the tools you use like specialty ones or a shop tour? Thanks.
That is a Snap-On palm ratchet. It is a few generations back. So, if you bought a new one, it would look a little different. Specialty tools apply to specific year groups. I'll try to show more as we go along.
Pacific Mike , thanks.
Many years ago had Harley Sturgis know all about primary belt drive used to hang plants on wall with Broken Bells
They're much better now.
WOW! Seems to be a lot of know it all's replying. Raisin pie to you Mike for your patience!
They calm down. Call me wierd, but I like most people. Thank You.
I once Drove a Chevy pick up to the transmission shop in reverse, the only deer I had left. I went backwards through an intersection and saw a woman looking at me like I was doing that just because I didn’t know which and of the truck was the front…
Well, I don't blame her.
Pacific Mike really? I thought she must’ve been dumber than a bag of hammers for looking at me that way; did she think I was trying to save gas? Did she think I’m from somewhere where they drive backward?
Mike....you may have worked with Phil Ross since you commented you had worked on a prototype. I've run and continue to run his stuff on my 51FL(primary) and 47FL(primary and secondary). Sure miss him....walt...tulsa,ok
Yes, I assembled his bike with the yellow basket and pulleys on it. Sugarbear made the machined parts. Sadly, I never met Sugarbear until recently. He's a great guy. I could have learned plenty from him. Phil was quite a character. He had his own little nickname he called me. But that's another story for another time.
@@pacificmike9501 Huh? See you DO have stories you could tell. Haha. Love your bikes, opinions and videos. I don't own a bike, just used to ride on the back. Anyhow, enjoy seeing the ol' classics. Thanks.
Somebody put up a video showing their Harley "drive" belt shredded and strangely enough it was 27 years old as well. My dealer says 100,000 miles or as soon as you seen any sort of decay - cracks, stiffening etc it should be changed. I know I will never have to worry about it that's for sure.
Mine is a primary belt. I believe Harley has tried to stay "non-comittal" about how long their final drive belt will last. In the beginning, Dealerships used to say 30,000 miles. We now know they will last alot longer if they're adjusted properly and not abused. We also know that the atmoshere, depending upon where you live, will also eat it over time. No doubt about it though, they have a good system there.
Well maybe I should change out my 2001 Sporty belt, 19 years old but still looks good.
Those big final drive belts last a looong time.
@@pacificmike9501 Yessir !
Are you running a sealed bearing in the clutch basket, or the original style cage bearing? If you are running the cage bearing, how often do you need to grease it? Always a pleasure watching a guy who knows what he's doing.
Thank You. That bike has a stock caged bearing in the clutch basket. When I assemble it, I lube the bearing rollers with a good wheel bearing grease or moly lube. Next time I disassemble the clutch for cleaning or repair, if it needs it, I lube it again. It really doesn't need it often. Some people are harder on clutches than others. They're in there oftener. If you ride in heavy traffic, you'll be in there oftener. If you ride easy in the country, clutch probably doesn't get looked at that much.
@@pacificmike9501 Thanks I always wondered how long that bearing would last in a dry environment, my bikes have always been oil bath primaries.
They do fine with occasional maintenance.
Good deal 👍
Thank You.
I've heard that the belts can get warm when they run in a closed primary and eventually break. Apparently the rubber gets warm and soft which causes the failure. I've never experienced this myself and im guessing after 20 years of running one belt you haven't either? Thanks for another cool video.
I've always heard it. I know our modern belts being made with Kevlar are way superior to stuff made a long time ago. I did do prototype work with belt drives in the early eighties. I don't have a problem with my belt drives and they are on early bikes with closed tin primaries. Babydoll's belt just died of ole age.
@@pacificmike9501 Cheers Mike! Hopefully Baby Doll's primary belt is good for another 20 years.
I ran a primary belt on a drag bike early 80's in closed sportster primary with old 1960's 900 enclosed dry clutch and 50 wt for transmission and I don't think I ever tore a belt itself up and that thing got about as abused as it could get with that stroker motor. Bike was VERY light though.
I have 83 belt shovel new in 83 Electra Glide in my Literature for my bike it said it would last 100,000 miles well it didn’t.Thunder Bird in Wheat ridge Co.replaced it 5 years ago just one 38yrs. I had about ten teeth missing. Scooter Trash in Denver Co. works on my bike now.not many men work on old shovels anymore. Definitely not dealerships...
Yes, that's true. Realize that what makes a belt rot is actually the atmosphere and all the wonderful things in it. There are so many variables in that much time. But, that's certainly a great bike.
I only made it 300 yds from the house after nursing it 35-40 miles. 😂. But like u 26 years it had been on there
You'd think we were smarter and put a fresh belt on after twenty years. But, nooo.
Pacific Mike 😂. Dummy me was going to change it when i changed the oil seal.... but just couldnt find one at the time. It was and odd ball. Oh well we learn....sometimes. Thanks for all you do....
Read the instructions that came with the puller. In bold print it always says DO NOT USE IMPACK. But every one does.
Thank you.
Pacific Mike, Great videos. Can you explain how to remove a primary belt on a 1983 FXSB. The compensating sprocket is the one with the four rubber dampers. Thanks
I don't remember. I thought it came right off. It's on a splined shaft and should slide right off unless it is stuck. Those four rubber dampers go bad and I used to have the two halves of the pulley welded together.
Hi Mike, Its an American Prime Mfg. Inc. belt!
Thank you Ben.
Nice 99% of mechanics and owner tighten those belt to a E string tension. Loose is much better than overtightened.
You bet. Thank you. You know, these things generally come with instructions.
I had that happen many years ago. I changed my 76 Bicentennial HD to a belt drive. Biggest mistake I’ve ever made. It kept stripping belts.
Yah, my belt on my Panhead only made it for about twenty-five years. The proper belt, properly installed on the right bike is awesome. Again, personally, I love a belt drive inside tin primaries, on kick start only bikes. It is an tremendous improvement that way and will outlast a chain about three to one. My 77 FLH has run a chain all it's life. These are just my experiences. But I was learning and working with prototype belt drives in the early eighties. Early belts weren't Kevlar. And people didn't understand proper installation. And , again, I don't like them in every application. Just me.
Love your videos. Thinking about adding a primary belt drive to my '65 FLH. I was under the impression that there is no seal, behind the compensator, and that engine oil will weep in to the primary. What are your recommendations to resolving that? It seems your primary is so clean and dry.
65 FLH has a "screw-in" motor seal. Look it up in your service manual. Use the right manual it is the 1959-1969 manual, although each of those years is not the same. Be sure you read the manual.
I love all your videos even though I ride a “modern” bike. Did these Bikes come with belts back then? If so, when did they change to the chain and compensator set up? Yes I’m ignorant of old bikes, but learning all the time.
Thank you. Harley never installled belt primaries until about 1980, on the Sturgis model. They tried it on a couple of other models and then abandoned the idea and have used nothing but chains ever since. My usage of primary belt drives, that is, my preference, is, I love them on old bikes with tin primaries and kick start only. Just my preference. More power to everyone who wants a big exposed belt drive with a big modern motor and an electric starter. Not the combination for me. I don't like how they function. An enclosed chain the way Harley built it works perfectly. They came out with aluminum, enclosed housings on Big Twins in 1965. They work great. The earlier ones, gimme a belt.
You’re lucky (I hope) that you didn’t destroy something. When the belt climbs or miss times and runs on top of the cogs because or missing belt teeth it’s been known to rip the gear case apart or crush bearings. Kevlar in even an old belt is stronger than anything else in the bike. Replace them sooner and keep them tensioned properly or be ready to pay. On this bike, not only would I be changing the belt but the outboard engine and transmission bearings too. Hopefully the bearing bores are not oblonged and shafts not bent.
With all due respect, you're a bit of an alarmist. The bike is great. I've worked with belt drives since the early eighties. Yes, things can go wrong, but not regularly.
Pacific Mike
Yeah paranoid maybe.
I don’t know when the switch over was, but the Kevlar is a lot stronger than the old types. Pretty rare for these types to outright snap (good brand) but the teeth are a another matter. Time is to be respected.
jensen Read what i told coleshill. It applies to you also!
Hey Mike, I was wondering if you ever did any videos on a Harley twin Cam motor. Specifically change out the cams and the Cam chain tensioner to modified unit?
Every once in a while, I'll do something for one of the neighbors, but I'm retired. And, my bikes are old.
Sounds like you like to let her run 👍
Oh yah.. A sunny day and an open road is why I live and wrench. I love it.
I assume you did something with the breather on the primary to keep the belt dry ?
Yes, trim the tube so it points straight back. Attach a hose and run it straight back (and down). Do this behind the inner primary so the breather never enters the primary covers. Then go to the oil pump and turn off the adjustment screw to the oiler. Done.
Have you an idea of about how much miles this belt have done???
Yes, alot. Belts actually deteriorate over time from the things we have in our atmosphere.
@@pacificmike9501 On the shovel, i keep the chain.
Mike
I've got a shovel head with Delkron case and a belt drive, motor is out of frame. Thats all I know about this motor. I went to to try and turn the motor to make sure it wasn't locked up and there was no nut on the belt drive pulley. Any idea what the nut size is and do I need a puller to get that pulley off? I didn't want to start bangin on it with a dead blow or trying a crow bar before I asked the question. Thanks as always!
A "steering wheel" puller is what you need to remove the pulley. There are two holes on the face of the pulley where you screw in the two bolts from the puller. You can find that nut in any "aftermarket" supplier of Harley Parts Catalog that sells belt primary drives.
Like baby doll with belt in the front an the chain to the wheel
Yep.
Great video Mike! What is your tip for tightening the sprocket shaft nut? How are you locking it all up? I considered just putting the bike in gear and holding the rear wheel whilst torquing the nut down, but I don’t want to damage anything. Thanks!!
I use my air impact very carefully.
Thanks Mike! Scary!!@@pacificmike9501
vent the inner primary, drill holes in it,,,belts make heat
I think BM was speaking of a chain drive.
Where are you? Somewhere here in SoCal I know, but where?
You got it right. No shop. Retired. See you at Long Beach.
looks easy but I got a 65 with un- adjustable trans …..not easy !
I would have run a stock chain on the "65. In fact, I did run a stock primary chain on my '65. If you're not using aluminum primaries, you can slide that trans a little, but, I don't know what kind of combination you have.
@@pacificmike9501 Im running tin primaries with the trans shaft support ...had to do a lot of mods to get it to work …..the worst was the belt , but it has been 10 years almost 7k miles
Do any of the older motors have better quality control or design than the twin cams or the M8...what about S&S? I want to get a cool bike to ride and don’t like what I have read about the design/quality control of the newer engines?
Wow. I'd rather not throw stones at anyone. I just love old motorcycle quality and designs. But, I've never had a motorcycle that I didn't like better, once I had gone through it and "breathed on it" here and there.
Great videos !
Thank you.
What do you do with the crankcase breather? Cut the tube and run a hose to the ground?
Yes, but not to the ground. Run it down, then horizontal so it doesn't suck anything up. Then, turn off the chain oiler at the pump.
Do you have a video of how to install that Rivera Primo belt drive set up on a Panhead, from beginning to end? Thank You!!
Not yet. We'll do it with the Flathead project when we get there.
Great video ! What are you using for a clutch? Thanks
Thank you. The clutch is an old aluminum plate Barnett. The releasing disc is an old HES Products made by Andy Hanson a long time ago. It's all just "stuff." There's lots of good stuff on the market.
Mike just to double check. Is no lock washer or lock tight needed on the motor sprocket nut?
Service manual says to use a drop of red threadlocker on the compensating nut. I don't believe threadlocker was in business yet for the early bikes, but, it's one of the few places I use Loctite.
@@pacificmike9501 Thanks Mike always appreciate the help
I´m no mechanic by any means. But i assume that whould be a oil free clutch. Since you whould not want to lower friction on a belt. Is that stock on panheads? Just random curiousity. Anyone knows?
All of the old Harley Big Twins ran "dry clutches" up until the mid eighties. The primary dive, with very few model exceptions were chains. The chains were oiled, back then, by a "drip system" supplied from the engine.
Mike, just purchased a Panhead bobber in late 2019 and am now in the middle of “making it mine” with a few changes. It came with a belt primary drive but was not in an enclosed inner/outer OEM style primary case. I want that look rather than the guard and plate apparatus it came with. I see on this bike and a yellow Panhead you worked on and showed clutch maintenance that you run belts in enclosed primary. I’ve been told not to do that because of heat eating the belt. Any words of wisdom on that? Seems like a 25 year old belt puts proof in the pudding so to speak and of course results may vary.
I would, but you answered the question the same way I would have. By the way, Kevlar belts withstand a lot of things rubber belts never could have.
So ........the belt takes the place (does the job) of the compensator? Was there ever a compensator and primary chain/oil bath clutch in this bike?
Yes, belt drive with its motor pulley, belt, and belt driven clutch basket takes the place of the original front sprocket, chain, and chain driven clutch basket. Most of the bikes prior to 1954, did not have a compensator. A few did, although they are quite rare. The big twins , prior to 1965, had dry clutches and a drip oill system onto the primary chain. It was a "total loss" system that drained it's oil on to the ground.
@@pacificmike9501 Thanks. My Dad had a war time Harley 45 but I had no idea how it all worked back then. Great videos, keep em comin!
When should you change the belt, how many miles or how many years
The atmosphere is what deteriorates it. So, there's no way to tell. I look mine over at least once a year. Kevlar is an awesome material.
Thumb ratchets are way cool 🤟
Yep.
Hi MIke. I just picked up a slightly used Rivera Primo belt drive kit from a friend and will be installing it on my 52 Pan build. My question is what is the torque spec on the front pulley and what is your method to tighten it?
I don't know of a torque spec for a tapershaft. However, one drop of threadlocker on the nut and I buzz it on lightly with an air impact. Anyone who disagrees, okay. But, that's the way I've done it for about forty years.
@@pacificmike9501 Thanks Mike, always enjoy your videos.
Just out of curiosity...do u or have u worked on vintage Indians?
Some. Not a lot. Sold my last Indian a while back. It was 52 Chief. Quite a rarity. I kinda miss him.
@@pacificmike9501 Wow, that must have been pretty nice. Hopefully one day I'll be able to find one myself. Ride safe, brother
Great video's Mike. My father-in-law just gave me his 1956 FL Panhead and we have been watching your videos continuously. We watched your videos where you mention the primary multiple times before we changed out the primary chain with a Primo Primary Belt (my wife and I actually bought the belt for him about 10 years ago and he never put it on so it was still new in the box) which really made the job easy, so I wanted to thank you for the videos. I do have a couple of questions which I was hoping you could answer. How did you tighten up the front 1 1/2" compensator nut? When I tried, the belt just turns which causes the nut to also turn so I am not able to tighten down the nut let alone torque down the nut. How do I keep it from rotating so I can torque it? Also, the instructions which came with the belt says to torque it to 60-90 pounds, but that does not sound right, I thought it should be torqued to about 175 pounds. I also noticed there is a little oil drip coming out of the same compensator, at first I thought it was because I didn't have the nut torqued, but noticed in one of the comments below you mentioned a "screw in motor seal", but I could not find anything about it in the manual and was wondering if you had any guidance on where the "screw in motor seal" was and how to go about fixing/replacing it? Will I have to take off the primary belt and compensator to get to it? Sorry for the long note. Again, thank you for the tremendous videos. I'm new to the Panhead world and they are sure different than anything else I have ridden or worked on.
Lucky you! A father-in-law that gives you his 56 Panhead. That's what I call a "loving family." Now, please understand, you may be a little deeper in than you're comfortable with. Not to be insulting, just realize first, "Anything you look up for this operation will apply to a 55-57 Panhead." It's a real good idea to have a 48-57 service manual. Okay, I tell it like I do it. To remove and/or install the sprocket shaft nut, I use an impact wrench. The "motor seal" will be referred to in the book as a "bearing nut." It has a flat outer surface with two shallow holes to be engaged by a special wrench. It is a left hand thread. I've devised a number of ways to deal with it. Just be gentle and kind and you can do it. When installing your new belt drive, use Primo Rivera directions on tightness and anything else they say. Your breather tube that runs through your engine and into the primary is also your primary chain oiler. Turn it off at your oil pump. Your book will show you. It's just a tapered screw with a locknut. Again, be kind, no brute force. Shorten that breather tube so you can attach a hose to it and run it behind the inner primary cover and out behind the trans where it can vent but not puke oil on your tire. Sorry if that was too long.
@@pacificmike9501 Thanks for the tips Mike. The Panhead sat for the past 10 years, and is a little different than other bikes I have worked on. But between all my resources, I will hopefully get her back out on the road, but time is always a factor as I'm also working on a vintage Honda with my Dad, and they can only be worked on in my spare time. So, I did as you suggested and hit it with my impact, and that seems to have done the trick. I saw some videos put a small board between the teeth on chain drives to torque it, but I was hesitant on trying that technique on the teeth of a belt drive. I had already turned off the oiler and ran the hose behind the inner primary cover for the oiler/breather like you talked about. Again, thanks for the tips and videos and keep up the great work, always enjoy your videos.
Thank You. Enjoy that Panhead. Belt drive, oiler turned off. Breather rerouted. It becomes a better and better ride, once you address things like that. I'm pretty much addicted to my Panhead.
@@pacificmike9501 Thanks Mike. I can see why you are so addicted to your Panhead, as every day I find new things about this ole girl of mine and becoming more and more excited about getting her put back together and on the road. Have a great day and again thank you for the comments and keep pushing out those awesome videos.
Thank You. Panheads are a sweetness hard to describe.
Is it better to chew up a belt as opposed to break a chain? Other wise a great video.
Thank You, But, breaking a chain can cause a lot more damage. That belt outlasted several chains, gave a smoother ride, and required no oiling from a total loss system. Just my opinion.
@@pacificmike9501 You paid cash for your opinions, and back that purchase up with skilled work. This makes you more than entitled to voice that opinion and I, for one, will listen carefully to those opinions.
Hey Mike I like the easy tone of your videos even though I don’t own one. Would you make any recommendation on a HD for someone that owns something from every country except the US and works on all of them himself and likes vintage motorcycles?
That's a tough call. It's all about personal preference.
Mike do you run a 8mm or 11mm belt drive?
I run an 8mm on both my Pan and my Knuckle. I think I'm going to run an 11mm on the big Flathead. It will gear it just a little taller.
ANy chance you can tell me what the tooth count is on that bike ? I have a 1950 EL with a 39 front, 62 rear and a 132 belt...but its too tight. cant figure out whats wrong Any help would be great
I'd need to know the brand and look it up. You can do the same. Have loosened the transmission and slid it forward?
I saw the title and thought "panhead...belt?" then I saw that you have a belt primary. I was confused for a moment.
Best thing I've ever done to the old bikes.
why was puller tight after you pulled the pulley off
Cause I got carried away with the impact.
Mike your riding that old bike to hard ! Just kidding , love seeing old bikes being driven . I myself swore off new bikes back in the Evo days , I've been riding my 48 panhead for years now and have had one belt fail me .
That's why we get to have more fun.