Missing some teeth

[stevej37]

Biking yesterday with my Vilano belt-drive 8 speed.
I had gone about 8 miles out when the belt drive started a small hesitation when pedaling. Looked at it closely and saw a few teeth missing.
Turned around and headed back...the further I went, the more it was skipping.
By the 8th mile back...it was hardly engaging at all.

Called Vilano and they are sending out two new belts asap. The second one will be a spare.

See the pic for how many teeth I lost.

[Tobra]

How old was that thing?

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Tobra

How old was that thing?

About two years...but a lot of miles.
I think I might have had the tension set too high. If it was too low..it would have skipped earlier.

[Zeke]

Wouldn't too high a tension be felt in resistance? IDK, I don't have a fancy bike. We used to run drive belts on enduro karts where the one speed clutch was on the axle. Not as much killer heat on an axle clutch. Ran them tight, but not banjo string tight. Tightness builds heat as well.

Then they deteriorate. I bet the sun had something to do with yours. Or, what do they call it, ozone and something called "double bonders?"

[stevej37]

Looking closely at the belt...I can see how one missing tooth leads to the next one being gone also. Looks like they are glued on with a layer of plastic/rubber applied afterwards.

Maybe tension was too low...I don't know. When I put the new belt on...I might take it to my local bike shop to verify the tension.

The belts are $50 each...I don't want to mess up with the wrong tension.

[Norm K]

By any chance, does the belt manufacturer have a plant in Arkansas?

_

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Norm K

By any chance, does the belt manufacturer have a plant in Arkansas?

_

It's a Gates belt. The printing on it says "CDrive TW Belt 8M1248"

[stevej37]

I took another pic. As you can see...I can easily peel back the next tooth in line.
If I had gone another mile...they would have all been missing.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Zeke

We used to run drive belts on enduro karts

It’s sounds like you’ve had one hell of an interesting life Milt. And somehow you ended up here. I’m honored.

[chrismorse]

Originally Posted by Norm K

By any chance, does the belt manufacturer have a plant in Arkansas?

_

On more sober reflection, i realize i'm a bit apprehensive about my stepson's recent purchase of a 924S, (with a 944 engine/ timing belt & Balance shafts drive belts) - and no exprience with WET porsches.

Cheers,
chris

[stevej37]

Watched a few YouTube videos last night on setting the tension.
A couple vids recommended using the Gates app on a smartphone. You hold the phone near the belt and strum it. The frequency tells the app when the tension is correct.

Most of the videos remarked that it is better to have too little tension than too much tension.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Watched a few YouTube videos last night on setting the tension.
A couple vids recommended using the Gates app on a smartphone. You hold the phone near the belt and strum it. The frequency tells the app when the tension is correct.

Most of the videos remarked that it is better to have too little tension than too much tension.

Or if you're a real badass, you'll use a tuning fork!

That's crazy, app that determines belt tension based on frequency. Just don't hum while you're checking the belt!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Looking closely at the belt...I can see how one missing tooth leads to the next one being gone also. Looks like they are glued on with a layer of plastic/rubber applied afterwards.

Maybe tension was too low...I don't know. When I put the new belt on...I might take it to my local bike shop to verify the tension.

The belts are $50 each...I don't want to mess up with the wrong tension.

I was thinking "that sounds like the kind of thing that you'd carry as a spare."

[stevej37]

I thought this video was excellent for anyone leery of buying a belt-drive bike.
Everything he says...I agree with.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

I was thinking "that sounds like the kind of thing that you'd carry as a spare."

Hah!....I ordered two just for that reason. (I won't carry the spare...but it will avoid the week shipping)

Not easy to change the belt...on the road.
The bike frame...like mine...needs to have a 'breakaway point' to get the belt on or off. (it's a bolted joint to allow pass-thru)

[john70t]

One internal metal sprag (if that is the right word) per gear welded to the cables would have made that drive bulletproof.

They want to sell belts.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Norm K

By any chance, does the belt manufacturer have a plant in Arkansas?

_

hahhaha..i'm hoping this was a joke, because it was good!!

you're riffing off the old joke, "whats the best pickup line in AK"?

"nice tooth!".

right? if i'm wrong..sorry. especially if youre down to a single tooth

[stevej37]

This video is very interesting....and shows how complicated the hub drive is on a belt-bike.
The same hub that is on mine....but the cog on mine is driven by a belt...instead of a chain.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by vash

hahhaha..i'm hoping this was a joke, because it was good!!

I understand that the toothbrush was invented in Arkansas...

[stevej37]

^^^ If it wasn't...it would be called a teethbrush.