Premature Belt Wear

I own a 2009 Honda Silverwing it has 5500 miles of extreme riding pleasure. Since I perform a PM every so often I also inspected and measured the Drive Belt. As per service manual the belt should be replaced at or below 27mm. After like I mentioned 5500 mile my belt is currently 26 mm wide. Should I replace it as per OEM recommendation???

I would replace belt based on age. My experience with 9 rubber band drive scooters (all bought new,so I know their history).

Change your belt, replace with OEM and ride the bike.

I don't bother with taking cover, etc to check,, just use the scooter and follow Honda's mileage intervals for belt changes. Record in over 300,000 rubber band scooter miles--one breakage/shredded belt, Helix....easy to change roadside with this model, not on Silverwing!

Always carry spare belt on trips---Dealers usually won't have one.

Thanks for your prompt reply. I am a Mechanic by trade and understand. The belt itself looked reasonably good but I am concerned that the width is below the OEM recommended spec. which relates to some slippage during acceleration.

I would replace it too but the belts seem to last longer than the 16,000 mile service interval. I would try to figure out why it does not meet spec after only 5500 miles though. As John said, you should save this belt and keep it as a spare in case you take a long ride somewhere. A member broke a belt when he was on a multi-state ride and I sent him my spare. Most shops don't carry these belts and they can take a few days to get.

But I would replace just for peace of mind. You will kick yourself if it breaks and you are stuck somewhere.

BTW Parzilla has the best price as far as I could research the web so far>>> if anybody else has some better pricing please let me know. Thanks everybody.

The belt on my 08 SWing was put on at 17,700 miles. It now has just over 19,000 on it and I put about 1,000 of those miles on it last summer.

However, it sat under a tarp for two years when I bought it from my sister in FL. I trailered it home. I just changed the belt about a month ago. The belt that was in it looked and measured great but I changed it anyway due to just sitting for those two years. I'm keeping it for a spare but feel more secure with the new belt and the 26 gram Dr. Sliders I also put in at this same time.

Dale N. wrote:

The belt on my 08 SWing was put on at 17,700 miles. It now has just over 19,000 on it and I put about 1,000 of those miles on it last summer.

However, it sat under a tarp for two years when I bought it from my sister in FL. I trailered it home. I just changed the belt about a month ago. The belt that was in it looked and measured great but I changed it anyway due to just sitting for those two years. I'm keeping it for a spare but feel more secure with the new belt and the 26 gram Dr. Sliders I also put in at this same time.

Did the 26gr slider make any noticeable difference? I think a slower acceleration will make the belt last longer.

Welcome to the asylum.

I agree with everyone's advise to replace the belt -- if for no other reason than you have a mechanical background, already have the cases apart, and are concerned about the belt. That said, you haven't mentioned what caused your initial concern about the belt. "Clutch" slipping ... anxiety...oil leak...?

I can't imagine a belt with only 5,000 miles showing the drastic wear you report. No disrespect intended, but are you measuring the belt correctly? There have been several reports here of belts being changed at over 22,000 miles with no signs of wear, and one report of a belt lasting 30,000 miles.  Now of course if the previous owner was a real 'chubsey wubsey' and his significant other equally as obese then that might explain premature belt wear

Tim

As daily rider since 1955----buy your belt OEM from your local dealer----you never know when you may need him....help keep him in business.

I used a caliper and measured the width as per service manual. I think I know why the belt shows sign of wear. The previous owner did ride the bike with a passenger most of the time. Also since the previous owner lived in the western part of NC a lot of hills and the weight ( two people) will also do a number on the belt.

feuerwehr7, I haven't had the chance to take it out for a spin yet. It's still too cold and slippery here in MN. Although, once it warms up and I do take it out I'll do an update.

OH come on Dale...back when I was your age we used to ride our SWings to grade school in 5' of snow...and we liked it !!!

Jeff I bet it was uphill both ways too.

feuerwehr7 wrote:

I used a caliper and measured the width as per service manual.

The service manual method is quite often misinterpreted & many people measure the belt at it's widest point, if you make a simple gauge as in the picture below ...





Hold it on the belt then put a rule on top of the belt that will give a true measurement ...

By the way great Forum. I love it

feuerwehr7 wrote:

WOW you are so correct!!!!!!!  I utilized your method and the belt is well within the OEM spec. I completely misinterpreted the drawing in the service manual. It is a very strange way to measure the belt as described. I actually went to the dealer to pick up my new belt and now since I compared the two there is very little difference. I thought I seen it it all.But still I am going to replace the belt and keep the old as a spare. THANK YOU so much.

Yep, it is a really weird method that is poorly documented    Pleased to help bud it's what we do

I'd also change the belt and put the old on in the scooter when traveling away from home on a trip. Since it takes a while to get another belt it's nice to have old one on hand. I carried the old belt in my SW in a small nylon bag that kept it from leaving it's dirt in the under seat storage.

While reading this thread I was thinking "I'll bet he measured straight across the top of the belt, instead of across a theoretical angle". I'm glad The Bern created his measuring tool and posted the pics of how to use it - it really makes it clear.

I'm on my third belt, and neither of the first two has more than a mm of wear on it. Due to using a J Costa variator, I had as much wear on half of the stock variator as the belts and had to replace the stock variator. IIRC, it was about $65 for the variator.

In regards to the question of Dr Pulley sliders - 26 gram won't make much diff from stock. Go 24 Gram or even less. With my last new belt I went all 21 gram (had used a mix of 24/21 before that), because I installed a new variator at the same time. At 70 mph indicated, it is right at 5000 rpm. Acceleration is very good and I could not live with stock acceleration again.