Drive belt wrong way round, problem?

I recently fitted a new drive belt to my 2002 bike, I didn’t realise it had a direction of rotation on it (I didn’t notice anything at the time, and it’s only
while watching someone else’s video, that the direction of rotation was mentioned)
I’ve only done about 30 miles or so on the new belt, over the bank holiday I’m going to get the covers back off and have a look, now, the
question is, if I have fitted it the wrong way round, is it better to leave it that way, or would refitting it the correct way, cause more damage as now the stress is going in the opposite direction?
TIA

~30 miles? Not too late to make the correction. IMO

I also don't think 30 miles was enough to damage it.

I agree. 30 miles shouldn't have done any harm. Put it back on the right way round, it'll be fine.

Well I got in from work early today so decided to whip the covers off and have a look, there was a 50/50 chance I got it right
and of course, it was on the wrong way round once I found the markings, so now it’s rectified and all should be well
Thanks all

So ... I wonder if this is a new way to double the life out of a belt.  Simply rotate the direction of it when  it's at the end of it's life cycle ... just like rotating the tires on your car.

I don't think reversing travel of belt will increase miles----they do wear out internally in addition to wearing narrow-----I change at makers recommended intervals with OEM belts.....and in now 30 years and over 400,000 miles, with rubber band drive scooters only broke/ate up one belt underway. I hate walking! Will stick with the way I am doing it! On 11th new rubber band drive scooter.

Reversing belts in general isn't a good idea. The fibers in the cloth and the rubber tend to become aligned with the power flow. Reversing the belt direction causes that to reverse the wear on an already broken in belt. It will shorten the belt life overall. I don't know for sure but the fiber reinforcements could be designed to take the load in a specific direction. Motorcycle tires also specify a specific direction of rotation. Seems to me best to take the manufacturer's recommendations since they want the best performance for their products. Not good to be known for short lived tires and belts.

I would have thought it would be obvious that the belt was in backwards when you found you had one forward gear and five in reverse...

I just thought of something using Polish Logic.
If you wait until the belt is almost worn out and then put it on backwards won't that bring it back to new in 10 or 15 thousand miles?

I bet Honda weren't thinking along the lines of 32000 mile belt when they designed the SW.

Looks like you've outwitted them Dale

Terry Smith wrote:

I would have thought it would be obvious that the belt was in backwards when you found you had one forward gear and five in reverse...

GEARS? GEARS? We don't need no stinking gears!!

Quote "So ... I wonder if this is a new way to double the life out of a belt. Simply rotate the direction of it when it's at the end of it's life cycle ... just like rotating the tires on your car. Wink"

Oh stop it - someone out there is gonna believe you

Does it mean that when it reaches 32k miles that you can rotate it again and keep rotating it every 16k miles?

Easyrider wrote:

Does it mean that when it reaches 32k miles that you can rotate it again and keep rotating it every 16k miles?

I believe the next step would be to turn the belt inside out and start fresh.

I must introduce you fellows to the carburetor gnomes

I could get twice the use out of my underwear by turning them inside out. You have to shake the crust out of them first though.

That's just needless extravagance, what about the bonus days of back to front, then inside out back to front.

As UK supermarket chain Tesco likes to say “Every little helps”.  

Meldrew wrote:

That's just needless extravagance, what about the bonus days of back to front, then inside out back to front.

Totally agree with Meldrew. That's four completely clean panels heading forward. There's always the possibility of a bonus panel or two if you were extra tight one or more of those days. And let us not forget the odd "commando" day thrown in here and there.

Ah but if you really crap them up you can only use them twice.
Meldrew, I am retired so I consider the twice used shorts a luxury.

Just line it with a paper towel then you would never need to wash your underwear ever. You maybe able to fold the towel to a cleaner sopt.

DEPENDS on how crappy it got.

Depends are for Iron Butt ralliers.

I've found a small nutmeg grater takes up very little space in your kit and a few minutes light grating removes the dried top layer of crud easily, then you're good for at least for another week.

A quick wipe round with one of those freebie lemon scented hand wipes neutralises odours too.

The crusty connoisseur always keep a large paper clip threaded through their riding jacket or favourite fleece zipper.

Apart from acting as a very good zip puller, you'll always have it handy for that emergency pleat when your aged underpants elastic finally gives, you don't want to to be showing off your butt crack like a teenager do you.

OH Boy. The avalanche is picking up speed. My arse is burning .

I believe that country classic 'Ring of Fire' by country legend Johnny Cash was written about a similar problem.

Good one.

You know if you overload, wearing rainpants work great.The excess just loads up in the boots and gets you a few more miles and who knows you might get to run over an old flattened squirrel for having driven the extra miles!

Meldrew wrote:

I believe that country classic 'Ring of Fire' by country legend Johnny Cash was written about a similar problem.

Meldrew wrote:

I believe that country classic 'Ring of Fire' by country legend Johnny Cash was written about a similar problem.

And for some reason I always thought the Red Hot Chili Peppers wrote that tune. This site is an incredible fountain of knowledge.

Burn..Burn..Buuuurn