...bit me this morning.  I was on my way to work when I heard a little racket and then lost power to the wheel.  I drifted and finally got pulled to the side of the road.  I figured I had done lost my belt and could smell the rubber compound burning.  But there my belt hung, in one piece.  Upon inspection I saw the belt guard all mangle up above the pulley.  I was in a really bad spot on I-95, but fortunately I was able to coast down to the bottom of the slope and get past the end of the guardrail off the shoulder.  I inspected the belt and found it was not broken, but it did have chunk out.  I was about 10 minutes from home so I called the wife but she never answered.  But nothing lost, I figured that the belt would hold the few miles back home if I could get it back on.  After about a half hour I got the belt back on.  I had lost the belt guard complete, except the strip where it mounts, so I couldn't get a closer look, but mangled is mangled. 

On the way home I pieced together a few things.  When I was looking for the source of the squeak I had checked the belt guard and it seemed floppy.  But, the bolts were tight.  So my assessment is that while the belt guard was bolted securely, the thin metal moves back and forth, and over time, the metal wore thin at the bend.  This morning I was riding "Indian" style.  Usually, and especially lately, I've been running HOTT (hard on the throttle), so this morning I decided I would run it at the speed limit, the way I will only ride my Indian, when I get one.  I happened to be in the middle lane only because of the traffic, but normally I'm in the hammer lane.  That would have been very bad this morning if that would have happened because that section of highway is instense with merging. 

So I figured, it flopped enough, caught the belt, mangled and caused the belt to jump.  There is an inch length gone on the outside of the belt, the core strap and lugs were still there.  This belt had a total of 67,000 miles and it my original belt.  I put on a new belt at 45,000, but later messed that up by not tightening the rear axle, so I put this on back on.

I'll be getting a new belt as soon as possible, and I have a new pulley already, it is worn heavily.

One final note:  I was there on the side of the ride for about 45 minutes.  In that time, there was one person in a van stop, a clergy, and asked if I needed help.  He did say that he used to ride and that he always tries to help a biker if they are broke down.  I thanked him and gave him assurance that all was well.  The Biker Code lives on... (I dare not mention the 10 bikes or so that zipped on by)

So, there you have it.

Good thing the belt guard didn't get caught up in the drive pulley. Makes me wonder how essential is the belt guard anyway?

I was able to ride an Indian earlier this year. My friend bought a used 100th anniversary Chief. We took turns riding it back account of the cold Spring weather day.

sweet on the Indian.  You didn't say how you liked it.  I know it does ride like a Vision, but I wouldn't want it to, but I would love to have one.

Pics below of the damage.  The old pulley is the original pulley, the belt is the original belt, with 56,000 less miles on it.  You can see where the belt hopping bent the edge on the pulley.  You can also see the nick in the back of the belt, and then the wear on the belt from the pulley.  I think it was time for a change.  New pulley, new belt in hand.  Tired, I'll put it together tomorrow.

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varyder - 2012-08-31 8:35 PM sweet on the Indian.  You didn't say how you liked it.  I know it does ride like a Vision, but I wouldn't want it to, but I would love to have one.   I liked the 2001 Indian Chief, I thought it rode similar to my  '99 Japanese Indian ... lol ... (Suzuki Intruder) it had a firm cruiser type ride. The wide handle bar felt different at first. The bike handled solid and had a S&S motor.

 varyder - 2012-08-31 8:35 PM... You can see where the belt hopping bent the edge on the pulley.  You can also see the nick in the back of the belt, and then the wear on the belt from the pulley. ...

WOW! I didn't realize your pulley and belt got damaged that bad from that flimsy belt guard. I'm really thinking of taking off that thin gauge belt guard. It's not like the belt is completely in the open anyway. The top of the belt is covered and the drive pulley up front is covered.

johnnyvision - 2012-09-01 5:57 PM Take it off and leave it off. Don't see what good it is or does.

Why, oh why did you have to post this?  That is what I call a wild Indian, with Wild Man Rick on it.  I wonder if that is one of his creations.  It is sweet!!!

You would think I would appreciate the intimate times with the Vision, and I do. But to replace the belt requires removing the exhaust, the complete exhaust minus the front pipe.  This also means the saddle bag doors have to come off to remove the lower body panels to get to the muffler mounting bolts.  So, what should be about a two hour job turns into a 8 hour job, or if you have other things to do also, about a 15 hour job.  Not complaining, but I would hate to break a belt on the road.  Unless the dealer is really super nice, that's about a $800 job including parts and labor.

I'm back in the saddle again, no bolts or parts left over.

CoolHandLuke - 2012-09-02 8:08 AM johnnyvision - 2012-09-01 5:57 PM Take it off and leave it off. Don't see what good it is or does. My buddy the Victory tech advised to me remove "that P.O.S." and I did a couple of years ago.

I wish you would have told me!  I thought we were friends.  I thought about removing it serval times but finally painted it black.  It didn't look so hideous.  

lennyb - 2012-09-02 8:16 AM It is a message well worth paying attention to. It really is impossible to check for every little thing that has the potential of failing, but I sense that there are too many riders who depend on their wrench to do all of the inspections for them when they go in for an oil change. For their own good, they need to listen to these stories and be a bit more proactive. Glad that all turned out well for you. I think that the worst part was hearing that so many riders never took the time to stop and help.

People talk a lot about "the code", but so few live it.  I know one thing is, it's difficult to stop on the interstate, so i excuse them.  I have on some occassions made a track back around when I saw them to late.  I was in a difficult location, and it is a total mad house.  I wish I had taken more time to talk with the clergy, I could tell he was thinking back on younger days and I know that he had a story to tell.