Belts in the box, to use or not...

[wingrider]

Hey All,

I bought belts years ago for the 77, and never took them out of their boxes. I know we talk about changing the belts at regular intervals, but how about ones that have sat in boxes for many years? Would you use them, or toss them?

[Fred Camper]

Well temperature does have a large effect on age. And yours were cool. When we buy new belts, it is not certain they are not two years old either. I personally would use them but mark my calendar and change them out at 5 years for sure.

[CYBORG]

In the box they came in. stored in simi climate control, Use them. I have belt like that that have been on the shelf for several years.

[wingrider]

Thanks guys! You put my mind at ease. I was planning on putting them on the 1100, as I think that one hasn't been changed in about 6-7 years.

[wingrider]

I guess this may bring up some info for folks if they look at this post. I am a member on one of the Valkyrie forums, and they are of a different thought when it comes to changing belts. They state that belt technology is far superior to what they first started with on the 75 Wing, and they should not be changed for quite some time....some do not change the original ones until 100,000 miles.

Being that we are probably (maybe?) using newer belts if we went with the Gates T 274 belts (belt for 1000 and 1100's) should the change frequency be lengthened? I understand that this is a simple, and fairly inexpensive thing to change to keep our engines running, and I have my own beliefs on this, but I would like to hear what others think about time frame to change them?

Edit: Looking at Gates website, even they say to change the belts after 6 years of use, or X amount of miles.

[Oldewing]

I normally do at 5 years, don't care about miles...

[wingrider]

That is what I am going to try to stick with as well, although I do know I have been slightly lax with them sitting here.

[redglbx]

Yepper, it’s not the miles it’s the age ! And I can tell you it’s a solid $400-$500 if you do the work yourself if you don’t feel like changing them. If you’re lucky and only bend a couple of valves.

[Old Fogey]

I guess this may bring up some info for folks if they look at this post. I am a member on one of the Valkyrie forums, and they are of a different thought when it comes to changing belts. They state that belt technology is far superior to what they first started with on the 75 Wing, and they should not be changed for quite some time....some do not change the original ones until 100,000 miles.

Being that we are probably (maybe?) using newer belts if we went with the Gates T 274 belts (belt for 1000 and 1100's) should the change frequency be lengthened? I understand that this is a simple, and fairly inexpensive thing to change to keep our engines running, and I have my own beliefs on this, but I would like to hear what others think about time frame to change them?

Edit: Looking at Gates website, even they say to change the belts after 6 years of use, or X amount of miles.

The belts on the Valkyrie are a completely different tooth form to the four cylinder belts and are very much stronger as a result.