Belt installation on shovelhead

[jmac851]

If I install a belt for the primary on my 1973 shovelhead, how do the clutch basket bearings get lubrication?

Jim

[rickr01]

Originally Posted by jmac851

If I install a belt for the primary on my 1973 shovelhead, how do the clutch basket bearings get lubrication?

Jim

You install a sealed bearing. I did that to my 72 FLH. Also If your going to maintain a normal sealed primary you should make sure to vent it.

[dog155]

I used to use heavy grease,and service it often

[berserker]

This might get more responses in the shovelhead or primary/clutch section.

[rickr01]

Most belt drive kits for shovels now include the sealed bearing

[ShovelheadBill]

If you're running the stock setup, technically you’ve got a dry clutch and those bearings don’t see a lick of lubrication (at least from the oil in the primary) anyway. The only lube they get is from the grease you put on them during routine maintenance.

[shovelfx]

I put a belt primary kit on my 75. It came with sealed bearings. Good advice to vent or the dry clutch can get real warm and drag. Custom Chrome used to sell a vented cover that just bolts on for $20.

[wdgld]

Originally Posted by shovelfx

I put a belt primary kit on my 75. It came with sealed bearings. Good advice to vent or the dry clutch can get real warm and drag. Custom Chrome used to sell a vented cover that just bolts on for $20.

Or you can mill out vents on the existing primary cover, or even put small spacers between the inner-outer primary covers.

But running open is the coolest option...In both senses!

[Inspector 12]

Originally Posted by rickr01

Most belt drive kits for shovels now include the sealed bearing

It has been a few years since I installed belt drives on my two shovel head bikes but it almost seems like there is confusion as to which bearing the OP is talking about. Several comments refer to a sealed bearing which the inner primary or bearing support bearing would indeed be. The OP's questions seems aimed at the caged roller bearings on the clutch hub which would be serviced as already indicated. A good coat of high temp grease with service as needed.

The trick here is not to get carried away with the amount of grease used on the caged roller bearings since as already noted this era clutch was a "dry" clutch that also relied on a friction disc between the clutch hub and the clutch basket to make things move. On more than one occasion had to replace the friction disc on the clutch hub because the owner got a little too happy with the grease on the clutch hub bearing.