anyone convert to chain drive. i did now need help.. : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

midnight sporty · 10-05-2009, 09:36 PM

i converted to chain drive.i am now trying to fix the tire thats hitting the chain.. i was told by 3guyz, that either i could put a 190 tire on it from metzler. couldent find one by the way. or put a bigger spacer on one side and machine the other one down a bit. jus to slide over the tire jus a tad. does anyone know of a 190 tire, cus i certainly cant find any tire for a harley that size. there all rocket tires. isnt it bad to move a tire over? does it change anything? oh its on a crossbones if that makes diffrence.

Shockwave · 10-05-2009, 09:48 PM

Sounds like you need to move the chain and sprockets to the left. Your bike came with a 200 and a belt/sprockets that are (probably) wider than the chain.
Maybe offset sprockets are the answer?

nightrob · 10-05-2009, 10:17 PM

The avon venom 200mm tire is actually 190mm if that helps. Why did you go to a chain drive?

2006xl1200 · 10-06-2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnight sporty

i converted to chain drive.i am now trying to fix the tire thats hitting the chain.. i was told by 3guyz, that either i could put a 190 tire on it from metzler. couldent find one by the way. or put a bigger spacer on one side and machine the other one down a bit. jus to slide over the tire jus a tad. does anyone know of a 190 tire, cus i certainly cant find any tire for a harley that size. there all rocket tires. isnt it bad to move a tire over? does it change anything? oh its on a crossbones if that makes diffrence.

Typically the only difference is the height of the tire(aspect ratio Ex.55).The speed ratings are something to watch.

Here is a link to some and one the second page is a Dunlop tire in that size and also close to what was on your bike has(it would be more like the FX softails. (but the height is different)

or on page one there is one in the same aspect ratio thats a Dunlop to which would be bit different then whats on yours and the fx's

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/cm...26:9944&page=1

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/cm...26:9944&page=2

I deal with this alot at the dealership I work at!

midnight sporty · 10-06-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shockwave

Sounds like you need to move the chain and sprockets to the left. Your bike came with a 200 and a belt/sprockets that are (probably) wider than the chain.
Maybe offset sprockets are the answer?

from what i understand from 3guyz themselfs. as it comes with a spacer allready to move it over. but you cant go any further cus you will hit the inner primary. they told me either i had to move the tire. or get a smaller tire.. but if the one guy on here says the avon is really a 190 im going with that.

midnight sporty · 10-06-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightrob

The avon venom 200mm tire is actually 190mm if that helps. Why did you go to a chain drive?

thank you.. i was wondering if it would be a smig smaller. what venom? the only 200 they make is the venom radial... that one? the only one i have seen is the avon cobra in the 200 55 17 tire size. is this one one you speak of?

i switched to chain for the fact that i keep snapping belts. ever scense i had my motor done at hillside. i keep snaping belts. and no its not how i tighten it down. or miss aligning it. ive had it done at a dealer and i checked it and a chopper shop have checked them. and everytime there fine. they would jus snap. either i have to get them so tight so they wont jump teeth and it will snap after a wile, or i keep them were there saposed to be and they end up jumpin teeth and snapping..

nightrob · 10-06-2009, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnight sporty

thank you.. i was wondering if it would be a smig smaller. what venom? the only 200 they make is the venom radial... that one? the only one i have seen is the avon cobra in the 200 55 17 tire size. is this one one you speak of?

i switched to chain for the fact that i keep snapping belts. ever scense i had my motor done at hillside. i keep snaping belts. and no its not how i tighten it down. or miss aligning it. ive had it done at a dealer and i checked it and a chopper shop have checked them. and everytime there fine. they would jus snap. either i have to get them so tight so they wont jump teeth and it will snap after a wile, or i keep them were there saposed to be and they end up jumpin teeth and snapping..

I have the venom R 200/55-18 on mine. If you look at Avons site, I believe they give you the actual width for the tires. I measured mine with a caliper after installing it because it looked narrower, and I was correct. It is a great performing tire though.

deuce163 · 10-06-2009, 01:58 PM

I agree with Shock. I converted my '02 Deuce to chain drive some time back. If you didn't use offset sprockets, then the chain is most likely closer to the tire than the belt was.

Moving the entire wheel will not correct the issue. Go out an look at your bike when you think about the spacer idea, you will call yourself a mean name in just a few seconds.

A thinner tire would most likely correct the issue... but WTF? why would you do that? My GUESS is... the Avon 200 would only be approx 10mm narrower than the stock Dunlop. Not enough to safely correct the issue.

for those that wonder... why? for the cool factor of course! also so I could put a 200 on the rear.

deuce163 · 10-06-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnight sporty

from what i understand from 3guyz themselfs. as it comes with a spacer allready to move it over. but you cant go any further cus you will hit the inner primary. they told me either i had to move the tire. or get a smaller tire.. but if the one guy on here says the avon is really a 190 im going with that.

Hmmm.... this doesn't makes sense to me. I know the newer 200 tire bikes use a narrower drive belt than the older bikes. But I doubt the chain you put on is wider then the origional belt. If I'm correct... then there's NO WAY in HECK you should have to go with a narrower rear tire.

Measure the width of the origional belt and then the new chain. At a minimum, your transmission sprocket needs to be spaced so that the inside edge of the chain would be the same measure out as the inside of the belt was (I used the outside edge measurement of my belt as I wanted to put the widest tire possible on). Then you need to use a chain alignment tool (or a really good eye) to make sure your rear sprocket is spaced so that your chain is running true (if you're using the inside measurement of the front sprocket, then same would be used on the rear). Just make sure you are using the edge of the belt/chain not the edge of the pully's/sprockets.

From your comment above, it sounds like you might have used a offset sprocket on front, yet a flat rear sprocket? If so, then I'd think your chain is not running true. If that's the case, then a narrower rear tire will only delay a bigger problem.

deuce163 · 10-06-2009, 03:02 PM

VERY sweet arse looking bike BTW!

midnight sporty · 10-06-2009, 05:38 PM

its not even on yet... and its a kit right from 3guyz... made just for these bikes. yes it has a offset pully in the front. and the rear is also offset. its just not enough to clear the tire is all. im not talking a ton here. but enough jus to touch the tire. i just ordered the avon cobra 200 tire. it yields 197. so it should be fine.. and not enough to even notice a size diffrence. and trust me i would rather have the skinny tire. it makes for things to be much much easier..

midnight sporty · 10-06-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deuce163

VERY sweet arse looking bike BTW!

if that was commented on my bike. thank you very much...

rbabos · 10-06-2009, 07:21 PM

Damn that Hillside for constantly breaking your belts.

Ron

deuce163 · 10-06-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnight sporty

its not even on yet... and its a kit right from 3guyz... made just for these bikes. yes it has a offset pully in the front. and the rear is also offset. its just not enough to clear the tire is all. im not talking a ton here. but enough jus to touch the tire. i just ordered the avon cobra 200 tire. it yields 197. so it should be fine.. and not enough to even notice a size diffrence. and trust me i would rather have the skinny tire. it makes for things to be much much easier..

I'd bet it's a "kit" they packaged together to charge a premium. And if it doesn't clear the tire, then I'd get my cash back. You can order the parts seperately for a lot cheaper than the "kits" anyway. I'm curious, how do you know it doesn't clear if you haven't installed it yet?

Shockwave · 10-06-2009, 09:02 PM

I was wondering that too.
I'm running a 205 wide tire on my 08 NT and I still have about 4mm of clearance between the belt and the tire. I have also considered swapping over to a chain due to the major PITA replacing a drive belt is on a Softail. With the miles I put on and the terrain I cover, replacement is a major concern.