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Difference between revisions of "Belt drive"
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A '''belt''' is a loop of flexible material used to link two or more rotating [[Drive shaft|shafts]] mechanically. Belts may be used as a source of motion, to [[Transmission (mechanics)|transmit power]] efficiently, or to track relative movement. Belts are looped over | A '''belt''' is a loop of flexible material used to link two or more rotating [[Drive shaft|shafts]] mechanically. Belts may be used as a source of motion, to [[Transmission (mechanics)|transmit power]] efficiently, or to track relative movement. Belts are looped over pulleys. In a two pulley system, the belt can either drive the pulleys in the same direction, or the belt may be crossed, so that the direction of the shafts is opposite. As a source of motion, a conveyor belt is one application where the belt is adapted to continually carry a load between two points. Motorcycle belt drivers are normally a toothed rubber belt and are commonly used in both [[final drive]]s and to rotate [[camshaft]]s. | ||
==On Harleys== | |||
For the first ten years, [[Harley-Davidson]] used the leather belt drive that was almost universal on early motorcycles; then, like almost everyone else, it went over to chain drive, which was more efficient, did not slip and could handle higher power. By the late 1970s, however, a popular conversion kit for Harleys was a toothed belt drive for both primary and final transmission which smoothed out the power pulses somewhat and needed minimal maintenance. The new [[Harley-Davidson FXB|FXB Sturgis]] of 1980 was the first production motorcycle to use a toothed hell ([[Kawasaki]] later used one on its [[Kawasaki EX305B|GPz305]]). So successful was the new set-up that 20 years later every new Harley-Davidson comes with a belt-drive transmission. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
*[[Chain drive]] | *[[Chain drive]] | ||
*[[Shaft drive]] | |||
[[Category:Definitions]] | [[Category:Definitions]] | ||