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How long does the Factory Belt Tensioner last by miles?

D

Dakotaz

Member
We have a 2021 RT with 15,275 miles and a 2023 RTL with 8409 miles and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with how long the factory belt tensioner last by miles. Obviously, it seems to last to 15,000 or maybe I'm just lucky on that one. Going on a trip and wondering if I should replace one or both based on current mileage.

Has anyone used Lamonster's replacement roller on the factory tensioner?

Thanks for any input or suggestions.
 
My 2023 RTL factory belt tensioner started making noise around 14k miles so I removed it. The bearing was totally shot. For me I have not noticed any difference with or without it, but I know I don't want the tensioner to destroy the belt while out on a ryde, hence I removed it.
 
I think I am going to remove the one on my Arizona Spyder RT (first owner put it on it) when I get back to this Fall. I have the same worry banging around in my head. The Washington Spyder does not have one and there's no noises coming from the belt. I put an aftermarket one on the first Champaign Spyder (now gone) because of belt noise between 45-50 MPH.
 
Almost every time, I fueled up, I'd reach under there and check the slack in the bearing. I finally got some after 3K miles. I carry zip ties with me, so I zip-tied it up off the belt and later removed it completely. A failing cheap bearing doesn't come close to the cost of a belt replacement.
 
Dakotaz said:
We have a 2021 RT with 15,275 miles and a 2023 RTL with 8409 miles and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with how long the factory belt tensioner last by miles. Obviously, it seems to last to 15,000 or maybe I'm just lucky on that one. Going on a trip and wondering if I should replace one or both based on current mileage.

Has anyone used Lamonster's replacement roller on the factory tensioner?

Thanks for any input or suggestions.
Click to expand...
If you have a vibration dampener on your bike, I would give it check at least every oil change and twice before a big trip, because when it goes, it is not a mileage thing at all - when the bearings are going to leave the chat, they will leave!!! Like others have said above, carry some zip ties or take it off!
 
Found the reason for the damage to the roller on the 2023. As far as I know the hole does not go all the way through the belt. Thoughts on this still being ok to ride with it this way?

IMG_0159.jpeg - IMG_0163.jpeg - IMG_0162.jpeg
 
Ahhhh, a stone or something hard stuck on outside of belt, kept traveling around and wore the round groove in roller. That would take many revolutions. I was wondering why do I see a hole on top of belt. Had to scroll up to look at other pic.

As long as hole didn't go thru, AND is not tearing sideways, you could/can run it some more. I would right now order a new belt to have on hand as spare. If taking a long trip and want peace of mind change it.

Then replace or repair belt tensioner.
 
Woodaddict said:
Ahhhh, a stone or something hard stuck on outside of belt, kept traveling around and wore the round groove in roller. That would take many revolutions. I was wondering why do I see a hole on top of belt. Had to scroll up to look at other pic.

As long as hole didn't go thru, AND is not tearing sideways, you could/can run it some more. I would right now order a new belt to have on hand as spare. If taking a long trip and want peace of mind change it.

Then replace or repair belt tensioner.
Click to expand...

Or 86 it.
 
I had 18700 miles on my OEM VD and it was overdue. The bearings were pretty bad shape. I routinely reached under and did a quick hand test and it seemed fine. I finally decided I was going to replace it regardless of its seemingly good condition. Once removed I really noticed how bad the bearings were. Maybe it was fine on my previous checks and when it started going bad it went fast. I test drove the bike without the dampener and to my relief the vibration was gone. So I’m guessing somewhere along the way of three tire changes and a sprocket recall repair something was adjusted differently.
I originally installed the dampener to decrease what was bad shaking around 75mph.


Poasttown 2019 F3L
 
Dakotaz said:
Found the reason for the damage to the roller on the 2023. As far as I know the hole does not go all the way through the belt. Thoughts on this still being ok to ride with it this way?

View attachment 255592 - View attachment 255593 - View attachment 255594
Click to expand...

Knizar said:
I would bet that belt will go another 50K miles,
just keep an eye on it !
Click to expand...

Gotta agree with @Kinzar there, altho I expect the hole has gone right thru the belt - that sort of 'eruption hole' that you can see in the back of the belt tends to be caused by stone chips getting flicked up and caught in the sprocket for a rev or two, punching a hole right thru the belt before dislodging/being flung out (and marking up your anti-vibration roller along the way! ;)) leaving the sort of hole you've highlighted in red once the stone chip has gone - if it was being pressed IN, the belt material wouldn't be raised around the edges of the hole. So the hole probably does go all the way thru the belt, coming thru from the inside, but the working side of the belt self-heals to a fairly high degree as the belt rotates on the sprockets! (y)

Still, because of how the hole was likely caused by a stone chip from either side, I would add the caveat that you should carefully inspect the teeth on the actual (metal) sprockets on the Spyder, and if you find any, carefully file out any jagged edges the stone chip that caused that hole may have created if it was in there long enough. If it was a hard stone chip, especially if it was one that got caught in the teeth and punched thru the belt rather than being pressed in from the top by the roller, then the chances are fairly good that it's marked up at least one front sprocket tooth, and maybe a few rear sprocket teeth too - those little stones in freshly chip sealed road are bloody hard and will rip into anything they can!! Do you really need to ask me how I know that for a fact! 😖

All that said, I've seen quite a few belt driven bikes here in Oz, including many Spyders, with more than 100,000 miles on a belt with more than one hole like that in them, but they are designed to take that sort of punishment & wear - just keep an eye on the hole and watch for it spreading (it never hurts to carefully inspect your belt/look for more damage at every service anyway! :sneaky:) While it's possible that the hole will spread, I really doubt that it will, at least not much, anyway; none of the similar holes punched thru my 2013 RT's belt have spread or frayed anything much in the more than 10 years and lotsa miles that they've done since first occurring! ;)

But it is your Spyder, and if it's gonna worry you... 😏

Still, for myself, I'd prefer to...


Ride More, Worry Less! (y)
 
I have a 2023 F3 LTD SS and it did not come with an OEM Belt tensioner.

I ended up installing one on it.

I installed the IPS belt tensioner on: 5/18/2024

At that time I had roughly 6,000 miles on the Spyder (life got in the way!)

I have not had any trouble with mine.

Deanna
 
The correct answer to this question is that the factory belt tensioners will last forever with no maintenence reqired. They are located at the back of the swingarm as seen in the picture below. The device being discussed here has virtually nothing to do with belt tension.
Spyder Belt Tensioner.jpg

What is being talked about is a Belt Vibration Dampener, which unfortunately, has been described with the wrong terminology for so long that misidentification has become virtually universal.

The killer for this device is not so much distance as it is RPM. Those little buggers can spin past 28,000 RPM at high speeds. So, if you're going cross country, maybe running 75 or 80 mph hour after hour, that will create a great deal more potential for failure than running at 50 mph or less for a great many more miles.

The key is to purchase a high quality unit and check it often. If the wheel comes off due to bearing failure, your belt will probably have a short life.
 
Last edited:
Now u got me worried about mine. Last time this subject came up I checked mine, prob around 30K or so, and it was ok. Its hot as heck out now, but I'm going out to shed to give it a look/feel while its on my mind!
 
ulflyer said:
Now u got me worried about mine. Last time this subject came up I checked mine, prob around 30K or so, and it was ok. Its hot as heck out now, but I'm going out to shed to give it a look/feel while its on my mind!
Click to expand...
It's worth the effort. The wheel should spin free. Put some tension on the wheel and turn it slowly in your hand. If it is in good shape, it will be smooth as glass. If not, you should have no trouble noticing.
 
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