Help to choice an Open Belt Primary

GaeGax · #1 (**permalink**) 05-11-2012, 07:16 AM

Hi, I would like to install an open belt on my HD softail Twincam 2001

I like the Rivera Primo Brute IV but I saw also the BDL and the Ultima 3.35" STREETSTYLE

I never had one open belt and I don't know what is the different.
I only see that the price of the Ultima is cheaper.

any suggestions?

Many Thanx
Gae

clspht · #2 (**permalink**) 05-11-2012, 07:53 AM

Go Primo....John at Scooters has a good deal...

Captain America · #3 (**permalink**) 05-11-2012, 08:53 AM

If money is not an issue I like Karata, if you need to save money, than Ultima is fine.

GaeGax · #4 (**permalink**) 05-11-2012, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clspht

Go Primo....John at Scooters has a good deal...

Yes I saw at Scooters and the price is ok for Primo.

I don't understand why the Ultima is so cheaper.

pushrod243 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-11-2012, 08:20 PM

The Ultima is a lower quality drive. If you are riding more than a bar hopper I'd go with the BDL or Primo. The Ultimas clutch basket and hub will wear and cause the clutch to not work properly. It does take time for them tp wear but in Florida my customers see year round riding and we see guys that ride 10K or more a year have issues.

purpleride · #6 (**permalink**) 05-11-2012, 09:22 PM

i have had bdl and ultima and now have karata and karata is the caddy of all opens

GaeGax · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2012, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pushrod243

The Ultima is a lower quality drive. If you are riding more than a bar hopper I'd go with the BDL or Primo. The Ultimas clutch basket and hub will wear and cause the clutch to not work properly. It does take time for them tp wear but in Florida my customers see year round riding and we see guys that ride 10K or more a year have issues.

I think that I will go for a Primo Brute, I don't know if I take the IV or the V,
the Primo V is wider.

I will wait and I'll try to save some money to buy the Primo Brute IV or V.
The problem is the cost of shipping to Italy that is quite expensive

Just one question, do I really need the Scooters Belt Drive Fix?
My bike is a Harley Davidson FXST 2001

chacha · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2012, 05:52 AM

You'll be happy with the Brute IV - solid and simple installation. Got 30K on one with zero issues.

GaeGax · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chacha

You'll be happy with the Brute IV - solid sand simple installation. Got 30K on one with zero issues.

I like the Brute IV...but I'm thinking about the Brute V, only 0.5 wider but look cool

axeychrome · #10 (**permalink**) 07-17-2012, 10:44 AM

i'd always used the BDL 3" for <100" engines, and the one with outer bearing support for the> 100" engines.

no one worries about the primo not having open bearing support? i'm predicting i'll use a 121" engine. if so, is the bdl outer bearing support just a gimick?

hayseed · #11 (**permalink**) 08-02-2012, 06:03 PM

just reading through this thread,, i like the OBS style and it makes sense that it will support the crank and trans shafts/bearings but the chain in a closed primary has the same amount of stress and it does not have OBS - am i wrong here ?

NickD · #12 (**permalink**) 08-02-2012, 07:57 PM

Ultima upgraded their clutch baskets. They now have steel inserts where the clutch plate tangs engage in the clutch basket. I put one on my Street Drive and so far so good.

axeychrome · #13 (**permalink**) 08-03-2012, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hayseed

just reading through this thread,, i like the OBS style and it makes sense that it will support the crank and trans shafts/bearings but the chain in a closed primary has the same amount of stress and it does not have OBS - am i wrong here ?

first i'll warn you, i spent 6 yrs getting that 4 yr engineering degree, but as i said above, i used them on the bigger engines, but i was running 250 with offset spacers between the engine and primary to do so vs. RSD (until my 300 now). yes, the same torque is coming out of the engine, which will transfer a side load on both shafts under tension from the belt or chain. the difference is where on the shaft the load is applied.

If you think about a stock setup, the primary chain is very close to the crank shaft's bearing in the engine case, so that shaft can't deflect much. However, if you have a big offset and a belt that's now several inches further from that bearing in the case, the distance from the force to the bearing support is longer. It's like hanging from a tree branch, the further you move out from the trunk, the more the branch bends. that's an advantage of the RSD, keeps the distance from the support less and the deflection less which reduces the chance of throwing a belt or shaft damage.

That's the sell point of the OBS, it keeps the outer points of both shafts constant distance not allowing the shafts to deflect. i'm just not sure whether it's needed, but always made me feel better having it.

MAKO6 · #14 (**permalink**) 08-03-2012, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickD

Ultima upgraded their clutch baskets. They now have steel inserts where the clutch plate tangs engage in the clutch basket. I put one on my Street Drive and so far so good.

Good to know Ultima is doing something about the marginal performance of their product. I had one before, probably never again. Not that it matters, but I went with Tauer Machine, noisy little sucker, but very well made and tough as nails.

Barefoot Choppa · #15 (**permalink**) 08-03-2012, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAKO6

Good to know Ultima is doing something about their marginal product. I had one before, probably never again. Not that it matters, but I went with Tauer Machine, noisy little sucker, but very well made and tough as nails.

+1, no more noise then all the BDL's I have heard though.