Drive belts, what's the best by cost. By looker (Read 4,514 times)

[looker]

Hey guys,
I was in the automotive industry for many years from leaving school, trained as a mechanic and then worked in parts departments.
I know Gates to be one of the best makers of drive belts, but are they worth the extra money? I have now got myself a PL20708 842-20-30 belt (all those markings are present on the belt)
I also have an 842-20-30 belt by the Qjiang brand (quality chinese brand ) on it's way, half the price of the Gates.
As belt changes are recommended to be done at 5000kms, and assuming the Qjiang belt lasts that long, is it worth the extra cost for the Gates belt, or will the gates belt do double or triple that?

The last 2 Gates belts I had were marked as 842-20 (no PL20708 markings on those belts) but actually measured 825. I sent these back.
The new one I now have measures at 852
I'm begining to wonder if Gates are suffering quality control problems in their Chinese factories and some of these belts are making there way out the back door.

I'd love to hear about what belts you use/have used and how long they lasted, and if you measure the length before putting it on. Or if you're planning a belt change, can you measure it when you take it off and see if it's the length it should be.
Maybe I've just been unlucky with belts recently

Cheers guys,
Mike

[rapidjim]

Keep one thing in mind when comparing belts. If memory serves me correctly, Gates makes 3 levels of belts, just like the auto industry you have your cheap belts, better belts and best belts. Cost is a factor. We normally Gates Powerlink (PL), or occasionally a Gates Kevlar belt. Had good luck with these belts, but no one has reported back with a bad one or mileage.

Jim/Owner
Rapid Repair

[looker]

too true, you do get what you pay for, but what are we paying for the things we get?
I recently bought some new lights for my MTB, very cheap I might add, came from China through ebay and they work a treat. Shortly after I saw the exact same set in our local 'big name' super market at nearly 15 times the price.
Now I realise that there will be no comparison between a Gates belt and a Qjiang belt, but as the majority of my riding will be in London and covering 80+ miles a day, servicing the scoot will be done as a military operation. Money is very tight at the moment and if I can get 2 belts for the price of one while changing them at 5000km's, that's good for me.
I'll be putting the new Gates belt on first as I'm interested to see if the 852 length makes any difference, then when the Qjiang belt turns up I'll change the Gates for that and see how it last's (if it makes it to 5000km's, or maybe until it fails)

Cheers guys,
Mike.

[wildman]

A looker
I'm w/ you on belts, parts, & prices my friend... Shopping around is key... All last summer I was trying to decide if the higher priced Gates Premium, & the Gates Premium Kevlar belts are truly worth the extra $ or not... Though I have found places for under $25.00 each on the non Kevlar Gates, & under $30.00 for what they call a Gates Kevlar... But w/ 3 scoots that still can be tough on the wallet... I'm going to give the Zhuping belt for $6.00 each a try and see how they hold up... I got a couple direct from China... Looking to find Gates Belts Direct out of China or some place in small lots as well...

David Sr.

[looker]

Well the other belt has just arrived, the brand is 'Energees', not Qjiang. At least it measures 842mm.

the 852 has me a bit worried, but saying that, I currently have the old 845 belt on the scoot and there's a good few mil of travel left up the Variator at W.O.T., so hopefully the extra 7mm belt length on the Gates won't be a problem Just as well I changed the 107mm variator for a 115mm eh

This weekend I'm gonna put the Gates belt on and run that for a while, I'm interested to see if the edges fray again, then I'll change that out for the Energees, and check that for condition every so often.
Potentially, this belt may reach 5000kms of use within a couple of months, if it gets that far ;D
I may push it a little and see if it will do 6k, then maybe 7k!
If it goes while I'm out, I carry all the tools to do a belt change including an impact driver, so in the name of 'Scooterdoc' I'll be acting as guinea pig for the next few months (weather dependent )

Mike

[wildman]

I knew Gates was Chinese... But I do want to investigate any quality differences...

Here's another Kevlar story to put under your cap... My experience w/ Kevlar belts: I broke a Kevlar drive belt on a snowmobile WOT, about 80 - 85 mph, there was so much tension on the belt that when the belt broke it bent the crank shaft... Kind of like the belt was to short, but didn't seem to be the case & never found any problems to cause this, accept the fact that at the time we changed out a non Kevlar belt for a Kevlar belt... Because of that, the use of Kevlar belts is something to think about...

David Sr.

[Alleyoop]

What everyone says about Kevlar they do not stretch much at all that is probably the problem with them, they are a harder material. I think a little stretching is good in my book.
Alleyoop