|
|
Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I adjusted belt two days ago. I was taking photos to post, that's why I have a picture with the belt tracking to the right instead of the left. I could not get to track to the left and gave up. Went for a ride, no more squeal. Great. That's photo one. The next three are after a 150 mile ride today. When I got home I smelled like an overheated engine. This is what I found. The inside of the Ness pulley let loose. I made several stops today, including the dealer to have the radio reflashed and this was not like this. Must have happened in the last 25 miles. Anyway, belt almost came off. Shredded on the belt guard. What I smelled was belt shavings on the crossover. Just glad it didn't come completely off at 70 MPH. Going to borrow jack tomorrow and take it apart. Will the stock pulley fit on a Ness wheel? 
Edited by cw1115 2011-02-22 5:55 PM
(track right.jpg)
(photo 1 (Large).JPG)
(photo 2 (Large).JPG)
(photo 3.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
 track right.jpg (50KB - 0 downloads)
photo 1 (Large).JPG (45KB - 0 downloads)
photo 2 (Large).JPG (63KB - 0 downloads)
photo 3.JPG (65KB - 0 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | Just went out and pushed belt back on all the way by hand. The belt wasn't too tight. That inside flange just snaps back on. It was made out of two parts from the start. Not sure what held it on to begin with. I'll get a better look at it off the bike. I should be able to have it brazed or something.
The chrome is flaking off the front wheel (hub) also. I spoke to the original owner and he said he already sent it back once for re-chrome. Ness sells JUNK! I called them for help about the pulley tonight. After I explained the pulley problem, I was transferred to the service dept. They let it go to voicemail. I heard bad things about Ness, I guess it's true. Codfather paid $4108 for the Ness, wheels, rotors, and pulley. That included 2 new tires and labor to be fair.
Edited by cw1115 2011-02-22 7:50 PM
|
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | My belt seems to track on the right with a squeal when it's cold, too. I turn the 1/2" or 13 mm (I think) nut that's on the back of the swingarm in your pic, and it takes care of the squeal too, but the stock pulley never came in half. Like life on Saturn, that's something that's just never occurred to me. It DOES look like you found a way to get the belt to track to the left, though.
Man-that pulley looks like it got pretty hot, too. What, did the spot welds come loose? I'm surprised you didn't hear a bunch of jingle jangle jingle with the thing flopping around like that. Enough to ruin your day, that's for sure.
Wonder how that passed inspection? Does Ness have a reputation for shoddy manufacturing? |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I don't think it got that hot. It looks "blued" in the photo, but it's not. It must have came a part shortly before I arrived home and discovered it. First I would have heard it or smelled it, I got cought at several traffic lights in the last couple of miles. Second, there isn't a scratch or the slightest mark on the hub, so it wasn't bouncing around there too much. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 639
Tri Cities, WA | wow that f---ing scary bro. thanks for the heads up & info/pics. will keep my out for this on those with ness pulleys. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 61
| I would suggest you take it to a dealer and have them be your go between. This is a serious saftey concern and may need to look at the history of these.
|
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | So was this on a Ness Vision or is it Ness parts added to a standard Vision?
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 4278
| cw1115
I think you used a poor choice of words saying Ness sells junk.
If you had a store and had some one make parts for you would you inspect each and every part? More then likely not.
Heres what your going to run into.
Who installed the pulley?
Is he a trained mechanic?
Did you adjust the belt to specs?
Send the pulley to us and we will look it over.
More then likely you get a new pulley but no belt. If you loos your cool you might get a pulley in six months from now. Remember the guy you talk to didn't make or sell you the part.
Yes your stock pulley will bolt to the wheel. Remember you said you couldn't get the belt to track to the out side of the pulley so are you saying you didn't adjust the belt correctly and road it any how. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 444
Bay of Gigs, WA | I dunno, John, picking on cw is easy, but my dealer told me that there's no tracking mechanism for the belt, either in the belt itself or the pulleys, and that's why he's loathe to adjust them for anything except length. I said to him, "Sounds to me like you're just lazy." He assured me it was true, and so rather than argue with him, I went home and monkeyed with it and lo and behold, the squeal went away, even though the belt still seems to track toward the outside of the pulley, and now I can ride with no hands with the cruise set more easily, where I had to kind of lean left before. Not too impressive a performance from the "trained professional." So obviously the tracking of the belt is handled along with the alignment of the tire, and I'm going to put in a bit more until the belt is visually centered, and I'm certain I'll feel a lot better about the handling and tracking of the bike in general. Oh, by the way, my stock pulley, even though I rode it this way for some time (the squeal only occurred for the first few minutes, when the bike was cold, then went away), did not fly to pieces.
From cw's description, it would seem likely to me that the outside of the pulley would be compromised if anything, yet it was the inside which came loose. And come on here, the pulley "just snaps on?" Considering the stresses involved in a drivetrain component such as this, why in the world would there not be some sort of positive locating element involved in the design?
He said the chrome sucked too. But to be fair, back "in the day," Cragar mags had crappy chrome in the tight spaces around the lugnuts, too, so it may be an issue of technological limitations, I don't know, since I'm not a chrome plater. But for 4 grand I certainly would expect more than what he seems to have gotten. I sell some items through my business, and I make certain it meets the claims made for it, since my clients have no recourse but me if something fails. Ultimately my name is the one on the invoice. I expect no less from the owner of the business that handles these pulleys, if not the actual sales person of an item such as this upon which not only my cosmetic sensibilities are on the line, but my health and safety are as well.
Not trying to bust a nut here, just that I certainly can see how something like this is not only unexpected, but worthy of some wrath, if it happened to me, especially if it endangers my hide, or my passengers. I mean, really-a failed PULLEY? Harbor Freight can make a pulley that doesn't fail, for crying out loud.
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | I take it back, I was pissed yesterday. Angry post. Ness called me today and gave me a couple of options. They are taking care of the pulley to my satisfaction. Marco said we could talk about the plating on the front wheel after the pulley issue is squared away. More on that when I'm not typing on iPhone.
All the work was done by a dealer that is out of business. They put in a light modulator and did an aweful job. The lights are AFU. I'll have to solder connections because they butchered the harness. Also put in an intake plate and left brake cable rubbing on bodywork till paint was damaged, so who knows about their wheel install.
I have pics for you tomorrow. Inside flange is pressed on.
Edited by cw1115 2011-02-23 6:31 PM
|
|
| |
Serious Ness pulley problem
