How many people have done the belt conversion?

[chief]

I believe this is the second scootworks belt drive I've heard about that shreds belts... for what its worth.

[TC]

 I'm lost. Could someone please translate that for me. Really, I would like to know wht is being said.

[blackindian]

I am not a happy Camper with by belt apparently my rear monoshock is no wasted down that is tightening and loosen in up my belt and chain (when is had chain) and they a tearing apart. I hope I can find a solution because scootworks does not do refunding.

[emjayw]

This whole belt idea just seems like too much $, hassle and worry.  A good chain and sprockets will give you 25K or more service with a regimen of cleaning and lubing occasionally. Chains are so much better now than when I started riding 40 years ago.  I'll stick with the tried and true...but with an 18 tooth countershaft sprocket.  Mike in TX

[Angstrom]

I have two Drifter vn800 bikes, a 2000 and 2006. I did the belt conversion on the 2000. It fits fine; you won't have any problems there. You do have to take the swingarm off to put the belt on, I'm a mechanic so I had the tools if you don't have the tools you may have to take it to a shop or swing by my place.

For the most part I like the belt, much quieter, better highway ratio.

BUT...

My front pully did not have the flanges peened on. I did not know this, I did not know they were supposed to be peened on, I did not even think about it. This was a Scootworks QA problem.

At 75+ miles an hour on the freeway the inside flange broke free and ripped into the side of the transmission cover. Boiling hot oil dumped out onto the belt and sprayed all on the inside of my left leg. I was only wearing jeans so this burned the holy hell out of me (mostly 1st degree, but some 2nd degree burns). The loss of oil caused my bearings to seize. By this time I was slowing down and my rear tire locked up at only about 35 mph. However I can tell you the belt held together. Scootworks replaced the front pully without so much as a 'sorry' and I did the rest of the repairs.

Shifting into 2nd gear some months later, not doing anything agressive, the belt simply broke and left me stranded once again, however, no physical pain this time. The belt was sucked up under the drive cover and snapped the aluminum cover in two which then fell in parts to the highway, fortunately no one was behind me. My suspicion was that the belt was damaged in the first incident (a fracture I couldn't see or something) and finally gave out, it could have been debris but I doubt it...it was a clean road. I replaced the cover and the belt (after a month waiting for Scootworks inventory) and was back on the road again.

So, I have not had good technical luck with the belt. But I'm sticking with it for the advantages and assuming the manufacturing flaw was the root of my belt problems which have hopefully been resolved.

Hopefully this story doesn't scare you off too much.

Feel free to contact me with any questions...

[TC]

 I ordered the conversion kit in JUNE. Haven't recieved it yet. No contact from Scootworks unless I inicieated it. Here is the last email I recieved. I'm giving them 2 more weeks then canceling. oh, they took my money from my credit card in June when I placed the order.

Yeah, I've seen several emails and had phone calls here this morning about
that person's comments. We manufacture over 700 products here, and only
about 15 are in backorder status. We've had several mechanical setbacks with
some of the production equipment here, but things are back up and running
now. That, combined with an extremely slow 2009, pushed our inventory levels
to the lowest point in 12 years.

We're running wide open to get these out the door, now (and have been every
time the equip was up). I've given my best guess at delivery times in the
past, but with a couple of major equipment breakdowns and a powder coating
problem, it's been a moving target with some of our products. My best guess,
with things running as well as they are now, we should have all of those
back orders caught up within the next 2 weeks.

People often only hear what they want, not to mention, most don't care when
something fails and pushes a delivery schedule back...they only want their
parts. If we miss a schedule for some reason, we suddenly become liars. I
understand both sides of the situation, but we can only work so much. Times
are tight with most small businesses, especially the powersports market, so
the answer isn't "hire more people".

I'll take a second to comment about the jabs the guy made at us online...

- No, we're not a member of the chamber or BBB. BBB only takes about 2-3
unsubstantiated negative reports to drop your score down to "D". The BBB
says, "for $600/yr we can help fix your score". We ship loads of
packages/day, over 45,000 in 2009, and the BBB doesn't take that into
consideration. They make it so it takes practically nothing to drop you
score, then they charge you $$ to make it look good again. That is one hell
of a lopside business tactic, if you want my opnion.

- Next, the chamber of this little 3600 population town offers nothing to
us...just a pretty little plague to hang on the wall and a bunch of dinner
meetings we can't attend because we actually _work_. We were on the chamber
and on the board for years, and got tired of all the wasted time with no
gain for business whatsoever. Yet, every time we have an open house and
bring folks into town (over 3500 people last year!!), the town is right
there with their hand out for fees and charges of all sorts.

- Lastly, his comment about the showroom..whew...we closed it for
renovations, and haven't finished them yet. In all these years, the showroom
only nets about 3% of our gross (at best), so it's not at the top of our
list of things to complete right now. It is, and always has been, a huge
waste of time and money. We constantly deal with theft and broken parts,
people who come in and yap for hours on end about stuff they bought
elsewhere for a few cents less, etc... We're downsizing the showroom and
converting it to warehouse space that's sorely needed. He totally failed to
mention that we expanded our service department, put in a waiting room for
our service customers, stretched the service hours out to 8am-6pm to better
allow them to get in and out with their bikes, and improved the total
serrvice operations throughput...all for our customers who actually stop in
and spend money.

If you don't want to wait, I understand. Let me know and I'll get a refund
processed for you. Otherwise, we're burning the midnight oil to get these
things caught up.

Sincerely,
Dave Hockaday
Manufacturing Manager
Scootworks, Inc.

I told him I would wait 2 more weeks as he said the back orders would be filled by then. He seems sincere.
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[billster50]

So does any other company offer the parts for the conversion? Seems to be a relatively small crowd here of dissatisfied customers. I suspect that the parts are not in demand and no reason to keep them on a shelf for a bike that is 4 years out of production.

[Master Gates]

Beware of scootworks ....It seems everything you order is 2wks out. Only problem is 2wks turns to 3,4,5,6 and longer if your willing to believe their BS. I ordered saddlebag mounts and after 52 days and many phone calls canceled my order.

same thing for me - had to get a refund after 5-6 weeks of "it will ship next week"

[chief]

Scootworks is a major supplier of products for us. If you have had a problem with delays from Scootworks, I'd like to hear from you.

[rderricknc]

Beware of scootworks ....It seems everything you order is 2wks out. Only problem is 2wks turns to 3,4,5,6 and longer if your willing to believe their BS. I ordered saddlebag mounts and after 52 days and many phone calls canceled my order.

[04Drifter]

Interested in the feedback on the belts for future use.
Had to make a decision recently ,and went with new chain and sprockets, one tooth larger in front as I didn't have enough feedback on the belts. Am happy with the new sprocket results, lower rpms and less buzz at highway.
Might go with the belt next year ,simply to get rid of that chain cleaning and lubing.

[Master Gates]

I really am interested in doing the belt conversion - I dont particularly enjoy lubricating the chain and the resulting grime it causes.

Whats up with scootworks these days?  I ordered a luggage rack and backrest from them back in early June and after 5 weeks of "oh we have powdercoating issues, but we will send your order in a few days" I had them refund my money.

[Rude Dog]

I was thinking seriously of doing it to my 800 but it dosen't look like there is enough room for the new wider belt Scootworks sells.  Anybody know if the wider belt will work?

The WideDrive conversion has been replaced with the MondoDrive conversion which uses a stronger belt so it isn't as wide.  Been waiting to hear more myself, before deciding on the conversion myself though. 

[Double B]

I have a belt drive on my 01 800. The previous owner had it done. I like it but since this is my first bike in over 20 years all I can compare it to is my memory of my ninja which was entirely different.

[topherloaf]

I wonder if it will take that "snap" out of the acceleration or if that's just a bike thing.  I mean....it's supposed to be a smoother ride right?

[TC]

 I also talked to Lupee and have ordered the belt drive system. They are two weeks out on delivery of belt systems so when I get it installed I will post how I like it. I gotta believe it is going to be a lot better than the chain cleaning,lubing and adjusting i just went through.

[topherloaf]

I sent you a PM Lupee....

[Lupee2u]

Hi!,

I have convert mine to belt drive and No Problems so far... been about 1500 miles. Chief posted my MOD it is relatively easy, with the proper tools and time.

If you have questions, drop me an email

Lupee

[TC]

 Then I may have to spend some more money on my Drifter. 

[topherloaf]

I actually called scootworks and the rep told me that it will fit on a Drifter 800 with no fender mods.  Did that on Thursday afternoon.  So, unless he doesn't know/is lying to me I don't expect there to be a fitment problem. 

[TC]

 I was thinking seriously of doing it to my 800 but it dosen't look like there is enough room for the new wider belt Scootworks sells.  Anybody know if the wider belt will work?

[topherloaf]

Ooooh.  Well I know of one guy on DRF that did it.  I guess he's the only one?  Does he still come around?  How does he like it?

[chief]

Mostly I see this on 800 classics, not necessarily drifters... though its the same deal.

[topherloaf]

That's all, I see it rarely talked about, and only one mod page for it.  I keep hearing it's been done alot and people are happy....where are you happy people?!?