Good run gone bad

Well I finally got the '83 KZ440 running dang near perfect so when the guys at work said it was Motorcycle Friday; I was all over it. The bike ran handled sweet for about twenty miles at 65-70 mph and then two miles from work it started to slow down suddenly. Pulled the clutch in and quickly pulled to the shoulder. It was running and shifting fine but no go. I got off and took a look and the belt was gone. So I tried to find one and nothing. I saw here that the main suggestion to the problem is to switch to a chain drive. As much as I waned this bike stock I guess this is the way to go. I found the sprockets, chain and chain guard this morning and should have them this week. There goes the the first ride of the spring season; back to working on it instead of riding it.

Belts lose strength with age, they also need some tension.
Belt number or id ?

Belt drives were touted as being clean, maintenance free, etc., etc. Of course, what the manufacturers never said was that when they stopped selling belts the owner would be the stuckee when he needed a new one. If you can find one, such as the one shown in the link below, the price is quite high ($275!). Ed

www.ebay.com/i/254220411401?chn=ps&norov...REAQYASABEgLNr_D_BwE

I swear I've seen threads here or another forum about certain Harley or snowmobile belts that can fit the KZ440 or be custom manufactured for less than the eBay NOS price. I'd like to find a spare belt in case I find myself in a situation like yours.

Found this using google. www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/threads/for-a...-their-kz440.155323/

I was looking at a KZ440 online this morning and got curious about belt replacement which led me to this thread. Here's an option that might be worth considering:
Harley used a 14mm belt and it was available in various widths and tooth counts. 40022-91 is a 14mm pitch belt that's 1-1/8" and 128 tooth. 40048-07 is the same but 130 tooth. One of the two ought work in place of the 129 tooth stock belt.

I had to head to my parents house this weekend along the same route as my work ride. I slowed down about where the belt broke and found it laying on the shoulder. Now I know what size it really is. It is part #59011-1009 14mm pitch, 32mm wide 129 teeth. I am not sure the Haley belt would work being about 1/8" (3mm) less in width. I am going to look into it though as well as maybe having one made by a company we have used here at work before. If either one can be done; I know three other people looking for the same belt.

I would bet real money that a 3mm difference in width is irrelevant. If it bothered you, it should be pretty easy to have the pullies machined 2 or 2.5 mm.

Well, even if I did go with that belt it would about $170. And I feel that with the play in it if it moved around it would chew up the belt teeth.
I asked for a quote to make from a place and they said they don't carry and neither do their vendor so have a nice day.
Anyway. I do have a used belt coming to me sometime soon. If it looks ok, I may run it. If not, I will just do the chain conversion.

To extend the belt life time you have to switch the belt rotating direction every 10000 miles.

this place advertises custom made drive belts.
www.bbman.com/custom-belts/

Scirocco wrote: To extend the belt life time you have to switch the belt rotating direction every 10000 miles.

Can you cite a source or specification for this? Anything from a Kawasaki manual?

Well I sucked it up and bought a new belt off the bay. The person selling it said he picked it up from a dealer the end of last year. Other than being who knows how many years on the shelf, it is perfect.
As far as rotating the belt goes; the manual says not to do it. The belt even has a paint mark on the side that goes towards engine when installing.