tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post4683310545982428697..comments2024-03-18T18:46:48.791-05:00Comments on Guitar Ted Productions: The Belt: Long Term UpdateGuitar Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-10941844635048593632012-06-15T08:50:37.632-05:002012-06-15T08:50:37.632-05:00Had to post a follow up comment. Thanks to your bl...Had to post a follow up comment. Thanks to your blog, Gates contacted me and asked if I'd be willing to give the new Center Track a try...for free! Mark and Todd hooked me up with the right parts and got my Spot belted up again.<br /><br />I must say, the new Center Track is amazing. Much better then the previous generation. Even the installation was easier. Simple swap of my old chain bits for the new belt and pulleys. Didn't have to move any spacers around, didn't have any clearance issues, nothing. 10 minutes swap-out and the bike was belted again.<br /><br />I now have a couple "good" rides on the new system and it has worked flawlessly. The original system NEVER worked this good, ever. The Center Track has not skipped, I can run lower tension and I don't worry about burning out my BB or freehub bearings. So far, I'm very happy and impressed.<br /><br />If you tried the 1st generation belt drive and had problems like me, the new Center Track is worth a second look. It will restore your faith in the product. Gates did their homework this time around.Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02060374591974736889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-38516506060247480532012-05-25T07:49:09.792-05:002012-05-25T07:49:09.792-05:00@Ari, @rideonpurpose: The noise in very dry dusty ...@Ari, @rideonpurpose: The noise in very dry dusty conditions was also noted by my Twenty Nine Inches co-writer, Grannygear. He was experiencing a high pitched squeak when things were very dry in SoCal. His solution was to spray the belt with silicone, which quieted down things for him, but the process had to be repeated about as often as one would lube a chain.<br /><br />I had tried getting a gravel grinder bike with a belt drive for testing, but it never came through. I suspect I also would have found the same noise the Almanzo 100 rider did.Guitar Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10960580677548417562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-48713063265110805632012-05-24T22:30:00.079-05:002012-05-24T22:30:00.079-05:00I don't know what system/generation of belt dr...I don't know what system/generation of belt drive was in use... but there was a dude with one at the Almanzo. I passed him around after I came back to the 100 course (I was racing the 162). I noticed he had a belt drive because of the god awful racket it was putting out.rideonpurposehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841233464784027037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-3859309870286934892012-05-24T11:24:57.703-05:002012-05-24T11:24:57.703-05:00Too many "if's" for me. "If&qu...Too many "if's" for me. "If" your bike is stiff enough, "if" you can find the right belt length, "if" you use the Center Track and not the original version and finally "if" you have really deep pockets.<br /><br />I have a Spot Brand frame, tried the original CDS and had too many issues. All the ones you mention as well as poor frame clearance with the front ring. I went back to the chain and have been very happy.<br /><br />I'd try the Center Track version only "IF" Gates was willing to send it to me with a 110% money back guarantee. Because right now, I have $300 worth of CDS hanging on my wall.Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02060374591974736889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12831567.post-30038632798322567662012-05-24T07:57:19.850-05:002012-05-24T07:57:19.850-05:00I wonder what that gravel will do to it long term....I wonder what that gravel will do to it long term. <br />ariArihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13083766829086663770noreply@blogger.com