darkrider Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Are there any benefits to right side drive? I get the whole nostalgia factor and everything since (I'm guessing) most bikes where right side drive in the begining. but is there any mechanical or efficiency advantage to converting a left side drive to right side? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 much easier to change the belt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lschultz Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 much easier to change the belt On a Victory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maninbox Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Like Doc says, right side drive has every advantage except maybe cost. Left side drive belt change means pulling the inner and outer primary, rear wheel and maybe swingarm. This is a pretty big job, even for the pros. Right side drive belt change usually means only drive sprocket cover and rear wheel. Can even be done on the side of the road if need be. For balance purposes, right side drive allows much wider rear tires and swingarms because the extra clearance needed doesn't require the primary to move outwards. On left side drive bikes like our Indians, we are already unbalanced to the left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHIEF DOC 99 Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Some aftermarket rightside drive transmission output pulleys incorporate a disc brake rotor and caliper. Seems like brake dust would accumulate there though. Rightside Transmissions of the Evo and Twin Cam design are mostly hydraulic clutch operated. Rightside drives do balance the powertrain weight on the frame better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebates Posted January 3, 2013 Share Posted January 3, 2013 Like Doc says, right side drive has every advantage except maybe cost. Left side drive belt change means pulling the inner and outer primary, rear wheel and maybe swingarm. This is a pretty big job, even for the pros. Right side drive belt change usually means only drive sprocket cover and rear wheel. Can even be done on the side of the road if need be. For balance purposes, right side drive allows much wider rear tires and swingarms because the extra clearance needed doesn't require the primary to move outwards. On left side drive bikes like our Indians, we are already unbalanced to the left. So that's why I need to lean a little right when riding with no hands. Thx John 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkrider Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 the changing belt thing would make sense. wouldn't you still have to pull the swing arm though? having a chain drive would take care of that. it really wasn't a big deal pulling my primary when I will need to change my sprocket. seems like you would lose some torque with a right side drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vagabondjpm Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 If I understand correctly, with the rotation of the engine, THEORETICALLY you increase your torque with a right side drive. I can only speak about my Vic when I say no need to fool with the swing arm. Belt change takes very little time. Ride safe, Vagabond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkrider Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 If I understand correctly, with the rotation of the engine, THEORETICALLY you increase your torque with a right side drive. I can only speak about my Vic when I say no need to fool with the swing arm. Belt change takes very little time. Ride safe, Vagabond that would definetly be a advantage then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebates Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 I believe that torque is a measurement of twisting power applied to a shaft,... and that measurement will not change if applied from one side or the other,... or if it is applied in opposite direction. Of interest,...(because I'm home with the flue and bored) A chain runs about 2 % power loss, a drive belt about 5% and a drive shaft about 15%. I say about because every set up is different. On a sprocket or pulley set up, the gearing will not change the ratio by using a matching large sprocket (or pulley) set up VS a matching smaller sprocket (or pulley) set up. The larger set up (same ratio) will wear less over time and is slower because of the power loss that it uses to rotate the extra mass. It's a trade off. The new style chains run cleaner than the old because they are internally lubricated,...the new style chain is manufactured with lubricant is inside the furrels so it lubes from the inside out. The centrifugal force applied by rotating helps to get the lube into the joint of chain and there fore is efficient. The old chains were externally lubed. The centrifugal force causes the lube to fly off the chain and therefore in-efficient and messy. A drive shaft is far less efficient to run because the direction of power has to change to get to the rear wheel. Plus the power loss to rotate all that extra mass. A typical V-twin crank shaft set up (V-Star) with a drive shaft has to change the direction of power twice and has no torque steer. A typical inline crankshaft set up (BMW) only has to change the direction of power once because the crank shaft is turning in line as the drive shaft. Therefore it has less power loss than the typical V-twin set up ,but their is torque steer added. Drive train load is variable depending what gear your in. First gear has more torque applied at the rear wheel so it will most likely cause a failure in that area. Like broken spokes & studs, snap a chain or belt. High gear moves the torque from the rear wheel to the start of the drivetrain. For example a weak clutch will work taking off but slip in a higher gear and with less power applied. A hole shot will stress everthing because the maximum power is being tranfered to the entire drive line. First at the motor and then down the drive line by way of the clutch. No spell check,...it's time to watch Arash Usmanee box on TV. FWIW,...John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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