Quote:
Originally Posted by enivid
What is your hypothesis on why your kit tends to breaks belts? All user error or a design problem?
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I'd say both in this case.
1. the op was running on smooth idle pulleys, since then KW have shipped out cogged pulleys and later on they have also revised and shipped out crank and ss bigger pulleys. I'd say it's the early kits design issue as well as user's issue for not registering or keeping up with updates. Sounds like he's bought a second hand kit.
2. the instruction on KW kit belt tensioning are confusing where they suggest an alternative method of tensioning the belt by measuring the bolt space and setting it to 21mm, I'd remove that note as people tend to measure at wrong places.
The instruction do specify clearly though that the belt tension has to be set to 61hz. Now, how many people who have broken their belts have followed this instruction (including myself on my first belt)???
3. The OP obviously did not properly tension the belt - he stated himself he was not able to do that using phone app. He said he's kit was installed by a mechanic, has he ever asked the mechanic if he has a special frequency measuring belt tension tool? I doubt many mechanics have it as it costs over 1k and just few belts require tensioning by frequency.
4. There bunch of posts on how to properly tension the belt in the owners thread and it doesn't look like op has read it.
I'm not a big fan of the cogged belt KW uses (it seems too fragile if overtensioned) neither I'm a fan of the tensioning mechanism (bolt), I'd much prefer a belt that could slip and spring based tensioner. As is, it's too easy for DYIers to overtighten the belt by not following what the instructions call for. I'm rather a big fan of a kiss principle - make it hard to use it wrong.
However if installed propely and tensioned properly the kit is reliable.