drive belt change

[flyingzonker]

I have a 2013 PCX. I have had it for 4.5 years and have 18000 miles on it. I changed the belt once but can't remember if I have 5000 or 10000 miles on it at the time. I do know that the belt looked like new when I replaced it. So...how often do people actually need to change the belt (as opposed to how often Honda recommends it)?

[jburner]

Not to hijack, but I’ve also wondered if there is a shelf life to these belts. I know that mine is original and my 2013 only has 2800 mi on it. Is there a time when the belt gets old and should be replaced?

[Mel46]

I would say that:
If a belt is on a bike, stretched a little from use, but the bike then is parked for multiple years with non-use, change the belt.
If you buy a used bike with no records, change the belt. (And the oil.)
If you often ride at top speed and you notice a significant loss in topend, change the belt.
If you can not remember when you last changed the belt, but the bike is running nicely, open up the cover, clean out the area, inspect the belt, and get back to riding....unless you know for certain that the number of miles on the belt is in the teens, in which case I would change the belt.

[Inoplanetyanin]

Short of superstition and psychology,

the belt should be replaced when it reaches the minimum width that is specified in the service manual. I don't have one in front of me, but it shouldn't be hard to find.

Obviously if the rubber belt if over 6 years old, you may want to preventatively replace it as the rubber deteriorates with age.

[gn2]

If you could post the bit in the manual which shows how to measure the belt width that would be helpful, because its not at all obvious how to do it properly.

[alx123]

this from the 2013 model

belt.jpg (70.89 KiB) Viewed 2583 times

[gn2]

Aye that's it.