Belt to chain conversion
Verfasst: Mi 31. Aug 2016, 18:37
I have a 1983 Z750K1. Has anyone here done a conversion to chain from belt drive? What parts should I be looking for?
Hi Dwight,
sure, I have done it and went to Norway and back, approx. 7.500 km ;-)
At least you need to have a chain and sprocket set for a 750Twin.
I have used a 17:38 ratio, while 16:38 is stock.
Front sprocket of a Yamaha SR500 (single) matches perfectly.
Ensure to buy a good quality chain like DID or others.
Don't buy a cheap set.
You need to use an LTD chain guard, as the BD belt guard has a to large radius to fit nicely.
This pic shows an LTD chain guard in not yet optimized position.
You can't fix the front holder of it to the BD swing arm and I've just cut the front end off.
Under the swingarm, there is a holder of a belt guide. It is to large/long to stay in place and I have used a hammer to bend it, instead of cutting it off with a grinder.
Keep all the spacers on the rear wheel axle as they are. Don't mix with any other LTD parts.
Especially the large, left hand mounted spacer makes the difference:
Done all of above mentioned, I went to Norway and it worked ;-)
My LTD and me in the Midnight sun 20th of June 2016:
There might be some more modifications to do to be perfect.
Front sprocket of a Z750LTD, model Y2 (1983 only), has a bit of offset to optimize the straight chain / position of front to rear sprocket.
At the main drive shaft, where the front sprocket is mounted, there is a different cover on the engine used with an additional chain guard.
You may, but most not, swap that cover incl. the chain guard.
It is used to protect the engine case if the drive chain brakes.
It happened to Maria's LTD on the very last stage of our Norway trip, about 250 km away from home.
Left hand is the broken and right hand side is a "new" cover with front chain guard:
All the best,
Michael