Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Is there a trick to installing a new belt on a spree? The service manual is not clear to me
on this issue,I think I am missing something simple.
Thanks, Kev

whats the problem??? take the clutch off slide it over the front pulley wedge the clutch open put belt on the clutch pulley install clutch take out wedge spin the front pulley a few time and ure good. Or easier yet just take the clutch and front pulley halve off and install. i use an impact wrench on these so i dont need to hold the clutch...

Thanks Abreen89, I guess I was not using enough force on the front pulley nut to
force the pulley half on the splines.
Kev

Be careful with those splines when you tighten the nut back - make sure you don't mangle them. If you don't have an impact wrench, you'll need to hold the crankshaft still. There are tools mentioned in several posts which will hold the outside pulley half. The service manual guides you to remove the fan cover and fan on the other side and hold the flywheel with a flywheel holder (strap wrench might work) but I've been cautioned that this puts a lot of stress on the crankshaft - not sure if that is accurate. A strap wrench will also hold the clutch bell while tightening that nut - probably want to use a little locktite on both nuts - don't want it coming loose while riding.

Make sure you keep belt, clutch shoes, clutch bell and pulleys clean. Brake cleaner is good to use on the pulleys and cluthc bell before re-assembly.

One trick I use is to wedge a small piece of wood or something else between the clutch pulley sides to allow more slack in the belt. This makes it easier to put the front outer pullley on.

Good luck

Wedge a 10 mm wrench into the driven face cogs and use a breaker bar to remove the nut. If you set the wrench just right it will set inside the castings of the engine case and the applied torque will not be transmitted thru the relatively delicate pressed crank. Truing a crank is not for the faint of heart and better to be avoided!

I removed the driven face gear from the crankshaft by wedging a wrench between the case and the gear to hold it. Once the nut is off pay attention to how all washers are oriented, then remove the gear. I found that it is easier than removing the clutch (requires special tool, homemade tool, or an oil filter wrench). Once you get the front driven-face gear off you can start setting the belt into the clutch by pulling the clutch apart by hand (lever it if you must with the back of a box wrench so not to gouge the clutch pulleys) and starting at the top of the clutch pulling the belt slack out and getting it to wedge against the rear case belt stop inside the clutch pulleys. I sorta had to use a 'sawing back & forth' motion to seat the belt between the clutch pulleys and back of the case where there is a tab that keeps the belt stuck between the pulleys. Remove the wedged wrenches that hold the pulleys apart to fully seat the new belt at the outer run of the clutch pulleys. You can at this point re install the front driven face gear the same way you removed it, wedging a wrench between the teeth and the case. The pressure of the driven face gear will help seat the new belt further into the clutch pulley halves. Kick it over a few times without key on (kick start if you have one) to further seat the new belt. I used a Goodyear brand AX24 belt from any local autoparts store ($9-10) and it works great. This how-to is just the easy way that I found for installing belts without having to remove the clutch, which without proper tool sucks...

I am by far no expert, just a guy learning from the experience of others via. the internet, my Spree service manual, and first hand wrenching. I have always fixed my own houses, cars, bikes, computers, and now my scoot =)