Zero DS 2013, Owner'S Manual

Page: 79 / 124

General Maintenance
5.15
Drive Belt
The drive belt provides low maintenance and quiet
operation with minimal stretch. Keep dirt, grease, oil, and
debris off the belt and sprockets.The drive belt tension
should be checked and adjusted at the intervals specified
in the Maintenance Schedule. For maintenance
information, see the Maintenance Schedule on
page 5.2 .
Clean the belt with mild soap and water when washing
your motorcycle. Towel dry and inspect for the following:

Cuts or unusual wear patterns.

Damage to the center of the belt.

Outside edge beveling. Some beveling is common but it
indicates that sprockets are misaligned.

Outside ribbed surface for signs of stone puncture.

Inside (tooth portion) of belt for exposed tensile cords
normally covered by nylon layer and polyethylene layer.
This condition will result in belt failure and indicates
worn sprocket teeth.

Signs of puncture or cracking at the base of the belt
teeth.
If any of the above conditions are found, the belt should be
replaced.
Checking Drive Belt Tension
Proper belt tension is essential for optimum operation of
the drive system.
Lack of belt tension can lead to “ratcheting”. The teeth of
the belt slide over the teeth of the rear sprocket. This
causes an unpleasant sound; the ratcheting can also
cause damage to the carbon tensile cords. If ratcheting
has occurred you should replace the belt before the next
time you ride.
Too much tension can increase the wear of your drive
system and the system can drag.
The tension is checked by using a Tension Tester.
The Tension Tester has a plastic measurement arm,
located in a slot. Along this slot there is a measuring scale.
The point of intersection of the measurement arm and the
measuring scale shows the tension of the belt. There is a
button (clicking pad) on the upper side of the Tension
Tester, where you can secure your finger with a rubber
band holder. A spring is located underneath this clicking
pad. If a certain pressure is applied to the spring, it makes
a clicking sound.
Zero Owner's Manual (S and DS).book Page 15 Friday, April 26, 2013 4:55 PM