nyc_commuter

Quick question to all other Soho owners: is it normal for the heatsink part of the roller brake to rattle? For some reason I thought the roller brake assembly was one self contained unit (with the heatsink bolted on), but I recently noticed that I am able to rock the heatsink "fin/dish" part back and forth slightly with my fingers. I'm also wondering if this is contributing to the various clanking noises that these brakes seem to make when running over bumpy terrain. Doesn't seem to affect performance, but I thought one advantage to roller brakes was their sealed and therefore impervious to outside elements design.

spacedesign

Hi NYC, my heatsink disk moves allright but it doesn't rattle, I had a rattle from the cable clamp where the exposed brake cable fixes to the roller brake. It's documented earlier in this tread. My heatsink disk does feel like is embedded in a rubber gasket, because I can move it and it holds in the new position.

bmorey

It's not the heatsink that's rattling -- it's the cable linkages. The heatsink does have some flex but it doesnt rattle. There are extensive posts on brake rattles earlier in the thread together with suggested fixes.

spacedesign

Ok guys, I have a small problem developing on my much loved Soho, its 6 months old, and has run about 500 miles, but from gears 5 and up its clicking on freewheel, and when I'm back peddling it makes more noise. I also note that when on up hills or into wind when resistance is evident there is a lot of straining/ creaking noise from the rear sprocket. I'll drop into my LBS in the morning to discuss. Have any of you guys any knowledge?

bmorey

I had a similar issue starting at about 6 months -- it sounds pretty much identical. In the end I couldn't stand it and tool the bike in for a service. I've written about this in an earlier post above. LBS cleaned out the gears and re-lubed -- problem solved. LBS said there were some metal shavings in the gears but didn't know where these came from. After the service the bike was like new.

spacedesign

Thanks for the reply Bmorey, I took in the bike today, my LBS is a great guy but we agreed opening the IGH was major surgery!, so they will have the bike sent back to the Trek Distributor here in Ireland for them to deal with it. I'll report back when I know more.

Incidently, I found a post within the wider Bike Forums here from someone with a similar issue, and wrote in their post saying that Trek had told them the first batch of Soho belt drive bikes shippped with Nexus hubs that had no grease applied, im trying to find it again now, if I can find it I will copy a link to here.

spacedesign

Here is that post:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post11586372

mandybenet

https://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/gro...16818941710325

for all Soho fans and users

mconlonx 

...only if they think taking a normal hub apart to regrease is also major surgery...

vtjim

+1... It's designed to be serviced. I've looked up how to remove the wheel and even that is a no-brainer. I haven't tried it yet, however.

lhb

I need to adjust the belt tension. But the tensionscrews are totally seized. I took rear triangle to the LBS but they were afraid that the screw would brake.
So I ordered 2 new rear triangles. The bike is about 1,5 years old. Has anyone had the same problem?

fietsbob

I take apart new bikes I buy, and grease all the dry screws
to keep that from happening..

I suspect that would have helped .. use Anti Seize ..
to be more secure that it will not repeat.

bmorey

My belt just gave out after 2.5 years. I was starting a moderately steep hill seat when all the teeth in contact with the front chainring stripped off. I had to walk home. A replacement belt cost $165.

At the same time I had the IGH serviced. It was in excellent condition. The service for that was $45.

frankthetank

Wow. Whoever is making those is making a killing. A timing belt for my car is a fraction of that. Is there aftermarket alternatives? I love the thought of a belt (they seem to work fine in cars). How many miles do you think you had on that belt?

bmorey

I can tell you exactly since I track my distances. It's 9,903 KM (6,150 miles).

seeker333

I assume that cost included replacement of the cog and chainring too.

https://classic.aebike.com/parts-acce...nsearch=Search

irclean

I would assume that a belt for a car would be cheaper since they're made by the thousands.

I paid ~$150 CAD for parts (belt + front and rear pulleys) to upgrade my 2010 Norco Ceres to Gates' CenterTrack system. That included shipping, but I had to pay ~$25 in duty charges. I assume that shipping the parts to bmorey (in Australia) accounts for some bigger $$$.

vtjim

Do you stand on the pedals a lot? That number seems low to me and, because I own one, I'm wondering what it takes to break the belt.

bmorey

Never, or at least extremely rarely. Wastes too much energy. When the teeth stripped I was sitting down and just starting a hill.

Interestingly the replacement belt is different from the original. The original was black both sides. The replacement has blue teeth. I wonder if they have been upgraded.

2.5 years is not too shabby -- a chain used to last me 12 months on previous bikes.

lhb

I had mine for 2 year and 12000 km, with the same belt, see the picture



Any one know a online bike store in UK selling spare belts?

seeker333

@lhb - Evidently you need at least a new belt now - you can see a tooth about to shear off in the pic. Probably need new cog and chainring too. The shop I linked in #341 ships internationally.

Based on 2 samples in this thread, I get the impression that a Gates belt drive must be replaced every 5,000 miles, at a cost of ~$170.

lhb

@seeker333 yes they ship international, I was trying to avoid costums. The belt is a 122t 10mm not to easy to find on stock. I a found a shop and the belt is replaced. The rear cog on a SG8 R31 is not like the 9 splines most shop sell. It should be part # FW8004 So far I have not found shop where it is on stock

tcs

The recently announced Continental belt drive system reportedly uses industry standard belts.

jrickards

This article (https://www.spadout.com/a/belt-driven...or-just-a-fad/) has a good roundup on belt drives. It looks promising.

seeker333

Nearly all the USA shops have a QBP account (QBP=largest bike parts wholesale distributor), FW8004 is a QBP catalog number, and odds are none of the shops "have" this part (have=ordered from QBP MPLS, UT or PA warehouse). You might try contacting QBP for ETA of this part, they are pretty helpful even to Joe Bicyclist.

https://www.qbp.com/page/contact