Having one hell of a time with this. Figured I would do the 5000 mile service myself. My belt was a little loose. I bought the belt tension guage, made one of the little coat hanger deals with the o ring on it to measure and figured it would be a piece of cake. My ***! I shouldve just left the damn thing alone. I've messed with it three times and still cant get it right. Belt whining like crazy. Here's what makes it real hard. The nuts on the side of the axles arent the same size. The hole in the center of the axle isnt the same diameter on each side either. This makes it really hard to find a good reference point for both sides. Anybody elses bike like this? Anybody got any ideas? The belt is up against the outside edge of the sprocket. I'm assuming I could tighten the left side a little (or loosen the right side) and this should make the belt track more towards the right of the sprocket, right??? Or is it supposed to be to the outside? Thanks.

 

I seem to be having the same problem. I just had a new back tire installed by a local bike shop, not HD, and my belt whines like crazy also. Mine is a 99 Softail custom. You do have to measure from the center of the swing arm bolt, to the center of the axle to keep the belt running true. My belt is running in the center of the sprocket ok, I guess I do not have the right tension yet. I do not have the tension gauge as I mistakenly thought I could get it close enough. Must be pretty critical.

 

I line up the rear wheel with the front wheel by sighting down both sides of the tire.

 

If it's whining it may be too tight. I had the same problem after adjusting mine. I just backed if off a little and the whining went away.

 

Thanks Mike; I loostened mine the other day and that did seem to help. I haven't had time to play with it since, so will try a little more slack and see. I think you are probably right. Thanks;