Just finished changing a rear belt on a 98 1200. Wheel is aligned & belt tracks ok in wheel pulley but I noticed that the belt is about 1/8" off the drive pulley (engine side). It stays there but I would think it should be all the way on, has anyone else seen this. Can't say how the previous belt was tracking because it was already gone before I started.

 

how is it on back pulley?

 

Back pulley = wheel pulley & is fine, belt seems to track evenly enough & wheel is true in swingarm, it just seems to return to that position if i try to guide it all the way onto drive pulley, i was guessing maybe a spacer issue but then the wheels are stock & i haven't changed anything there that's why i thought somebody else might have noticed the same thing, if it's that unusual I guess I'll have to take it all apart again & find out why.

 

The belt should not be hanging off the pulley at all.

Are you using the proper wheel alignment tool on your back tire?

 

That's what i thought!, using a wire with a slider to position rear axle, axle is centred & belt tracks good on rear pulley

 

Just out of curiosity, did you check the width of the new belt against the width of the old belt?

 

Yes, it's a 128 tooth, 1 1/18" belt, made by Panther, the size is correct for that year / model, & alignment has been checked by way of the reference holes drilled in swingarm as well as an extra check done by measuring the distance from swing arm pivot bolt to axle centres using, as i said a wire rod & indicator made just for that purpose. both ways work fine but the reference holes in the swingarm are the best & easiest to use because the rear footpeg mounts get in the way of a really acurate measurement from the swingarm bolt centers.

 

Not trying to point fingers or anything, but something isn't right.

Is the wire bent according to specs?
Are you using said wire according to the manual?
Are you using those plastic centering thingies?
I could help you better if you posted pix (of nekked chicks).

 

Not that your comments aren't worthwhile, but do you really expect anyone to take you seriously with that GOOFBALL as a sig pic?

 

did you get your wheel spacers back in on the right sides?