Drive Belt Tracking
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 64
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From: milwaukee
Drive Belt Tracking
I put a new drive belt on my 98 dyna and rotated the tire and noticed that the belt does not track in the center of the front pulley . I put it in the center of the pulley and after a few rotations it pulls right up close next to the engine side. I don't know if this is normal i never checked where the last belt tracked on the front pulley. I am trying to see if it is rubbing up against anything that close to the engine. any help would be appreciated
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,419
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
It's not the main shaft ... spin the wheel backwards and see if the belt tracks in the opposite direction ... tweak the adjusters to get it as centered as possible
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,685
Likes: 13,896
From: Northern New Jersey
I think of the main shaft were bent the pulley would orbit causing the belt to be loose then tight as the orbiting pulley move toward the rear wheel and away 180 degrees later.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Rear Wheel Tracking
I don't know if your bike has it but my 06 dyna has little holes in the rear swing arm. It is easy to take a wire coat hanger and cut off a section about 6 inches long. Then bend one end of it 90 degrees about 1/4 inch long. Then measure both sides to see if they are even. I put a tiny o-ring on my piece of coat hanger to indicate where the center of the axle actually is, and then go to the other side and check for the same dimension. If they are not the same, bring the shorter side further back to match the other. I know I will catch flack on this forum for saying this but, the belt should be tight enough that you can grab it and deflect it no more than 45 degrees. If you can't deflect it that far, it's too tight...If you can deflect it more, then it's too loose.
Most of the guys here will say you need to buy the HD tool to check the belt tension, and if you want a nifty new tool, by all means buy it. I have always done it by my prescribed method and never had a problem. If you put anti-seize on the axle when it was off the bike, you don't ever need to loosen the belt tensioners again to get the axle out of the swing arm.
Most of the guys here will say you need to buy the HD tool to check the belt tension, and if you want a nifty new tool, by all means buy it. I have always done it by my prescribed method and never had a problem. If you put anti-seize on the axle when it was off the bike, you don't ever need to loosen the belt tensioners again to get the axle out of the swing arm.
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 58
Likes: 4
From: Central Arkansas
I don't know if your bike has it but my 06 dyna has little holes in the rear swing arm. It is easy to take a wire coat hanger and cut off a section about 6 inches long. Then bend one end of it 90 degrees about 1/4 inch long. Then measure both sides to see if they are even. I put a tiny o-ring on my piece of coat hanger to indicate where the center of the axle actually is, and then go to the other side and check for the same dimension. If they are not the same, bring the shorter side further back to match the other. I know I will catch flack on this forum for saying this but, the belt should be tight enough that you can grab it and deflect it no more than 45 degrees. If you can't deflect it that far, it's too tight...If you can deflect it more, then it's too loose.
Most of the guys here will say you need to buy the HD tool to check the belt tension, and if you want a nifty new tool, by all means buy it. I have always done it by my prescribed method and never had a problem. If you put anti-seize on the axle when it was off the bike, you don't ever need to loosen the belt tensioners again to get the axle out of the swing arm.
Most of the guys here will say you need to buy the HD tool to check the belt tension, and if you want a nifty new tool, by all means buy it. I have always done it by my prescribed method and never had a problem. If you put anti-seize on the axle when it was off the bike, you don't ever need to loosen the belt tensioners again to get the axle out of the swing arm.