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Drive Belt Tension

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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 02:47 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by rounder
yup just twist it to 45 deg or so. won't hurt anything to run it a little loose.
Loose is bad, run slightly tight if anything.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 02:48 AM
  #12  
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Don't **** about people, the gauge is like 30 bucks and a belt replacement is like 600....work it out for yourselves......
 
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 05:47 AM
  #13  
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Belt-...c15577&vxp=mtr
picked mine up at ebay
piece of mind.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 06:04 AM
  #14  
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at 10 lbs of force the belts suppose to have a certain amount of deflection (dont have my service manual with me)

Harley Davidson Belt Tension Tool Kit # 40006-85

I just ordered one from eBay, $23.95 shipped
 

Last edited by ynots; Feb 20, 2013 at 06:12 AM.
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 09:09 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by spanners39
don't **** about people, the gauge is like 30 bucks and a belt replacement is like 600....work it out for yourselves......
hahahaha!!!!!
 
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 09:19 AM
  #16  
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Ya I was told to not wast money on the tool. And to just do it by the "seat of the pants" kinda way. If it takes quite a bit of force to get it to flex 1/4". And you really don't want to push on it any harder, then it's right. But if you can flex it 1/4", and it feels like you could go further, it's to loose.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 05:22 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by FXDWG12
Ya I was told to not wast money on the tool. And to just do it by the "seat of the pants" kinda way. If it takes quite a bit of force to get it to flex 1/4". And you really don't want to push on it any harder, then it's right. But if you can flex it 1/4", and it feels like you could go further, it's to loose.
This is why these tools are invented. What feels like "quite a bit of force" is going to be different from one person to the next.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 07:01 PM
  #18  
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Make a tool.
Piece of 3/8 tubing, close one end, drop a spring inside it, slip a piece of a wooden dowel inside, go to the local market....push down on their produce scale until scale reads 10 lbs. force. Mark the dowel at the lower edge of the tubing, presto, now ya got the tool ya need. Probably got the stuff to make it around your garage!
 
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 08:48 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by QehQeh
This is why these tools are invented. What feels like "quite a bit of force" is going to be different from one person to the next.
Ya I can't dispute that. But most wrenchers know the difference between the force it takes to brake something. And the force it takes to gets something tight. It was explained to me that after cresting the 10# mark, your virtually pushing on a wall to get any more movement at all. Tried it on my bike after the 1k inspection. My conclusion is that the guy was right.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2013 | 08:50 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Ratbob
A good rule of thumb is to give it a twist, should go about 45 deg.
Yup. + 2 The gauge aint worth the money.
 
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