Pulley spacer issues

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Sep 11, 2012 | 02:44 PM

Rob85WG

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 282

Likes: 7

From: Southern MD

Pulley spacer issues

Hello Gents,

I recently noticed my drive belt is squeaking and I found the belt is tracking on the outer edge of the wheel pulley. I checked the wheel for straightness and it looked ok. I looked at the parts list for my bike and found that I was missing a .2" spacer behind the stock pulley. I bought and installed the spacer but now the pulley hits the swing-arm. Swing-arm is chromed, so it may not be stock. I lost touch with the PO so I can't ask him about it. I can adjust the wheel so it doesn't hit but that makes the belt ride on the outside of both pulleys.

Question is: How much pulley to swingarm clearance should I have when the wheel is true? Has anyone else ditched the stock spacer? I'm worried it could lock up if I stress the suspension in a turn or hard breaking.

Thanks alot

Rob

Sep 11, 2012 | 06:05 PM

pjb

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 3,008

Likes: 463

Since almost new, I've had a chromed Softail Custom solid rim on the back of my 85 FXWG. Last year I wanted to go back to an old skool look, so I bought a spoked rim. I had sold my original rim many years ago. I found the original spacer that was behind my pulley with the original spoked wheel, and installed it. The pulley hit the swingarm, like you mentioned, so I removed it and installed the pulley with no spacer. Fit perfect. The new spoked rim was an ebay special.

Sep 11, 2012 | 06:49 PM

Rob85WG

Thread Starter

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 282

Likes: 7

From: Southern MD

OK.... Maybe the newer aftermarket wheels have a different offset to eliminate the need for a spacer. My wheel could be aftermarket also. I'll pull the spacer back off, align the wheel again and check both pulleys. I think the belt should track near the center of the front pulley. Is that right? If it doesn't, I may try a thinner spacer.

I may make it to Delmarva bike week after all.

Thanks

Sep 11, 2012 | 09:16 PM

hatchetman

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 1,595

Likes: 8

From: Vancouver Island British Colombia Canada

Belts can be a pain in the hoop. I eye ball my belt alignment & how it tracks on both sprockets. Just a lil tweak here & there to make it dead on.
if it squeaks, carry a bar of soap with you & rub the sides of the belt with it. Keeps it quiet until you hit rain.
Hatch.

Sep 12, 2012 | 04:37 AM

grbrown

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 45,429

Likes: 2,897

From: Bedford UK

The front pulley is much wider than the rear, so it will be happy wherever the belt runs on it! You may find just a subtle change in rear wheel alignment will solve the problem you mention.