Squeaky Drive Belt
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Monticello, Florida
Squeaky Drive Belt
Hey all. I have a custom built Bobber. It has a 98 Evo motor on a Paugho (sp) frame. The drive belt is squeaking. I bought a belt deflection tool and made sure that the tension is right. I've adjusted the wheel several times trying to get rid of this noise with no success. I don't have the regular measuring points on this frame that you would have with a stock frame. I measured the distance between the adjustment lugs to the center of the axle and they are the same but, still squeaking. Any suggestions? Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Upstate New York
While you're checking the belt tension, check the pulleys for runout. I had a problem where my belt had a consistent squeak that wouldn't go away. It turned out to be a bad pulley (center hole machined off-center), causing the belt to tighten/loosen with every rotation.
As it was an H-D replacement pulley, H-D warrantied it.
As it was an H-D replacement pulley, H-D warrantied it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Upstate New York
Not necessarily. My belt has always run to the outside of the rear pulley going forward, and backing up, the belt shifts to the inside. No matter how I align the wheel/pulley, it still does this and has for 21 years, 3 belts and two sets of pulleys. If you look at the rear pulley, the teeth are cast, and thus, have a bit of "draft" on them (they a bit bigger on the outside than the inside). A belt will always try to "climb" to the high side of a pulley. Old shop machinery used flat belts, and the pulleys had no flanges at all. The belts stayed on the pulleys because the pulleys weren't flat, they had a very slight "crown" in the center, and that crown kept the belt centered on the pulley.
Last edited by Uncle G.; Jun 23, 2014 at 12:15 PM.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
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Likes: 3,768
From: Monticello, Florida
Not necessarily. My belt has always run to the outside of the rear pulley going forward, and backing up, the belt shifts to the inside. No matter how I align the wheel/pulley, it still does this and has for 21 years, 3 belts and two sets of pulleys. If you look at the rear pulley, the teeth are cast, and thus, have a bit of "draft" on them (they a bit bigger on the outside than the inside). A belt will always try to "climb" to the high side of a pulley. Old shop machinery used flat belts, and the pulleys had no flanges at all. The belts stayed on the pulleys because the pulleys weren't flat, they had a very slight "crown" in the center, and that crown kept the belt centered on the pulley.
I'll try to loosen the belt a tad and see if that helps.
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From: NW AR
Well, even if it's not running in the center, you can play with the alignment and see that you can find a setting where the belt doesn't tend to walk as much. If loosening it doesn't help, I'd check it.
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From: Honah Lee
Dress the belt with a few shots of talcum powder (baby). It will come back, but after about the 3 or 4th time, the noise will quit. However, a good washing or riding in the rain may bring it back. That is also how I check cars when looking for idler bearing noise. Actually being too clean is the problem with older belts. A new Harley belt has a lube coating on it...least it says that in my service manual. Someone up there said it should track to the middle but service manual says it tracks on the back to the outside going fwd. That is what my Softail does and I set the wheel to the motor. I have +/- 1/32 for the alignment to the swing arm bearings. I use a dial caliper to the swing arm milled flats which are true to the adjuster flats. I have a lock nut set exactly to the end of the adjuster.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 14, 2018 at 11:08 AM.
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From: New Mexico-No, you don't need a passport.
I had a noisy belt on my Electra Glide.
I tried everything to fix it.
A little silicone spray would kill the noise for a little while but it always came back.
Adjustment didn't help.
It was the drive pulley that was causing the problem.
The belt had worn the pulley down about a quarter inch.
A new pulley solved the problem.
Check your drive pulley.
I tried everything to fix it.
A little silicone spray would kill the noise for a little while but it always came back.
Adjustment didn't help.
It was the drive pulley that was causing the problem.
The belt had worn the pulley down about a quarter inch.
A new pulley solved the problem.
Check your drive pulley.