Does anyone know the recommended allowable travel for the drive belt on my Deuce? I don't have the Harley gauge to apply 10 pounds of tension to it.

On most bikes, you aim for 1/2" of play (13mm) in the chain.

Does anyone have the correct setting for this? This is my first adjustment on a belt-drive bike (just changed rims). Or will I need to bite the bullet & get a gauge?

TIA,

Cannon

 

Take the belt in mid span, and twist with your fingers as hard as you can.
Aim for 45 degrees from horizontal, any less and it's too tight, any more and it's too loose.

I've never had any problems doing it this way from the belt jumping or slipping (too loose) or whining (too tight).

 

Why not spend the $25 so you dont have to guess?

 

I bought that gauge and don't use it. I doubt it is a precise instrument anyway. The twist thing works as well as just learning the feel of what a 10 gallon jug of milk feels like on your finger and pushing up while looking at the deflection. I've only had to adjust my belt once in 64k miles. It still looks good. My calibrated finger must be working properly.

 

Exactly. If you are going to do your own maintainance it only makes sense to get the tools that are required for the job.

Regards,

Bill

 

I'll gladly sell my gauge for 20 bucks.

 

That instrument is essentially a fish scale in reverse. They are more accurate and repeastable than twisting the belt with your fingers.

Ever get a titty-twister? No two are alike!

 

Yep,just like a weggie.

Reapeastable?

 

I used the old finger-twist technique on my old RK, and its original belt was on the bike when I traded it in last November with 106k miles on it. I bought the gauge in 1996 and never used it, but decided to start with my new SG. For the SG, the spec is 1/4 - 5/16" at 10 lbs. in the center of the belt at the bottom section, more slack for models without the low-profile shocks. There is a gauge of sorts on the belt guard and you can view what's going on from the slit in the guard. Mine felt okay using the twist test, but checked out at 1" at 10 lbs., which is far out of spec. I tightented it to 1/2" and it felt plenty tight, so I left it there. I don't do burn-outs or hole shots, so this should be fine for me.

If you don't abuse your belt by doing frequent hole shots or power shifts I would think you would be fine with the twist test, as I did with my old bike.

 

I have the gauge and I've done the twist test and managed to do ok both ways. However, I've never quite mastered the technique of checking belt tension while sitting on the bike....