General Topics/Tech Tips Discussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.

Measuring drive belt deflection

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 10:04 AM
  #11  
Wizardofaus's Avatar
Wizardofaus
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 230
From: United States
Default

Originally Posted by Stopit
Which is all good as long as the correct amount of tension is applied when measured.
Well my belt is pretty tight, not bar tight 😳 and moves up the scale 3/4 of the way. . A perfect measure no. But a pretty good guide line if you don’t have anything else to go by.

Wiz
 

Last edited by Wizardofaus; Jun 23, 2018 at 10:42 AM.
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 10:09 AM
  #12  
Yamaharley's Avatar
Yamaharley
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 546
From: Wayne County, PA
Default

After you pull the rear wheel a dozen or so times it just becomes second nature... i also use the dirtbike method where you put the swingarm at the point where the belt would have the most tension, if its not stupid tight you generally are ok.
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 10:52 AM
  #13  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Default

Ok..enough..P51, that will work for a Mustang but if you have a F35, get a gage....I use to fly a P51 55 years or so ago..of course, it had a 049 motor on it...
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 11:11 AM
  #14  
hardheaded's Avatar
hardheaded
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,224
Likes: 3,049
From: St.Louis Mo.
Default

buy the tool and make sure you adjust when cold. also Jims makes a nice little tool that goes on the end of the axle and allows you to dial the tension right in.
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 11:30 AM
  #15  
NORTY FLATZ's Avatar
NORTY FLATZ
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Shutterbug
Liked
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,013
Likes: 7,137
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Default

"Too tight" belts will eat the crappy wheel bearings installed today...

Sad, but true.
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 01:25 PM
  #16  
son of the hounds's Avatar
son of the hounds
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,429
From: Idaho Panhandle
Default

I use the twist method. About 1/2 way between flat and turned 90 is my preferred. I used to use a gauge, but misplaced it years ago. When I had both, the 45 angle was just about Harley’s spec.
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 01:42 PM
  #17  
Wizardofaus's Avatar
Wizardofaus
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 230
From: United States
Default

Originally Posted by RIPSAW
Ok..enough..P51, that will work for a Mustang but if you have a F35, get a gage....I use to fly a P51 55 years or so ago..of course, it had a 049 motor on it...
Had a *** PT-19 trainer I used to fly on a string. Oh the days of pissing with glow plugs, and getting that fuel in ya eyes 😩

Wizzing Along ✈️
 
Reply
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 02:28 PM
  #18  
Jackie Paper's Avatar
Jackie Paper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,586
Likes: 6,435
From: Honah Lee
Default

Originally Posted by Wizardofaus


Had a *** PT-19 trainer I used to fly on a string. Oh the days of pissing with glow plugs, and getting that fuel in ya eyes 😩

Wizzing Along ✈️
Sure this is an antique....but that fuel smelt so good.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Jun 23, 2018 at 02:31 PM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 23, 2018 | 04:39 PM
  #19  
bustert's Avatar
bustert
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,071
Likes: 1,006
Default

yep had a pt-19 trainer also, virtually crash proof with rubber-band attachment. get pretty dizzy with a short control.

geeez, i should have patented it, i used to cut grass with the.049 when i got bored.

belt scale on guard, nothing wrong with it, never paid attention to the belt, probably tighter than most, not material, do not want to skip a tooth, all over but the 150 bill!!
ooops!?! i feel another oil debate coming on, truth told, fly it and watch it.
 

Last edited by bustert; Jun 23, 2018 at 04:43 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2018 | 12:55 PM
  #20  
hardheaded's Avatar
hardheaded
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,224
Likes: 3,049
From: St.Louis Mo.
Default

one more thing, take the time and get it correctly within specs. if you do you will get many trouble free miles out of the belt drive system.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:18 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE