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Question for those who set their own belt deflection
I just did a tire and wheel swap. I got it all back together and set my belt deflection where I think it should be.
I have a 2017 FLTRXS that I changed the shocks on. Stock shocks for this bike were low profile (12) and I upgraded to some standard sized shocks (13).
My current belt deflection is approximately 11.13mm (3rd graduation line from the top of the window), measured with a belt tension gauge. Am I good according to this chart? Just wanna make sure since this is my first time doing this.
If you are now running 13" shocks like the Ultras etc, rather than the stock 12s your bike came with, you just need to use the specs for the bikes that use 13" shocks and not the spec for your bike. It looks like you will be fine with that 11.13.
Im thinking its way too loose. The manual says each deflection graduation is approximately 1/16 in (1.59 mm). But thats just the lines themselves and not the space between the lines. Using a tape measure to check the amount on deflection is almost a full inch, which is 25.4 mm. Im gonna adjust it tighter to get it between 3/8 and 9/16.
Didnt take the space between the lines into consideration.
I just readjusted it and its now on the 5th line, right in the middle. Puts it right between 3/8 and 9/16. My take away from this is the manual doesnt say to also measure the space between the lines. Lesson learned. Hopefully this helped someone else.
The manual is a little fishy on this subject. There is 1/8" (2/16) distance between each line on the belt guard. If you use the manual then you'll end up with a very loose belt. I measure from leading edge of each line to the leading edge of the next line. Not necessary to distinguish distance between lines from thickness of lines. There is exactly 1/8" distance from leading edge to leading edge (or trailing edge to trailing edge, your choice)
You probably did this, but just in case you didn't, make sure you locate the tight vs loose area on your belt. I do it by having my bike up on the jack so I can rotate the wheel. Lying down so I can see the side profile of the belt under the belt guard, turn the wheel and watch the belt rise and fall. When it is lowest, that is the loose spot. When it is highest, that is the tight spot. Adjust to the tight spot. If you adjust to the loose spot, then your belt will be way tight at the tight spot.
The belt tension is properly measured with the bike's weight on the wheel, ie the swingarm is deflected slightly, which acts to slightly tighten the belt. But it is hard to locate that tight spot on the belt with the wheel on the ground. So I do it with the wheel up in the air. I adjust the belt with the bike up in the air. I add 1/16" of slack to accommodate the loss of slack once the wheel is back on the ground. Once I've got the wheel back on ground with full bike weight on it, I re-measure AT THE TIGHT SPOT ONLY. If that is close, then done and done. If not close enough to spec, then do it again.
Last edited by KrustyKush; Apr 7, 2019 at 09:16 AM.
I just readjusted it and its now on the 5th line, right in the middle. Puts it right between 3/8 and 9/16. My take away from this is the manual doesnt say to also measure the space between the lines. Lesson learned. Hopefully this helped someone else.
Not sure where your belt started, so saying it's 5th line down from the top is ambiguous (though I would guess that since you say it's about 3/8" deflection and fifth from the top, that it would be around the 8th mark when you're not applying force).
Anyway, as mention, if you count down from the top and take (# of indents down without force - # of marks down with 10 lbs. force) x 1/8" = belt deflection. Then if you're sort of in the middle of one of the other, add or subtract 1/16" off your measurement as needed.
Not sure where your belt started, so saying it's 5th line down from the top is ambiguous (though I would guess that since you say it's about 3/8" deflection and fifth from the top, that it would be around the 8th mark when you're not applying force).
Anyway, as mention, if you count down from the top and take (# of indents down without force - # of marks down with 10 lbs. force) x 1/8" = belt deflection. Then if you're sort of in the middle of one of the other, add or subtract 1/16" off your measurement as needed.
I meant that when I apply the correct amount of force (10 pounds) using the gauge, it puts my measurement on the 5th graduation line. This is in the middle of the deflection window on the belt guard. Meauring where it starts and where it is upon applying the 10 pounds puts the measurement right in between 3/8 and 9/16. Right where the manual says its supposed to be.
Since the fork of the gauge covers the belt, I base the measurement on where the edge of the fork starts and where its at when 10 pounds is applied. That tells me the overall deflection.
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Question for those who set their own belt deflection
