Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

belt tension

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 28, 2009 | 11:07 AM
  #1  
trigg's Avatar
trigg
Thread Starter
|
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Ont Canada
Default belt tension

what would be the proper tension for the drive belt be thanks
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2009 | 11:09 AM
  #2  
VTwin-Goodies's Avatar
VTwin-Goodies
Former Sponsor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,839
Likes: 1,956
From: SoCal
Default

If you can twist the belt at a 45 * angle it is right. This is while NOT sitting on the bike.
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2009 | 11:12 AM
  #3  
Ruralmed's Avatar
Ruralmed
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 533
Likes: 2
From: Eugene, OR
Default

08 Softail manual says 1/4-5/16" deflection at 10lbs as measured with belt tension guage, if on jiffy stand.
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2009 | 11:44 AM
  #4  
128auto's Avatar
128auto
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
Default

+1 on the 45 degree angle trick
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2009 | 11:46 AM
  #5  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default

I think I read that the dealers have the 10lb gauge to use..
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2009 | 11:49 AM
  #6  
VTwin-Goodies's Avatar
VTwin-Goodies
Former Sponsor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,839
Likes: 1,956
From: SoCal
Default

I learned the 45* angle trick from PocoCj. Old school master.
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2009 | 11:57 AM
  #7  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default Don't see this one.

Originally Posted by HarleyGoodies
If you can twist the belt at a 45 * angle it is right. This is while NOT sitting on the bike.


Need to explain this one a little more!, is this with fingers or using a tool?
Seems like it would be a ball park way to adjust.
(example)I could use an Adj wench across the belt and twist it 45* no matter how tight the belt was.
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2009 | 02:21 PM
  #8  
Dorkman's Avatar
Dorkman
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 4
From: Northern California
Default

Originally Posted by oct1949
Need to explain this one a little more!, is this with fingers or using a tool?
Seems like it would be a ball park way to adjust.
(example)I could use an Adj wench across the belt and twist it 45* no matter how tight the belt was.
This is with fingers. Works fine. Hardly any stretch in these belts anyway. The Harley gauge is a worthless overpriced piece of junk.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 14, 2009 | 07:36 PM
  #9  
zer0t's Avatar
zer0t
Road Captain
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 697
Likes: 5
From: NE, FL
Default

Originally Posted by trigg
what would be the proper tension for the drive belt be thanks
I know this is a bit old, but where along the belt do you twist 45*?

thanks.
 
Reply
Old Oct 14, 2009 | 11:08 PM
  #10  
Hrd Rider's Avatar
Hrd Rider
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 285
Likes: 3
From: Parkton,MD.
Default

+1 on the 45 degree with fingers, I learned that a long time ago.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:36 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE