Belt Adjustment
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: Kalifornia
Belt Adjustment
I have my service manual and have read it concerning belt adjustment. Mine is very loose. My question is does everyone use the prescribed HD tension gauge?
I have mine up in the air currently, moving the turn signals and making and installing my quick disconnect hard bag I recently acquired. Would like to get the belt adjusted while it's in the air. Looks like it is near the end of adjustment room, and am hoping there is enough for this last adjustment before belt replacement.
I want to change the front sprocket to an 883 28 tooth, and would like to swap the belt then. I hope!
I have mine up in the air currently, moving the turn signals and making and installing my quick disconnect hard bag I recently acquired. Would like to get the belt adjusted while it's in the air. Looks like it is near the end of adjustment room, and am hoping there is enough for this last adjustment before belt replacement.
I want to change the front sprocket to an 883 28 tooth, and would like to swap the belt then. I hope!
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,589
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From: San Diego, CA
You can always tighten it up 1/8 - 1/4 turn at a time and see. That's what I would do. Just mark the adjuster nuts so you can move them the same amount. I'm sure you'll end up within the margin for error.
John
John
Last edited by John Harper; Feb 6, 2019 at 07:36 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 669
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From: Maumelle, AR
after a few times using the motion pro tool, u can do it by feel........with the gauge in the belt gaurd for you measurement or a ruler, tape measure
Last edited by Zateeva; Feb 6, 2019 at 08:13 PM.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Kalifornia
Yea I will have to do it by feel for now because it is loose. Will get a gauge on order, to double check myself.
Funny, we left for bible study shortly after I posted this, and it dawned on me, my comment about adjusting it in the air, but it has to be checked sitting on the ground. Have to remember that.
Funny, we left for bible study shortly after I posted this, and it dawned on me, my comment about adjusting it in the air, but it has to be checked sitting on the ground. Have to remember that.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
I think to this day the only 'proper' H-D tool I own is the belt gauge, which I've owned for around 30 years now. There are various backyard ways of 'checking' tension, but none of them predictable or reliable IMHO.
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From: England
I have mine up in the air currently
Move vehicle forward or back, rotating rear wheel to find tightest point in belt. Measure belt deflection at that point.
Measure belt deflection with no rider or cargo on motorcycle, transmission in neutral, belt and sprockets at ambient temperature (cold engine) and motorcycle resting on jiffy stand.
EDIT: Just fully read your second posting - yep.
Last edited by Andy from Sandy; Feb 7, 2019 at 06:15 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
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From: England
As a final thought, is the wheel aligned properly to start with? By turning the adjusters an equal amount means you are putting your faith in the last guy.
I have not made this adjustment on my bike but I have done the adjustment on a trike. All I did then was after an eyeball adjustment was see that the belt rode in the centre of the pulley when I turned the pulley both forward and backward.
I have not made this adjustment on my bike but I have done the adjustment on a trike. All I did then was after an eyeball adjustment was see that the belt rode in the centre of the pulley when I turned the pulley both forward and backward.
Last edited by Andy from Sandy; Feb 7, 2019 at 06:47 AM.