drive belt
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Az
Deflection of your drive belt should be 5/16 to 3/8" with 10lbs of force. Measured from the bottom strand. You can use your finger but you can buy the speciality tool from HD and also get a 6" ruler for accuracy. If you are going to be doing your own work on your bike you might as well get the tool, its not that much. To use it you set the o-ring at the 10lb line push up until the oring touches the body of the tool have your ruler parallel to the tool and as you let off the pressure read your ruler until the belt stops pushing the tool down. Also as many people are counting turns for rear tire alingment, I find it so easy to and more accurate to make a tool to measure alingment or at least use a tape measure. Just measure from the center of the swingarm pivot bolt to the center of the axle bolt on both sides and they should be the same. Now if you are lazy like myself, splurge and buy a metal rod just bigger than a metal coat hanger in diameter a couple of feet long. Grind one end to a point, 2-3 inches from that depending on model of bike, put a 90 degree bend. Put a zip tie on the long end--tight. Cut it to a point and use the zip tie as a slide marker. Put the 90 bend with sharp point on the center of the pivot shaft bolt then slide the zip tie to the center of the axle bolt. Go to the other side and see if the zip tie is on the same spot. If not adjust.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
That's the part I do with my finger.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 812
Likes: 8
From: Cowtown, USA
I made my alignment tool out of those metal, ah plates???? or grates???, that go in between the beams in a warehouse. You know where you put pallets. I just cut out one of the strands. The best part is that it already had a 90 bend in it and it is stiff as hell. Use a zip tie as a measuring device. I also use my finger for adjustment.
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
My belt broke yesterday, I have done 12k in the last 2 years, dont know how old the belt is. I do tend to pull away hard and use the engine to de-acceperate, anyhow, my local back-street Harley guy can get me a Gates belt for about Ł185 GBP and have it fitted and ready to go for about Ł350 GBP. (He recons it's a 2 hour job) I am going to let him do it this time, get the correct spec belt and have a go myself next time around. Will buy a tension gauge in the mean time.
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