proper belt tension
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
RE: proper belt tension
I've heard that as a general rule of thumb that if you grab the belt in the center between the front and rear pulleys and try to twist it, that if you can't get to 90 degrees twist, you're okay. Truth or urban legend?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 944
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
RE: proper belt tension
I have the tension gauge and it's a PITA to get it to go up between the belt guard. I need to trim off one side of the top piece. My belt deflects a 1/2 inch and seems real d@mn tight How much of a twist would it take on the axle with cams to get it into spec. There's no mention in the '06 SM about aligning the axle with a wire such as billnourse has mentioned before. Has the cams eliminated this or is this a better way to do it?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,109
Likes: 3
From: Chattanooga, TN
RE: proper belt tension
Urban legend.
The belt should feel real tight with almost no twisting movement.While sitting on the ground at room temp, the deflection should be between 1/4" and 5/16" with 10 pounds pressure on the belt. HD makes a belt tensiontool thatsallows you to read the pressure put on the beltwhile measuring the deflection from the belt guard notches.
I usually get a "0" point from the slack belt in reference to the belt guard notches, mark with a yellow crayon, put the 10 pounds pressure on the belt with the HD belttension toolthen mark the upperdeflection on the belt guard notches, them measure between the yellow marks.
The axle cam nuts self aligh both sides evenly. A 36mm socket is required along with the 36mm HDtool from the tool kit. You will need to torque the axle nut to 95-105ft/lbs. It's tricky because the belt wants to over tighten while torquing the axel nut, some trial and error is necessary to get the correct tension.
I have only had to adjust my belt once after a tire change.
You will need the HD belt tension tool to do it properly, and you will need to trim one of the "lips" off the tool to fit on the belt properly.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Steve
The belt should feel real tight with almost no twisting movement.While sitting on the ground at room temp, the deflection should be between 1/4" and 5/16" with 10 pounds pressure on the belt. HD makes a belt tensiontool thatsallows you to read the pressure put on the beltwhile measuring the deflection from the belt guard notches.
I usually get a "0" point from the slack belt in reference to the belt guard notches, mark with a yellow crayon, put the 10 pounds pressure on the belt with the HD belttension toolthen mark the upperdeflection on the belt guard notches, them measure between the yellow marks.
The axle cam nuts self aligh both sides evenly. A 36mm socket is required along with the 36mm HDtool from the tool kit. You will need to torque the axle nut to 95-105ft/lbs. It's tricky because the belt wants to over tighten while torquing the axel nut, some trial and error is necessary to get the correct tension.
I have only had to adjust my belt once after a tire change.
You will need the HD belt tension tool to do it properly, and you will need to trim one of the "lips" off the tool to fit on the belt properly.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Steve
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 944
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
RE: proper belt tension
ORIGINAL: SteveO
Urban legend.
The belt should feel real tight with almost no twisting movement.While sitting on the ground at room temp, the deflection should be between 1/4" and 5/16" with 10 pounds pressure on the belt. HD makes a belt tensiontool thatsallows you to read the pressure put on the beltwhile measuring the deflection from the belt guard notches.
I usually get a "0" point from the slack belt in reference to the belt guard notches, mark with a yellow crayon, put the 10 pounds pressure on the belt with the HD belttension toolthen mark the upperdeflection on the belt guard notches, them measure between the yellow marks.
I have only had to adjust my once after a tire change.
You will need the HD belt tension tool to do it properly.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Steve
Urban legend.
The belt should feel real tight with almost no twisting movement.While sitting on the ground at room temp, the deflection should be between 1/4" and 5/16" with 10 pounds pressure on the belt. HD makes a belt tensiontool thatsallows you to read the pressure put on the beltwhile measuring the deflection from the belt guard notches.
I usually get a "0" point from the slack belt in reference to the belt guard notches, mark with a yellow crayon, put the 10 pounds pressure on the belt with the HD belttension toolthen mark the upperdeflection on the belt guard notches, them measure between the yellow marks.
I have only had to adjust my once after a tire change.
You will need the HD belt tension tool to do it properly.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Steve
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: proper belt tension
ORIGINAL: Neckball
I've heard that as a general rule of thumb that if you grab the belt in the center between the front and rear pulleys and try to twist it, that if you can't get to 90 degrees twist, you're okay. Truth or urban legend?
I've heard that as a general rule of thumb that if you grab the belt in the center between the front and rear pulleys and try to twist it, that if you can't get to 90 degrees twist, you're okay. Truth or urban legend?
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 480
Likes: 1
RE: proper belt tension
Are you saying that when you adjust one axle cam nut it automatically aligns both sides? i looked in theservice manual and couldn't find the torque value of 95 to 105 ft/lbs you reference, where did you get that number?
ORIGINAL: SteveO
Urban legend.
The belt should feel real tight with almost no twisting movement.While sitting on the ground at room temp, the deflection should be between 1/4" and 5/16" with 10 pounds pressure on the belt. HD makes a belt tensiontool thatsallows you to read the pressure put on the beltwhile measuring the deflection from the belt guard notches.
I usually get a "0" point from the slack belt in reference to the belt guard notches, mark with a yellow crayon, put the 10 pounds pressure on the belt with the HD belttension toolthen mark the upperdeflection on the belt guard notches, them measure between the yellow marks.
The axle cam nuts self aligh both sides evenly. A 36mm socket is required along with the 36mm HDtool from the tool kit. You will need to torque the axle nut to 95-105ft/lbs. It's tricky because the belt wants to over tighten while torquing the axel nut, some trial and error is necessary to get the correct tension.
I have only had to adjust my belt once after a tire change.
You will need the HD belt tension tool to do it properly, and you will need to trim one of the "lips" off the tool to fit on the belt properly.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Steve
Urban legend.
The belt should feel real tight with almost no twisting movement.While sitting on the ground at room temp, the deflection should be between 1/4" and 5/16" with 10 pounds pressure on the belt. HD makes a belt tensiontool thatsallows you to read the pressure put on the beltwhile measuring the deflection from the belt guard notches.
I usually get a "0" point from the slack belt in reference to the belt guard notches, mark with a yellow crayon, put the 10 pounds pressure on the belt with the HD belttension toolthen mark the upperdeflection on the belt guard notches, them measure between the yellow marks.
The axle cam nuts self aligh both sides evenly. A 36mm socket is required along with the 36mm HDtool from the tool kit. You will need to torque the axle nut to 95-105ft/lbs. It's tricky because the belt wants to over tighten while torquing the axel nut, some trial and error is necessary to get the correct tension.
I have only had to adjust my belt once after a tire change.
You will need the HD belt tension tool to do it properly, and you will need to trim one of the "lips" off the tool to fit on the belt properly.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Steve
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
RE: proper belt tension
ORIGINAL: ricaroo
Are you saying that when you adjust one axle cam nut it automatically aligns both sides? i looked in theservice manual and couldn't find the torque value of 95 to 105 ft/lbs you reference, where did you get that number?
Are you saying that when you adjust one axle cam nut it automatically aligns both sides? i looked in theservice manual and couldn't find the torque value of 95 to 105 ft/lbs you reference, where did you get that number?
The axle nut torque value is on page 1-21 of the '06 touring FSM.
To use the belt tension gage.just remove the belt guard.