How often do you adjust drive belt?
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,633
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From: GA
I lied...
How much adjustment does a slight turn of the cam make? Like I said, the bike only has 5k miles on it but the cam is turned almost as far as it'll go. I'd say it has less than 1/2 inch of turn left. Seems like it shouldn't be that far with a new belt.
How much adjustment does a slight turn of the cam make? Like I said, the bike only has 5k miles on it but the cam is turned almost as far as it'll go. I'd say it has less than 1/2 inch of turn left. Seems like it shouldn't be that far with a new belt.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: MA
You stated that you just did the 5K oil change, not that the bike has just 5K miles on it. At 5K on the bike, I wouldn't even worry about the belt tension. As for how much the cam moves on a rotation, I don't know.
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Club Member
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: GA
Even though the deflection is outside of spec according to the service manual? 1/16th to 1/8th over maximum loosness? 5/16th is the loosest and I recorded 3/8ths-ish...hard to really tell with that little window in the lower belt guard.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: MA
As for your belt deflection, it will stretch and will not always be within the limits. If you do feel uneasy about it you can adjust it yourself or have the dealer check it. As for me, it's not a high priority issue.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Billings,Mt.
As long as you can properly adjust the belt,i would not worry about it.
Also the cams may have to turn less to adjust the belt toward the end of the cam.
Can you post a pic of the cams?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
I wouldn't go tighter than 3/8", even if that is out-of-spec for your bike. I have an SG which has the same spec (1/4-5/16"), and IMO that's too tight, especially if you adjust it cold. If you do adjust to spec, make sure the belt is hot. I use 9/16" cold, which tightens to about 5/16" when hot, and that's tight enough. I ran my 1996 belt at this tension and it is still on the bike at >120k miles.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
I wouldn't go tighter than 3/8", even if that is out-of-spec for your bike. I have an SG which has the same spec (1/4-5/16"), and IMO that's too tight, especially if you adjust it cold. If you do adjust to spec, make sure the belt is hot. I use 9/16" cold, which tightens to about 5/16" when hot, and that's tight enough. I ran my 1996 belt at this tension and it is still on the bike at >120k miles.
The manual says "With motorcycle at ambient temperature"
I set the belt at room temperature between 3/8" and 7/16" on my scissor lift with the rear wheel off the ground. During the ride as the belt gets warm it tensions and sounds like a guitar string when you pull and release it. I can hear the sound produced by the belt (wrrrr) while riding next to something solid that reflects sound. Once cold on the jiffy stand the tension is in spec again and back on the lift I have the same value again.
My question is the following: when touching the belt with the tensioner tool, what is considered as the starting point or 'zero force' ?
I have the impression the uncertainty of the measurement starts here