Drive Belt???
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,210
From: Oxford, Nc
Well loose is OK until you 'climb a tooth' under hard acceleration OR severe braking. Only 2 things break a belt: Stone or other foreign object caught between pulley and belt, or you 'climb a tooth.'
The belts we use are the same as the 400 HP Boss Hoss bikes, but their tension is banjo string tight. Their bearings don't seem to fail too often either.
I've always gone 10lbs in 3/8" ( by feel, never a gauge,) have never experienced a broken belt or a bad bearing ( or a leaky seal.)
I bought an emergency belt because I thought I should have one at 80,000 miles, ( mine is the older style 1 1/2" Kevlar,) and my old belt just won't give up the ghost!
My S/E Road Glide is 12 years old and just turned 96,000 miles...all original drivetrain.
I think my "2 finger gauge" works just fine!
The belts we use are the same as the 400 HP Boss Hoss bikes, but their tension is banjo string tight. Their bearings don't seem to fail too often either.
I've always gone 10lbs in 3/8" ( by feel, never a gauge,) have never experienced a broken belt or a bad bearing ( or a leaky seal.)
I bought an emergency belt because I thought I should have one at 80,000 miles, ( mine is the older style 1 1/2" Kevlar,) and my old belt just won't give up the ghost!
My S/E Road Glide is 12 years old and just turned 96,000 miles...all original drivetrain.
I think my "2 finger gauge" works just fine!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,488
Likes: 30
From: Maryland near DC
It says alot about how strong the belt is when it can be set all over the place tension wise and still hold up for damn near ever....
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
All over the place? I put the wheels on and tighten with a ratchet, check my work with a torque wrench and the adjustment doesn't need to be changed. The belt guard even has a slot with notches to look at. Is it really that hard for some people?
Supporter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,189
Likes: 16
From: N.E. Wisconsin
You want everything aligned mostly for proper tire wear, HTD timing belts are suppose to run tight. If a bearing goes it is because the bearing was faulty to begin with or the wrong size bearing was designed in for that particular application. Do the half twist with your fingers. When your rear tire hits a pot hole it creates way more torque than everybody is worried about and every thing is just fine, they do have some stretch. BUT when they are loose, a big bump creates a snap that will break something or rip some teeth out of the belt. It's kinda like the difference between the nylon braided fishing line and the low stretch mono.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
From: Hot Springs, AR
I adjusted my belt the other day because it was too loose and then I got worried after a ride because it seemed way too tight. It seems very sensitive to temperature because after the bike sat overnight the tension was back to the original setting when I first adjusted it. It's surprising how much change there is hot=tight.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 3
From: NYC
yes...too tight and it puts horizontal stresses on the transmission output bearing...it will cause the bearing race to wear and the bearings to wear.....too loose and premature belt failure. One of the problems in adjusting is that as the bike 's swing arm goes thru its travel range....the belt tension seems to change. Just did a small adjustment to mine last night...with the bike up in the air...adjust mine on the loose side....but with the bike on the ground adn two riders on it...it got tight again.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
How hard do you twist?
Last edited by Outlaw7x77; Feb 12, 2013 at 12:07 AM.