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Author Topic: Drive Belt Tension  (Read 5039 times)

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fxdjerry

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Drive Belt Tension
« on: June 29, 2005, 04:23:31 PM »

I had 1k service done. The temps got around 85 or 90 started to hear a howl when letting off. when temps are cooler no howl. I checked belt tension and is within published spec. Just wondering if you guys running in warmer climates have same effect. Im thinking of loosening the belt a little. I suppose I should check the primary chain also. Or maybe do nothing and hope weather cools off a bit. Comments?

Jerry
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spydglide

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2005, 04:39:43 PM »

Jerry, you sure that wasn't a eagle 'scream' you heard instead of a 'howl'?  No, seriously, someone just posted about readjusting  the belt a tad looser and removing some kind of noise.  I've heard squeaks, chirps, chatters, etc....but not a single 'howl'.....try checking the belt tension 1st.  Good luck finding it.    [smiley=confused5.gif]  spyder
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Coolbreeze

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2005, 04:50:09 PM »

Jerry,
I live in Oregon so the temps are fairly moderate, but on two occasions after I adjusted my belt on my softail to the snug side, (thinkin' it would stretch), it has made a continous grumbly howly noise when we went over the mountain in to the desert...   Try loosening things up just a tad and see if it helps.  

I know it doesn't make sense to me either, I always thought things stretched when they got hot, but it worked for me....

[smiley=nixweiss.gif]
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VANAMAL

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2005, 08:28:46 PM »

i you havnt already buy the belt tensionong tool. there is a gauge built into the belt gaurd on bike to measure play. tool is about $20.00 and comes with directions
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porthole

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2005, 09:07:42 PM »

I had the noise looked at when the bike was just in for service, the dealer sprayed the belt with silicone, supposed to be ok per the MoCo.

Saturday, 95+ noise still there.
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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2005, 11:02:27 PM »

I haven't noticed the noise on the SEEG, but I did have a similar noise on my Super Glide Sport a few years back.  Check the rear wheel pulley alignment; I found on the Super Glide that the belt was rubbing harder against one side of the pulley, and readjusting the belt tensioners on the swing arm to properly align the rear wheel took care of the problem.  Spraying the sides of the belt with silicone will reduce the noise for a short time, but that is just a band-aid.
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Jerry - 2005 Cherry SEEG  -  Member # 1155

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fxdjerry

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2005, 11:36:07 AM »

Thanks guys! You know I suspect the belt may be a little tight for summer weather. I've had that 10lb spring since late 80's ,the O ring has rotted and they changed the design a bit but I think it is close enough for government work. I made the welding rod alignment tool years ago. When the axles had independent adjusters seemed more critical. It looks these new fangled cam adjusters would allow a lot truer adjustment. Maybe I can get this belt to the lower end of the spec. and give it a test ride or two. Like I said before I only notice this on extremely hot days and the noise sounds like whoooo,whoooo,whoooo with like a slow cycle to it. And this only occurs when letting off the throttle. To date the only fix I have implemented is to drown out the noise wit the stereo. I guess I have to wait for cooler weather to turn the radio off. BTW whoever found those Freedom wings thanks for posting ! They area nice product.
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BLM777

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2005, 11:41:19 AM »

Quote
Thanks guys! You know I suspect the belt may be a little tight for summer weather. I've had that 10lb spring since late 80's ,the O ring has rotted and they changed the design a bit but I think it is close enough for government work. I made the welding rod alignment tool years ago. When the axles had independent adjusters seemed more critical. It looks these new fangled cam adjusters would allow a lot truer adjustment. Maybe I can get this belt to the lower end of the spec. and give it a test ride or two. Like I said before I only notice this on extremely hot days and the noise sounds like whoooo,whoooo,whoooo with like a slow cycle to it. And this only occurs when letting off the throttle. To date the only fix I have implemented is to drown out the noise wit the stereo. I guess I have to wait for cooler weather to turn the radio off. BTW whoever found those Freedom wings thanks for posting ! They area nice product.


Jerry....you identified the problem...NEVER LET OFF THE THROTTLE!
[smiley=laugh.gif]
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Laker

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2005, 12:01:07 PM »

I had the same noise on a hot day right after my 1k service was done. The HD shop told me to stop by when it happened again so a tech could ride it and pinpoint the problem. It hasn't happened since and I have ridden it plenty on hot days. Not sure what it was but hopefully it is gone for good.
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grc

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2005, 12:30:30 PM »

Quote
I had 1k service done. The temps got around 85 or 90 started to hear a howl when letting off. when temps are cooler no howl. I checked belt tension and is within published spec. Just wondering if you guys running in warmer climates have same effect. Im thinking of loosening the belt a little. I suppose I should check the primary chain also. Or maybe do nothing and hope weather cools off a bit. Comments?

Jerry


If the noise only showed up after the 1k service, there is another possibility besides the belt.  It has been my experience that some of the folks in dealerships tend to adjust the primary chain tighter than the nominal specification.  It's not exactly a precision job anyway, since you are going by feel and not a true measurement.  If the primary starts out tight, when the bike gets hot it becomes even tighter.  Just another thought.
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Jerry - 2005 Cherry SEEG  -  Member # 1155

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fxdjerry

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2005, 07:17:41 PM »

Quote

If the noise only showed up after the 1k service, there is another possibility besides the belt.  It has been my experience that some of the folks in dealerships tend to adjust the primary chain tighter than the nominal specification.  It's not exactly a precision job anyway, since you are going by feel and not a true measurement.  If the primary starts out tight, when the bike gets hot it becomes even tighter.  Just another thought.


Your right about that. Had a little time today drive belt is allready loose enough IMHO it measured 12mm deflection. I will check to see where the primary is set. Good news it is cooling off here today. Looks like the weekend is gonna be good .Thanks.
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fxdjerry

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #11 on: June 30, 2005, 07:21:23 PM »

Quote

Jerry....you identified the problem...NEVER LET OFF THE THROTTLE!
 [smiley=laugh.gif]


I wish I lived in an area of the country where that would be possible. That was part of the problem on the day I got howling . I got stuck behind a parade of numskulls while trying to cool off along the coast.
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UltraCVO

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #12 on: July 01, 2005, 08:23:09 AM »

Hi Guys
I have the same problem here in the UK Just had the 1000 miler and it has been very hot.

The howl appears when in a no load situation i.e. no acceleration or deceleration which is not normal for me.

The howl makes the bike unridable for any distance. and it has not happened when dealer rides it.

It has since cooled down and the howl has gone so far [smiley=7.gif]

I personally would like to know what is causing this the bike is totally within MoCo spec.
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TB

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2005, 10:07:14 AM »

It seems like every time I have taken my bike to a HD dealer for a service check, the bike comes back with the drive belt so tight that it howls like a cow stepping on its own utter.   [smiley=dier_13.gif]

I've checked it with the required HD tool and sure enough it is usually to spec.  I then loosen it slightly, thus stopping the mad cow syndrome [smiley=freak.gif].   Needless to say, I do my own service checks now.

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Re: Drive Belt Tension
« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2005, 11:20:14 AM »

Quote
It seems like every time I have taken my bike to a HD dealer for a service check, the bike comes back with the drive belt so tight that it howls like a cow stepping on its own utter.   [smiley=dier_13.gif]

I've checked it with the required HD tool and sure enough it is usually to spec.  I then loosen it slightly, thus stopping the mad cow syndrome [smiley=freak.gif].   Needless to say, I do my own service checks now.



On previous Harley's we were told to set the rear belt tension with someone sitting on the seat.  Now on the SEEG Harley gives us two specs, one with 10 psi in the rear shocks and the other with the bike elevated and the rear shocks at full extension.  If the person setting the belt is just going by memory rather than checking the specs, perhaps they are setting them too tight.   [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=nixweiss.gif]
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Jerry - 2005 Cherry SEEG  -  Member # 1155

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