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[Volski]

Has anyone experienced their drive belt sqeaking or chirping on deceleration? I've cleaned the belt and pulley, checked adjustments, checked clearances, ect. It is an aftermaket aluminum pulley, it's the correct size and has the correct number of teeth. Worked fine for over a year and now it makes this noise, but only when you let off the throttle. It doesn't do it when you pull the clutch in, either. ( that was checked also; everything O.K.) We've even spayed the belt while the tire was running (on the dyno) and the noise stopped instantly, but starts back after a few miles. Any information would be greatly appreciated.  

[Devil Dog]

The belt is a little loose. Tighten it up a bit.

[Volski]

I'll check it and adjust it again. Thanks for the info.

[Volski]

Checked and tightened belt. Now the chirping and sqeaking is constant. Very annoying and the dealership can't figure it out either.

[Twolanerider]

Jason, a couple times over the years have had or seen "squeaky" belts.  Just like on a car's front belts.  Both that I've dealt with (one my own and one someone elses) took a new belt to make it go away.  Belt dressing or sprays or other products would solve it for a moment (just like on a car's drive belts).  But it would come right back.

Also know of one bike that had a weird squeak from the rear pulley guts.  Though that behaved differently than I understand your description here.

[rayson56]

I had this exact problem years ago with one of my Big Dogs. Tried all the stuff you have, then one day I was polishing the billet aluminum on it and thought about all that nasty black residue on the rag. Then I took a bowl with hot water and dawn dishwashing liquid, grabbed a clean rag and started cleaning all that residue off the teeth on my rear aluminum pulley and the belt. Squeeking belts (fan, drive, etc.) are usually caused from dirt or contamination, as well as being too tight or too loose. Guess what? The squeeking on decel was gone! Kept it good and clean from then on and had very few issues. I also found on long trips that if a squeek developed I could use a chunk of parafin wax and rub it on the belt-presto!-no more noise.

Hope this helps, Kelly

[OhioDave]

Not sure what you are riding but are you 100% sure it is the belt? Several of us have had a similar noise and it was from the rear muffler mount under the saddle bag, spray a little lube on the rubber mount and the chirp disappears.

[djkak]

chirp from the rear belt? 

Sorry, sometimes I just can't stop myself. 

[Volski]

I ride a 2009 StreetGlide with a custom 18" rear wheel and pulley, 200mm Dunlop and the bike has around 15,000 miles on it. I do appreciate all the input and am going to put it to good use. If all else fails, I'll replace the belt. I even wondered about spraying WD-40 on the belt. I have cleaned the belt, but not the teeth on the pulley. Noise went away for about 20 miles. 

[smiley1049]

Check the rear pulley mine was bad on my 07 SE Ultra and made the belt chirp like crazy replaced pulley noise gone.

[spydglide]

I had a 'chirp' that occurred only when I abruptly rolled off the throttle...a loud, single chirp that I tried everything to get rid of with no success....until a tech in Blackfoot, Idaho heard it when I was in for a service there in '97.  He finally designed a 'jig' to align the rear wheel completely straight and got rid of the chirp altogether.  The wheel had been adjusted many times previously, but was just not completely straight evidently.  spyder

[faceracer]

I had that before on my FXR years ago. Harley sells a tube of stuff called poly lube. Put a couple dabs on the belt and problem was solved. I still have the same tube. Its still good and have used very little over probably a 20 year period.

[iski]

I had that before on my FXR years ago. Harley sells a tube of stuff called poly lube. Put a couple dabs on the belt and problem was solved. I still have the same tube. Its still good and have used very little over probably a 20 year period.

X2

Used HD poly lube for a noisy belt on my RK.  Still have the same tube - have used it sparingly & only a few times over the 9 years I have owned the bike.  Works great - cheap fix.  HD shop in Ashville, NC recommended it to me.  Up until then the belt sqeaking was more than annoying.

[spydglide]

X2

Used HD poly lube for a noisy belt on my RK.  Still have the same tube - have used it sparingly & only a few times over the 9 years I have owned the bike.  Works great - cheap fix.  HD shop in Ashville, NC recommended it to me.  Up until then the belt sqeaking was more than annoying.

-Where do you apply it?  The belt edges or on the sproket?  spyder

[iski]

-Where do you apply it?  The belt edges or on the sproket?  spyder

Inside surface of the belt.  With my fingers.  Sparingly. Brylcreem method - a little dab will do ya.


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