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This was helpful; thank you. I enjoy your videos because you're more "heady" than most, and I appreciate your educating us. I have a '21 Street Bob and will check it this morning. I bought the service package when I bought my bike, so I'm usually not too terribly concerned since it goes to the dealership at each halfway mark of the Owner's Manual suggested service intervals; although "trust, but verify" as they say. Thank you again.
Found your video after checking the service manual and thinking the same thing you did about the deflection diagram not make any sense. Looking at the marks they are definitely closer to 1/8 than 1/16th. I'm surprised this hasn't corrected in the service manual because it could cause people to double the amount of deflection and have belt issues
Great information, thank you for the effort. My '18 Sport Glide has been a confusion point for me in this subject, so your video helped clear it up for me. Much appreciated.
I agree this is very confusing. I have a shock absorber extension on my bike which basically gives it more ground clearance. It changes the angle of the swing-arm relative to the ground and therefore the belt deflection. So what I do is compress the rear of the bike till I reach the original ground clearance and only then I am able to check my belt. I suppose the people that put a lowering kit have to do the opposite. There is very little information on that matter. Thanks for your videos, always very informative, cheers.
I cant believe this I just recorded bits for same exact topic. I think I discovered some inconsistencies in service manual that I plan to address it but this is coming :) good job mate
Hey, I just adjusted my belt to spec because I noticed when it’s warm the belt makes a humming noise that you were describing. I just got back from a test ride and it’s still doing it. Belt is bang on where it’s supposed to be and I’m still getting the noise. Any recommendations?
Thanks for the demo. On my Touring I find more difference in belt slack (not tension!) between warm and cold vehicle (some mechanics deny this???) -- both in summer (35+°C) and in winter (0 - 5°C) -- than I find between summer and winter (even zero difference, therefore never discussed with mechanics). I think especially the aluminium rear pulley expands from heating up when riding, and tightens the belt. I just check by pushing with finger (sorry, 10 pounds? ), warm 2 marks (in garage after ride), cold 4 marks (next day), I never had problems with belts, no stretching at all (nice !), no noise (even with quiet mufflers). When new, the belts are tightened too much from the factory, I think ............. thus they stretch more than needed, yes indeed they do, anyway, but only right at the first few miles / kilometers. After tire change the rear wheel positions at the same spot (clearly on pre-2008) for same belt slack. One example 91000 kilometers (bike traded), even with a small hole since 78000 km, piece of gravel removed. Another bike sold at 74000 km. Current bike 44000 km. Once, I found a Sportster belt on the street, keep it at home as an example, it was snapped straight through, possibly too tight, or blocked ?
The best most accurate way to tension a synchronous belt (especially if it is a Poly Chain Carbon synchronous belt - IE the belt has carbon tensile cords which some Gates HD belts have) is by Hz and knowing what Hz the belt should be vibrating at when under tension. The issue is; sonic tension meters are expensive and unless you have contacts at HD factory, it will be tough to find out the correct tension Hz you are looking for. It is dead easy to use a sonic tension meter, but the critical thing is to know the frequency or Hz you are looking for. Some companies like Gates have drive design programs that people can use and by entering some simple information into the drive design program, you can find out what Hz your belt should be tensioned too.
To be honest, I have only had one occasion of belt missadjustment. And it was too tight. The whap whap you described is exactly what it did. Especially if it was hot. I have owned several Harleys, and it was readjusted under warranty.
Thanks for watching. Let me know what you think in the comments below. More videos like this here: ua-cam.com/play/PLmgCmljtdCzWMExyPXgSeeJZYwOA1Ocj7.html
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This is the best explanation ever! Thank you for post this video Alf! I was so confused but now I got it! Cheers Mate.
This was helpful; thank you. I enjoy your videos because you're more "heady" than most, and I appreciate your educating us. I have a '21 Street Bob and will check it this morning. I bought the service package when I bought my bike, so I'm usually not too terribly concerned since it goes to the dealership at each halfway mark of the Owner's Manual suggested service intervals; although "trust, but verify" as they say. Thank you again.
Thanks so much. Glad it helps. Cheers
Found your video after checking the service manual and thinking the same thing you did about the deflection diagram not make any sense. Looking at the marks they are definitely closer to 1/8 than 1/16th. I'm surprised this hasn't corrected in the service manual because it could cause people to double the amount of deflection and have belt issues
Great information, thank you for the effort. My '18 Sport Glide has been a confusion point for me in this subject, so your video helped clear it up for me. Much appreciated.
Glad it helped cheers
I fixed the whole belt tension malarkey on my 2018 fatbob, it's now a shaft drive, so much easier only having to change the oil every seven years 😉
ha ha that's awesome. I would love to see that too
Looking at the Ruler shot you gave us Bottom of one mark to the top of a 3rd mark up is 1/2inch.
I agree this is very confusing. I have a shock absorber extension on my bike which basically gives it more ground clearance. It changes the angle of the swing-arm relative to the ground and therefore the belt deflection. So what I do is compress the rear of the bike till I reach the original ground clearance and only then I am able to check my belt. I suppose the people that put a lowering kit have to do the opposite. There is very little information on that matter. Thanks for your videos, always very informative, cheers.
Thanks so much and for sharing your info too. Cheers
I cant believe this I just recorded bits for same exact topic. I think I discovered some inconsistencies in service manual that I plan to address it but this is coming :) good job mate
Cheers. Good to get your info out there too.
Hey, I just adjusted my belt to spec because I noticed when it’s warm the belt makes a humming noise that you were describing. I just got back from a test ride and it’s still doing it. Belt is bang on where it’s supposed to be and I’m still getting the noise. Any recommendations?
Thanks for the demo. On my Touring I find more difference in belt slack (not tension!) between warm and cold vehicle (some mechanics deny this???) -- both in summer (35+°C) and in winter (0 - 5°C) -- than I find between summer and winter (even zero difference, therefore never discussed with mechanics). I think especially the aluminium rear pulley expands from heating up when riding, and tightens the belt. I just check by pushing with finger (sorry, 10 pounds? ), warm 2 marks (in garage after ride), cold 4 marks (next day), I never had problems with belts, no stretching at all (nice !), no noise (even with quiet mufflers). When new, the belts are tightened too much from the factory, I think ............. thus they stretch more than needed, yes indeed they do, anyway, but only right at the first few miles / kilometers. After tire change the rear wheel positions at the same spot (clearly on pre-2008) for same belt slack. One example 91000 kilometers (bike traded), even with a small hole since 78000 km, piece of gravel removed. Another bike sold at 74000 km. Current bike 44000 km. Once, I found a Sportster belt on the street, keep it at home as an example, it was snapped straight through, possibly too tight, or blocked ?
Yep they are very resilient I’d say. Cheers
Great explanation. Thanks a bunch! you're a great help.. Have a great ride!
Cheers you too
will be watching your vid on adjusting belt . thanks .
Coming soon cheers
The best most accurate way to tension a synchronous belt (especially if it is a Poly Chain Carbon synchronous belt - IE the belt has carbon tensile cords which some Gates HD belts have) is by Hz and knowing what Hz the belt should be vibrating at when under tension.
The issue is; sonic tension meters are expensive and unless you have contacts at HD factory, it will be tough to find out the correct tension Hz you are looking for.
It is dead easy to use a sonic tension meter, but the critical thing is to know the frequency or Hz you are looking for. Some companies like Gates have drive design programs that people can use and by entering some simple information into the drive design program, you can find out what Hz your belt should be tensioned too.
Yep great info cheers
Good shit bro. Crazy Mike Bx NY USA.
Looking forward to the next video.
Cheers
To be honest, I have only had one occasion of belt missadjustment. And it was too tight. The whap whap you described is exactly what it did. Especially if it was hot. I have owned several Harleys, and it was readjusted under warranty.
Yep for sure cheers
Are you supposed to check it when the bike is ambient temp?
Yes likely better
i actually understood that ,, much to my surprise ,, just eat something and yours will be ok .;
Ha ha yep