Drive Belt Alignment

[Micksan]

I recently messed with my rear end. I have the special tool to align the rear wheel, and a digital, caliper to check it. It was dead on . both sides read the same.
After all that I took it out for a ride. Heard a rubbing noise. After a lot of searching , it turned out to be the drive belt was rubbing on the outside wall of the belt housing on the wheel. Pushed it while turning the wheel and it moved off. the rubbing sound went away.
Started the bike ( Bike off ground) , the belt went right back to where it was. Stopped down at the dealer, and the have a need one on the floor. that belt is setup the same way . Dealer had no idea, and workshop manual says nothing.
My Indian classic has a similar system. The workshop manual says to keep it off the wall. Need to see teeth on both sides of the belt.

 

[Qship]

Setting them up can be a pain. All over the interweb about the belt and it's dreaded chirping. Once set up it's good til the next time you have to remove the rear wheel.

 

[dazco]

Thru trial and error I eventually came to get it right, which is so that it either BARELY sits against the outside flange or roams back and fourth. The latter is impossible to keep it there so i try and get it there but it usually just ends up readjusting itself lightly against the flange. Thats good enough. Then after i got sick of trying the get it adjusted right every time i put a new tire on, i finally started removing the wheel WITHOUT loosening the adjusters when i need to install a new tire. It's easier then you might think. Only slightly hard part is using a lever on the pulley against the swingarm to go against the belt pressure to get the axl back thru. But this way i never have to adjust the belt anymore aside from a TINY bit after tire replacement sometimes. Sometimes it will change just slightly and i loosen the left adjuster and turn it maybe 1/10th turn and that gets it just right. So much better then chain drove for many obvious reasons, but it does have a learning curve !

 

[Bongo]

I'm new to the Storm (12 months old this month, on my third set of tyres)and have had a bit of fun trying to get the belt where I wanted it. I have recently stop loosening the axle shaft nut to make minor adjustments. I wanted the belt to move the smallest amount. After checking the belt tension . My decision was to pull back the right side to move the belt towards the inside side plate. I held the locking nut while I moved the adjustment only two flats. Relocked the locking nut against the adjustment making sure it didn't move. Took the bike for a few kms run and checked the belt position and it had move in the correct direction and only moved about a 1-2mm . So my conclusion is you can make a minor adjustment (the adjustment has to be backwards direction ,so you have to able to put on small amount of tension to the belt. Check belt tension first) with out loosening the axle shaft. Secondly the adjustment is more accurate, as you have haven't disturbed the setting by loosening of the axel shaft. As it will move, and when loosen and it will move as you retighten it. It is also best if you have to run it of centre , run it towards the inside side plate. This off course, is only my opinion. It works for me so far

 

[DaveP]

Recently had my tyres changed on thunderbird 1600. Wheel alignment issues since they were fitted at motorbike garage.
Finally sorted by taking bike to my friendly car garage and running the rear wheel on a “brake tester “ remote control electric roller and making fine adjustments to get the belt to run central. Took 15 mins and is running spot on now.

 

[CarlS]

@dazco Dale, good to see you! It has been a long time. Hope all is well.

 

[dazco]

Wow, same here ! I thought you were MIA ! I rarely check in any more and the last post above u responded to was a year and a 1/2 ago ! Last time i posted tho was probably 6 months or more.

 

[CarlS]

@dazco I was MIA; got overcome by life. But I am back and still riding my Tiger.

 

[dazco]

Good for you. Gad tohear you beat whatever was nippin' at ya. I recently became very overcome by life and trying to get past some real bad stuff but it's tough. I hope to get past it like u but if i can it'll be a while for sure. Still have my tbird, have 75k on it and thinking about selling it for the new speed twin. But that's on hold till i can get past my issues, if and when i do. Heck of a machine that thing is.

 

[CarlS]

I'm looking at either a Bonneville T120 or a Scrambler 1200. I will do a cross country on my Tiger before I change. I have 38,000 on my 2012 Tiger.

I surely hope you can overcome and get past your issues. I wish you the very best.

 

[dazco]

Thanks Carl.

 

[CarlS]

Please stay in touch with us.

 

[dazco]

I do post now and then so i will.Just not often, but then at our age a year seems like like 2 days to us so i actually post a lot.

 

[CarlS]

I hear you loud and clear