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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Man, I am just friken perplexed at how to successfully tighten the drive belt on my 2011 Vision. Have the manual; followed the steps and I still cannot get the belt to track on the inside of the rear wheel pulley while the wheel is in forward motion. It moves to the outside of the rear pulley when the wheel is moving in reverse; but then it stays there when you rotate the wheel forward.
I also adjusted the belt tension to 1.26" which is 32mm, in accordance with all of the steps in the manual. Took it for a spin to warm it and the belt up, and just checked the tension again with the 10lb belt gauge. There's only 1/2' of play in the belt....! WTF? Do they shrink THAT much when the get warmed up? From 1.26" to .5" ???
I wish the Vision had a shaft drive, or at least a chain drive. I'm a lot more familiar with them than this damned belt that doesn't want to play nice. I am really concerned with the tightness of the belt. Should I go beyond 1.26" free play while cold?
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | is this your first belt drive? i ask cause its not a big deal at all.. i havent even had to adjust my belt yet on my 2011 vision and i probably wont until i need to replace the rear tire... as a matter of fact i didnt adjust my 2008 vision either, except when i replaced the rear tire. do you have belt noise or something that is making you adjust the belt? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 103
Davenport, IA | I have adjusted my belt several times. I have an '09 and when after purchasing it, I had the usual chirping noise. After 500 miles, I adjusted it (when cold), and yes, it seems to be very finicky!! When I think it's close withinn specs, I leave it if it don't make noise. And after I adjust, I take it for a ride and check it when I get back and it usually is tighter when it gets warm/hot. You would think it would get looser with more slack when after ridden, and yes, that appears strange to me, but must be the characteristic of the belt. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Arkainzeye - 2011-12-11 1:57 PM
is this your first belt drive? i ask cause its not a big deal at all.. i havent even had to adjust my belt yet on my 2011 vision and i probably wont until i need to replace the rear tire... as a matter of fact i didnt adjust my 2008 vision either, except when i replaced the rear tire. do you have belt noise or something that is making you adjust the belt?
Yes, this is my first belt drive. I decided to adjust it after checking the slack in it while cold; it was at 2" of free play. A little much, I thought. So I followed the manual and adjusted it while cold at the tightest spot to 32mm (1.26")
I have 2700 miles on the bike so far. Before me today; the dealer was the last one to touch the belt drive; I complained about a "moaning" coming from the bike at the end of a slow stop and he said the belt was too tight. Apparently he adjusted it while the bike and belt was warm; I didn't know that you were not supposed to do that until I read the manual later on. So I guess that's why it had the excessive freeplay.
So I adjust it IAW the manual and it now ends up with 1/2" of freeplay when warm, @ 10 pounds of pressure.
Go figure. Is the freeplay supposed to be that minimal when the bike/belt is warmed up?
Edited by willtill 2011-12-11 4:01 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | willtill - 2011-12-11 3:59 PM
Arkainzeye - 2011-12-11 1:57 PM
is this your first belt drive? i ask cause its not a big deal at all.. i havent even had to adjust my belt yet on my 2011 vision and i probably wont until i need to replace the rear tire... as a matter of fact i didnt adjust my 2008 vision either, except when i replaced the rear tire. do you have belt noise or something that is making you adjust the belt?
Yes, this is my first belt drive. I decided to adjust it after checking the slack in it while cold; it was at 2" of free play. A little much, I thought. So I followed the manual and adjusted it while cold at the tightest spot to 32mm (1.26")
I have 2700 miles on the bike so far. Before me today; the dealer was the last one to touch the belt drive; I complained about a "moaning" coming from the bike at the end of a slow stop and he said the belt was too tight. Apparently he adjusted it while the bike and belt was warm; I didn't know that you were not supposed to do that until I read the manual later on. So I guess that's why it had the excessive freeplay.
So I adjust it IAW the manual and it now ends up with 1/2" of freeplay when warm, @ 10 pounds of pressure.
Go figure. Is the freeplay supposed to be that minimal when the bike/belt is warmed up?
That's why you are supposed to adjust the belt cold and at the tightest spot and with the wheel off the ground. The tension changes with the suspension travel and as the bike warms up.
The belt does not "shrink" as it warms up. What happens is that the pulleys, being metal, expand as THEY warm up, thus "tightening" the belt. The pulleys, in effect, get "bigger around". If you adjust the belt to the recommended tension with the bike warm, the pulleys contract as they cool and the belt "loosens". The belt itself doesn't change length.
Ronnie |
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Cruiser
Posts: 156
Bluff Park, Alabama - God's Country! 2011 PW VV | Mine moans too. First time I took it in and the tech adjusted it and it was fine until I got a new rear tire. Moan is back on slow maneuvers. Gotta get it in shop. Took him about 30 min last time |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | rdbudd - 2011-12-11 8:53 PM
The belt does not "shrink" as it warms up. What happens is that the pulleys, being metal, expand as THEY warm up, thus "tightening" the belt. The pulleys, in effect, get "bigger around". If you adjust the belt to the recommended tension with the bike warm, the pulleys contract as they cool and the belt "loosens". The belt itself doesn't change length.
Ronnie
Are you recommending that the belt should be adjusted while warm; rather than cold? |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 31
West Chester, PA / 08 VVPT | Are you sure about the tension spec? The spec for my 08 is 20.0 mm ? .5mm (25/32 ? 1/64") Yours sounds like a lot of play.
To adjust alignment, I got an old caliper and bent both tips to face the same direction (see photo.) I put one point on the end of the belt tension adjuster bolt and the other tip goes against the belt tension adjuster nut. I adjust both sides to be equal. (a KevinX tip) Then I adjust the tension by turning both sides equally. A fast and simple procedure.
In the notes is says Do not attempt to check belt tension if the belt has been exposed to rain or washing within a 24 hour period or if the drive system is hot from riding. Allow the system to cool to room temperature (60-80 F / 15-27 C) before measuring belt tension.
I hope this helps.
(calipers.jpg)
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 calipers.jpg (14KB - 13 downloads)
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Yea, page 63 of my 2011 manual it's 32mm (1.26" for the Vision. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | There was a change, 32 sounds right. When sitting and cold, the belt feels loose, not much though. Hot, it is tight. Follow the directions in the manual, old 08 books are wrong, there was a change early on. The change caused the owner whine to cease. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Double post joke: Harley
Edited by varyder 2011-12-12 3:02 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | varyder - 2011-12-12 3:58 PM
There was a change, 32 sounds right. When sitting and cold, the belt feels loose, not much though. Hot, it is tight. Follow the directions in the manual, old 08 books are wrong, there was a change early on. The change caused the owner whine to cease.
Isn't "tight" while hot bad for the pulleys/belt? I did check it again when I got home from my 50 mile run; it was about 1/2" of slack if I pushed hard.
What would hurt the belt and pulleys more; a tight belt or a loose one?
What are symptoms of a belt that is too tight?
Sorry for all the questions but I am still unfamiliar and a newbie to the characteristics of a belt driven motorcycle.
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | willtill - 2011-12-12 6:24 PM
varyder - 2011-12-12 3:58 PM
There was a change, 32 sounds right. When sitting and cold, the belt feels loose, not much though. Hot, it is tight. Follow the directions in the manual, old 08 books are wrong, there was a change early on. The change caused the owner whine to cease.
Isn't "tight" while hot bad for the pulleys/belt? I did check it again when I got home from my 50 mile run; it was about 1/2" of slack if I pushed hard.
What would hurt the belt and pulleys more; a tight belt or a loose one?
What are symptoms of a belt that is too tight?
Sorry for all the questions but I am still unfamiliar and a newbie to the characteristics of a belt driven motorcycle.
Excuse my ignorance, this is my first belt drive. When I first got the Vision I had a growl, on my first tire change I loosen the belt some and the growl went away. It was shortly after that the change got published to loosen the belt. I've never read to adjust hot or cold, I always assumed it was adjusted cold. I think if it is adjust hot to the specs it would be way too loose when it is cold. If any experts are reading please chime in. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | willtill - 2011-12-12 4:49 AM
rdbudd - 2011-12-11 8:53 PM
The belt does not "shrink" as it warms up. What happens is that the pulleys, being metal, expand as THEY warm up, thus "tightening" the belt. The pulleys, in effect, get "bigger around". If you adjust the belt to the recommended tension with the bike warm, the pulleys contract as they cool and the belt "loosens". The belt itself doesn't change length.
Ronnie
Are you recommending that the belt should be adjusted while warm; rather than cold?
No. It should be adjusted cold, and with the wheel off the ground. Roll the wheel to find the tightest spot on the belt and set the tension to specs at that point. I was trying to say that if you set it to specs when warm, it will be way too loose cold. Actually, it will be too loose warm also.
To the question of which is worse: too loose or too tight; neither are good. Too tight accelerates wear on the belt, pulleys, and bearings. Too loose will also accelerate wear on the belt, mostly, and the pulleys. More belts are broken from being too loose than too tight. This is because a too loose belt is actually bent backwards at the front pulley when under load. The pulley tooth is pulling forward on the back of the belt tooth. If the belt is too loose, it will flex back and try to jump over the pulley.
Having the belt at just the right tension is important for longevity. The good side is that, unlike a chain, once it's set, a belt usually doesn't ever need adjusted again.
My 2008 manual calls for 20mm (.79 inch). The later models call for 32mm (1.26 inches). It's normal, and desirable, for the belt to be tighter when warmed up.
Ronnie |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | Thanks Ronnie. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Ronnie, there was a published change to the 08 manuals as well, stating that the original tension is incorrect. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | I believe you're right about the change. Use the later specs for all models.
Ronnie |
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | rdbudd - 2011-12-13 11:13 AM
willtill - 2011-12-12 4:49 AM
rdbudd - 2011-12-11 8:53 PM
The belt does not "shrink" as it warms up. What happens is that the pulleys, being metal, expand as THEY warm up, thus "tightening" the belt. The pulleys, in effect, get "bigger around". If you adjust the belt to the recommended tension with the bike warm, the pulleys contract as they cool and the belt "loosens". The belt itself doesn't change length.
Ronnie
Are you recommending that the belt should be adjusted while warm; rather than cold?
No. It should be adjusted cold, and with the wheel off the ground. Roll the wheel to find the tightest spot on the belt and set the tension to specs at that point. I was trying to say that if you set it to specs when warm, it will be way too loose cold. Actually, it will be too loose warm also.
To the question of which is worse: too loose or too tight; neither are good. Too tight accelerates wear on the belt, pulleys, and bearings. Too loose will also accelerate wear on the belt, mostly, and the pulleys. More belts are broken from being too loose than too tight. This is because a too loose belt is actually bent backwards at the front pulley when under load. The pulley tooth is pulling forward on the back of the belt tooth. If the belt is too loose, it will flex back and try to jump over the pulley.
Having the belt at just the right tension is important for longevity. The good side is that, unlike a chain, once it's set, a belt usually doesn't ever need adjusted again.
My 2008 manual calls for 20mm (.79 inch). The later models call for 32mm (1.26 inches). It's normal, and desirable, for the belt to be tighter when warmed up.
Ronnie
32mm is the updated spec for all Visions. A to tight belt will eat up output shaft bearings. If you error, make it to the loose side |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I come from the harley world and thats behind me now, When doing a HD belt they always say to have drivers weight on the bike. I think thats a good point and wounder why Vic doesn't say that.
As far as getting the belt to ride to the inside I'm at a loss like most of us. |
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Belt tensioning woes
