Rear End Noise

[TRazzo]

So I been listening to this funny howling coming from the rear of the bike for a couple of months, not constant but only when it gets really warm. Took it into the HD dealership, they had it for a week and said they couldn't find anything, tech was talkin smack about me for hearing things that weren't there, stuff like that. Anyway, I explained to the service manager that it only happened when the bike was hot, the noise was coming from the left side of the bike, and at one point sounded like a scraping noise and smelled like hot or burning rubber when I parked it. I took the bike out and ran it for about 45 minutes to get it real hot (it was 101 outside) and brought it back and told him to ride it. He was gone for a while, came back, pulled the left bag off and rubbed some parafin wax on the side of the belt and things are silent now. Has anyone else had that problem - do I have a bad belt or is this normal? The bike didn't do it when brand new, it has about 6K on it now. My main concern was a bad bearing or something that would leave me stranded on our vacation in Sept - now I am not worried about that. I would be tempted to try a new belt if not for the $$.

[Dave63]

Two things come to mind regarding the rear wheel and rubbing noises.

1.) if it's a belt rubbing issue, I'd be checking rear sheel alighment. The belt should be tracking straight, and not rubbing the retaining ring on the rear pulley enough to smell anything. If it's running the pulley that hard, then it's going to prematurely fail, or eventually damage it.

2.) You might wanna take a look under the bike at the rear tire sidewall and see if maybe it's scraping the inside of the belt guard, where the guard goes between the tire and the belt, towards the front of the tire. If that's the case, there shoule be some residual marks on the tire, or at least I'd expect there to be, even if it's only a shiney mark from rubbing.

[04 rkc]

I put a new rear tire on a couple of weeks ago and have the same problem now. I don't if it is a bearing going bad or the belt. Fourth tire I put on and never had this problem.

[claydbal]

i run my belt tight. so if i hear a noise like that on decel from about 30 mph down, i losse the belt 1/4 turn till it goes away. belt is still tight after noise disappears!. also made a tool from bent welding rod and zip tie to make good alignment.

in case you are wondering, i beat on the drivetrain, and my thoughts are a tight belt is less apt to snap when holeshotting. i do not know this--------maybe a goofy idea, but thats my final answer---align the belt, set proper tension, and noise will go away.

[TRazzo]

I have been thinking about ways to check the alignment on the belt, I will try to get it up on the jack this weekend and check things out. Thanks for all the input, I will report back with the results!