Whine on Decel. after rear lowering

[JohnnyBoy2]

I've searched the forum for my paticular whine and could not find anything.

I recently had an Air Ride system installed on my 2005 Fatboy and noticed a whine on decel when I ride with my back end lowered all the way. The whine only happens on decel and DOES NOT go away with the clutch pulled in. I even get the whine with the engine turned off and in netral (i.e. cutting off engine at 30 mph) Anyone got any ideas? Thanks

[TXCHOP]

Does it go away when you are at full ride height? Belt adjustment....?

[JohnnyBoy2]

It does tone way down when I bring the rear swingarm back to factory height. I recently had new wheels put on by HogPro and was told by the installer that I had above average slack in my belt and when he went to to give the screws a couple of turns to bring up the slack he noticed that I was already maxed out (rear axle already the farthest back it can go). He said I'm ok, but I'm at the edge of being a bit "lose".

[13MM]

Your too low !
The whine is from the belt rubbing the starter shaft. You can verify , there will be a mark, about half way accross on the
outside of the belt. Viewed from rear. This will eventually
take out your starter.
Raize a bit to ride. Slam at the show stops

[JohnnyBoy2]

13mm, I will take a close-up photograph of the belt and post it tonight. Would appreciate you looking at it if you have the time. Thanks

[TXCHOP]

That is a possibilty, but i have only run into that on softails when i converted to chain drive. Did this start after the wheels were installed? Maybe a new pulley that has chrome buildup???And why is the belt stretched past the max?

[JohnnyBoy2]

TXCHOP, Thank you for your reply. This "whine" started in my first mod to lower my back end (about a year ago) when Progressive 422's were installed with 1&1/2" lowering in the back, w/ factory wheels. When the Progressives were removed and the High-Low Air ride system installed 2 months ago, in the slammed position the whine is very noticeable, but in the max upright position it is very faint (Both with Engine running and decelerating @ less than 30MPH and with Engine off <30MPH). The new HogPro wheels were installed 1 week ago and made no difference.

As far as why the belt may be stretched, I am not a mechanic, but I can remember installing rear axle covers about a month after getting my bike new(April 2005) and noticed at the time that the rear axle adjusters were maxed out even then, but due to me not being educated in motorcycle mechanics it did not raise a flag to me.

The wrench at HogPro did not raise a safety concern to me about the belt (he did for my front PM caliper pads and told me if I can at least pay for the pads he would install them for free), but did tell me the belt replacement would require the removal of the inner primary caseing.

[claydbal]

see the common factor? lowering? i would bet that when you lowered, you didnt have belt adjusted correctly. after belt stretched, you had no more adjustment. (softails only have aboyt 3 threads left on the adjusters when new!) now, add the fact that when lowered with the high dollar show-off kit, the torque cant reel the swingarm up upon acceleration, so it stretches the belt more.

it cost $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to look cool.

[JohnnyBoy2]

Thanks for the reply claydbal. Like I said above, there were 0 threads left when the bike was new, so it's kind of doubtful in my opnion that the lowering did the stretching. It was that way from the factory. The only time I lower it is when I'm parked. Here is a picture.

[Shoe]

The belt is too tight. Common symptom for a tight belt.

Dave

[JohnnyBoy2]

Thanks for the reply Shoe. Unfortunately I have the reverse problem, I have a lose belt that cannot be tightened, my axle adjusters are maxed out. I'm wondering if perhaps by having the swingarm maxed out to one side that the shift in the bearing load is causing it.

[Shoe]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBoy2

Thanks for the reply Shoe. Unfortunately I have the reverse problem, I have a lose belt that cannot be tightened, my axle adjusters are maxed out. I'm wondering if perhaps by having the swingarm maxed out to one side that the shift in the bearing load is causing it.

Sorry man. Maybe I missed something..... Is it an old belt? Its odd that you are getting it on decel then. Normally with a loose belt you would get slipping on the go. It may be possible that its slipping on both the accel and decel, but due to the sound of the pipes that you are only hearing it when you are off the throttle.

You may want to look into getting a smaller belt.

Have you used a belt tensioner gauge? What is it reading?

Dave

[JohnnyBoy2]

Thanks Dave. We'll I don't know how old the belt is, but I bought the bike brand new in January of 2005. Could the belt have been many years old and finally used on my 2005 at time of production, I don't know. Yes I have the belt tensioner, and it's a little bit on the lose side, but as I've stated above, I'm maxed out on tensioning as my rear axel adjusters all the way in. You state a really good point, does it happen on acceleration, maybe it does Dave, and yes my Vance & Hines Big Shots may cover the excel Whine.

[Shoe]

Originally Posted by JohnnyBoy2

Thanks Dave. We'll I don't know how old the belt is, but I bought the bike brand new in January of 2005. Could the belt have been many years old and finally used on my 2005 at time of production, I don't know. Yes I have the belt tensioner, and it's a little bit on the lose side, but as I've stated above, I'm maxed out on tensioning as my rear axel adjusters all the way in. You state a really good point, does it happen on acceleration, maybe it does Dave, and yes my Vance & Hines Big Shots may cover the excel Whine.

I have to do more reading before I reply. I thought your bike may have been older than an 05. The belt wouldn't have stretched that much unless you have something like 100,000 miles on it. You may want to look into a slightly smaller belt. That may solve your problems.

Sorry I couldnt be more help. I'm trying though......

Dave

[GPO03FatBoy]

Originally Posted by 13MM

Your too low !
The whine is from the belt rubbing the starter shaft. You can verify , there will be a mark, about half way accross on the
outside of the belt. Viewed from rear. This will eventually
take out your starter.
Raize a bit to ride. Slam at the show stops

It's tough to hit the starter jackshaft because of the primary boss just behind it. The rub usually comes from the boss. (I ground out my boss over 1/4" to let the bike run dropped without rubbing when slammed.) Even at that, I never heard mine whine, even when dropped to the stops and the belt was being grooved. Plus, a whine from this would go away when the bike is raised.

Considering you are hearing it all the time, are you sure it's not tranny noise?