A few questions for the gurus...
I performed these checks recently as part of the 10,000 mile maintenance on my '98 FLHTC. I replaced the rear tire, and therefore had to reset the rear wheel alignment and the belt tension. I checked the primary chain tension but did not adjust since the free play was OK (I think, more on this below).
On Drive belt tension- I bought the HD belt tension gauge and followed my service manual procedure with my wife sitting on the bike (she's pretty close to my weight). But now I hear a "whining" noise comming from the left rear. Sounds like its comming from the rear wheel sprocket. If I turn off the motor and coast, the whining is still there. I removed the lower belt guard, but that did not solve the problem. In comparing my FLHTC belt (which I just adjusted) to my FLSTS belt (which I assume my dealer checked/adjusted 2500 miles ago at the 5000 mi service), the FLHTC belt seems much tighter. My question is: if I follow the procedure in my service manual, which states 5/16" to 3/8" deflection @ 10lbs. force, should the belt be set correctly? Maybe I should just try it again? Is there a trick to this? A book I have gives the following procedure:
"Grasp the belt with your thumb and two forefingers at about 1 1/2 inches back from where it exits the bottom of the primary case. Now twist the belt back and forth on its axis. You should feel serious resistance to this twisting at about a 45 degree angle from flat. If you can twist more like 90 degrees - too loose. If it feels tighter than a bow string at only 25-30 degrees - too tight."
Does this "trick of the trade" method seem about right?
On Primary chain tension - I followed my service manual procedure, but felt my measurement of the primary chain free play was somewhat inaccurate. The best method I could think of was to I mark off 5/8" and 7/8" on a bent metal rod, and tried to get a reading off of that as good as possible. Anybody got a more accurate method for checking this free play? Are there any special tools out there that make this check easy?
Thanks. Appreciate the advise
I performed these checks recently as part of the 10,000 mile maintenance on my '98 FLHTC. I replaced the rear tire, and therefore had to reset the rear wheel alignment and the belt tension. I checked the primary chain tension but did not adjust since the free play was OK (I think, more on this below).
On Drive belt tension- I bought the HD belt tension gauge and followed my service manual procedure with my wife sitting on the bike (she's pretty close to my weight). But now I hear a "whining" noise comming from the left rear. Sounds like its comming from the rear wheel sprocket. If I turn off the motor and coast, the whining is still there. I removed the lower belt guard, but that did not solve the problem. In comparing my FLHTC belt (which I just adjusted) to my FLSTS belt (which I assume my dealer checked/adjusted 2500 miles ago at the 5000 mi service), the FLHTC belt seems much tighter. My question is: if I follow the procedure in my service manual, which states 5/16" to 3/8" deflection @ 10lbs. force, should the belt be set correctly? Maybe I should just try it again? Is there a trick to this? A book I have gives the following procedure:
"Grasp the belt with your thumb and two forefingers at about 1 1/2 inches back from where it exits the bottom of the primary case. Now twist the belt back and forth on its axis. You should feel serious resistance to this twisting at about a 45 degree angle from flat. If you can twist more like 90 degrees - too loose. If it feels tighter than a bow string at only 25-30 degrees - too tight."
Does this "trick of the trade" method seem about right?
On Primary chain tension - I followed my service manual procedure, but felt my measurement of the primary chain free play was somewhat inaccurate. The best method I could think of was to I mark off 5/8" and 7/8" on a bent metal rod, and tried to get a reading off of that as good as possible. Anybody got a more accurate method for checking this free play? Are there any special tools out there that make this check easy?
Thanks. Appreciate the advise