Drive Belt Tension

[Sunman]

The final drive belt on my Freewheeler seems very tight. I have a service manual on order since none of the dealers around here had one in stock but it hasn't come in yet. I always ran the belts on my 2 wheelers a little looser than what the manual says. I worked in the oilfield for 37 years and we found out on our equipment that was belt driven that a tighter belt was not better, I.E. overly tight belts broke. Do you check the belt tension with the trike setting on the ground or the rear wheels suspended? Check it hot or cold? Can someone with a manual e-mail me the pages that show how to adjust the belt on a Freewheeler? I would appreciate it. I have never had a belt brake but a few of my friends have and it always seems to happen when you are out in the boonies.

Thanks for the help.

Sunman

[Bikerbozo]

Mine are always really tight. The only belt I ever had break was an aftermarket that shop swore was stronger than stock. There was definitely swearing involved. Usually I start loosing belt teeth somewhere after 60k.

[pcombe]

I don't know if this helps with the free wheeler but I check my old tour glide with the wheels on the ground and look for 1/2-5/8" play with about 10 lbs pressure applied.

I've never had the sense to pick up a belt tension gauge.

[Pegasus1300]

The belt tension gauge is really pretty cheap. Gates sells them for about $25 bucks.

[msocko3]

I don't know if this helps with the free wheeler but I check my old tour glide with the wheels on the ground and look for 1/2-5/8" play with about 10 lbs pressure applied.

I've never had the sense to pick up a belt tension gauge.

I also use a tape, but I also use a tension gauge. I show how I tension belts on a Triglide in this thread http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...ll=1#post75042

[dirtdobber]

According to the owners manual the belt tension should be between 3/8-7/16 inch at 10 lbs pressure.

[msocko3]

According to the owners manual the belt tension should be between 3/8-7/16 inch at 10 lbs pressure.

Which is why I used the tension gauge, available from Harley.

[dirtdobber]

The tension gauge makes fast and easy to set.
only takes a few minutes to do.

[DK Custom Products]

Remember to spin the rear wheels...there are looser and tighter spots in the belt as the rear wheels are turned. It should be between 3/8-7/16 all the way around.

Kevin

[screwball]

PERSONALLY, I wouldn't mess with it. They gave you a 2 year warranty, I'd let them adjust it. IF you have it on a 'check' list and they tell you there isn't anything wrong, IF and WHEN it fails you have an audit trail to get it fixed. Just my opinion......