Belt tension affected by lift kit? Got a noise...

[scooterbum46]

Had a squeak/squall (louder and lower pitched than just a squeak) on the 900 mile 2015 TG today, seemed to be related to the secondary drive (transmission to rear axle), related to deceleration and changed somewhat when I pulled the clutch in, but didn't go away when rolling with the engine shut off and the clutch pulled in. It went away mostly after riding a few blocks, but got me to thinking what might be going on - led to this question - is belt tension affected by installation of the lift kit at all? Also - anyone ever experienced an out of alignment axle and would it cause a noise at times from the edge of the belt rubbing edge of the drive pulley (probably over thinking a noise - never heard on either the FLHX or the FLHTK..)

[Sloufoot]

Had a squeak/squall (louder and lower pitched than just a squeak) on the 900 mile 2015 TG today, seemed to be related to the secondary drive (transmission to rear axle), related to deceleration and changed somewhat when I pulled the clutch in, but didn't go away when rolling with the engine shut off and the clutch pulled in. It went away mostly after riding a few blocks, but got me to thinking what might be going on - led to this question - is belt tension affected by installation of the lift kit at all? Also - anyone ever experienced an out of alignment axle and would it cause a noise at times from the edge of the belt rubbing edge of the drive pulley (probably over thinking a noise - never heard on either the FLHX or the FLHTK..)

The lift kit shouldn't affect the drive or pivot of the rear swing arm at all. After it went away has it came back at all? There have been belt rubbing things problems, but that usually only goes away if something rubbing the belt comes off or the belt wears away.
You might look along the full length of the belt to make sure something isn't rubbing it. Also look for the belt being too close to other parts. (Belt moving around)
Check things around the axle & brake rotors also.

[sandrooney]

Was there no noise before lift kit and the noise started as soon as the kit was installed? Always check the last thing you did.

[Oldmsocko]

The lift kit shouldn't affect the drive or pivot of the rear swing arm at all. After it went away has it came back at all? There have been belt rubbing things problems, but that usually only goes away if something rubbing the belt comes off or the belt wears away.
You might look along the full length of the belt to make sure something isn't rubbing it. Also look for the belt being too close to other parts. (Belt moving around)
Check things around the axle & brake rotors also.

I totally agree with Sloufoot. The lift kit should make no difference. Mine was installed as soon as they were available.

[scooterbum46]

Thanks for the replies... I put the lift kit on at about 400 miles (I wrench my bikes myself..) . All else is stock HD at this point. No noise until yesterday at 900 miles. After reading some other posts after mine, I'm pretty sure it IS belt rub - we'll see today if the noise is gone or not, if it is, maybe chalk it up to a frog squashed between the belt and pulley...

[scooterbum46]

Follow up..
Since it was close to the 1K mark, I took it to the dealer today.... They said the belt was - too tight.... Weird since it made the noise under deceleration, when I thought it was pushing more slack from the driven pulley. He also sprayed something on it and by the time I was out of town headed home, it was gone entirely. For what it's worth, in 4 years, three HDs, this is the first actual "trouble" I've taken to a dealer (any other problems I've had were all self inflicted).

[scooterbum46]

Follow up to the follow up..... belt noise back (their belt spray must have worn off after a couple of days of riding..) Finally took my phone and took a picture of the drive pulley area in the case - belt is all the way to one side on the drive pulley, rubbing the side of the belt. Should have listened to my own instincts on this one. Debating taking it back to the dealer (and insisting the "master mechanic" rather than the oil changer do the work) or do it my self...

[DK Custom Products]

Follow up to the follow up..... belt noise back (their belt spray must have worn off after a couple of days of riding..) Finally took my phone and took a picture of the drive pulley area in the case - belt is all the way to one side on the drive pulley, rubbing the side of the belt. Should have listened to my own instincts on this one. Debating taking it back to the dealer (and insisting the "master mechanic" rather than the oil changer do the work) or do it my self...

Glad you got it tracked down, sorry you have to deal with techs instead of mechanics. Might be easier to do it yourself. I generally only let the dealer touch my bike if it is a part they are replacing under warranty. It seems every time I get it back I have to go thru it anyway and clean up after them.


Kevin

[msocko3]

Follow up to the follow up..... belt noise back (their belt spray must have worn off after a couple of days of riding..) Finally took my phone and took a picture of the drive pulley area in the case - belt is all the way to one side on the drive pulley, rubbing the side of the belt. Should have listened to my own instincts on this one. Debating taking it back to the dealer (and insisting the "master mechanic" rather than the oil changer do the work) or do it my self...

Your axle may be not quite square, if you want to check it you can do as I did when adjusting the belt http://www.triketalk.com/forum/threa...ll=1#post75042. Its the 4th picture down.

[scooterbum46]

Called my dealer - Told service writer that noise was back and that I had identified that the belt was running all the way to the left, against the drive pulley shoulder. He said that "is the way it's supposed to be"...... Discussion went downhill from there. I'm taking it back to them Friday AM (and yes, even in Central Florida, the 50 mile riding is gonna be "nippy"), but not with high hopes at this point - this seems so ridiculous I can't believe it. My problem is I can't find anything in the repair manuals to show that it's not supposed to be rubbing, just my common sense (and about 55 years of non-professional wrenching of every machine I've ever owned from the '57 Lambretta 125 to the '14 Limited that I traded in). I have reviewed the section on centering the axle, but can't find anything about belt tracking...

Am I right or wrong??

[Sloufoot]

If the rear end is not square with the rest of the Trike it can pull the belt to one side or the other of the front pulley.
That goes both up & down (same height both sides) & longer on one side than the other.

[msocko3]

Called my dealer - Told service writer that noise was back and that I had identified that the belt was running all the way to the left, against the drive pulley shoulder. He said that "is the way it's supposed to be"...... Discussion went downhill from there. I'm taking it back to them Friday AM (and yes, even in Central Florida, the 50 mile riding is gonna be "nippy"), but not with high hopes at this point - this seems so ridiculous I can't believe it. My problem is I can't find anything in the repair manuals to show that it's not supposed to be rubbing, just my common sense (and about 55 years of non-professional wrenching of every machine I've ever owned from the '57 Lambretta 125 to the '14 Limited that I traded in). I have reviewed the section on centering the axle, but can't find anything about belt tracking... Am I right or wrong??

They don't cover belt tracking, if the rear axle is square it should track straight.

[scooterbum46]

They don't cover belt tracking, if the rear axle is square it should track straight.

Yeah, pretty much the same since my 26" Columbia heavy duty bike I used as a paper boy in the fifties. It would be nice to have it in black and white for the "technicians" that may not have caught on to that.... There's really two issues - side to side alignment and whether the axle axis is parallel to the drive pulley shaft's . I am guessing the Service Writer isn't really up on details - he was washing bikes a year ago........ I'd be interested to hear from anyone else that's had the issue and how it was resolved.

Stay tuned..

[scooterbum46]

Followup 3.0 ...... Interesting day - took the trike back today for round 2, which included about 6 hours of sitting at the dealership (kind of like sitting in the waiting room at a hospital). The day developed into 3 phases:

Phase 1 - about an hour in the Service Manager tells me that everything is within spec and maybe I just need to ride it more. After reading my face, he says he knows there's a noise and he'll call HD to see what they can offer.

Phase 2 - about 2 hours later, the SM tells me that HD thinks a belt without the correct "V" angle on the edges may be causing the noise and that the tech is going to file the edges of the belt a little... Ummmm, OK.

Phase 3 - About another hour and the tech comes out to the sales area and proudly shows us two bearings , one from the clutch and the other IIRC the outboard drive pulley bearing. Noisy under no load.....

So I don't know whether I lead them astray on the belt or (I think) there were two separate noises. Final report tomorrow -I got to ride a new RG home as a loaner, not sure if I like it, lot of buffeting at 70+ and no leg protection, but it sure hauls a** compared to the trike - gotta get on to the stage one FuelMoto project..

[msocko3]

Followup 3.0 ...... Interesting day - took the trike back today for round 2, which included about 6 hours of sitting at the dealership (kind of like sitting in the waiting room at a hospital). The day developed into 3 phases:

Phase 1 - about an hour in the Service Manager tells me that everything is within spec and maybe I just need to ride it more. After reading my face, he says he knows there's a noise and he'll call HD to see what they can offer.

Phase 2 - about 2 hours later, the SM tells me that HD thinks a belt without the correct "V" angle on the edges may be causing the noise and that the tech is going to file the edges of the belt a little... Ummmm, OK.

Phase 3 - About another hour and the tech comes out to the sales area and proudly shows us two bearings , one from the clutch and the other IIRC the outboard drive pulley bearing. Noisy under no load.....

So I don't know whether I lead them astray on the belt or (I think) there were two separate noises. Final report tomorrow -I got to ride a new RG home as a loaner, not sure if I like it, lot of buffeting at 70+ and no leg protection, but it sure hauls a** compared to the trike - gotta get on to the stage one FuelMoto project..

Sounds like an interesting day, I would bet you won't have a noise anymore. Amazing how quick 2 wheels are vs 3, figure you loose 300 lbs and your not riding something with the aerodynamics of a barn door.

[scooterbum46]

Sounds like an interesting day, I would bet you won't have a noise anymore. Amazing how quick 2 wheels are vs 3, figure you loose 300 lbs and your not riding something with the aerodynamics of a barn door.

I made the 50 mile ride home into an 80 mile ride, just for fun.. But I'll be glad to get the TG back, too.. I'm not sure I'd even be interested in a trike version of the Road Glide, unless it was with a much taller windshield - my SO would not like the amount of wind that was going over and around me at 70+....

[scooterbum46]

.....I would bet you won't have a noise anymore......

It would have been a good bet for me.... Noise was still there, HD is overnighting new belt and pulleys. Weather forecast not good for the projected pickup day - and my rain gear is all on the trike (OOPs ) . Dealer and HD are surprising me with the effort to make this right. Told the service manager to please NOT rush the tech...

[scooterbum46]

Got it back today.... The parts list runs most of a page and over a $1000.00... The problem? The drive pulley apparently was never properly seated at the factory, - what it looked like was it seized on the splines and didn't torque down properly, wobbled and was no longer square on the shaft. There was rust powder both under the pulley and on the hub. The slight wobble was causing the "weep weep weep". Replaced? Clutch hub bearing, primary race and bearing, the drive and driven pulley, belt and a whole lot of Locktite. No more "weep weep weep" WooHoo!

Gotta give Kudos to the whole staff at Stormy Hill HD in Claremont, FL for listening to me, not pushing me out the door with excuses for the noise and for following through - I don't think they made any money on this warranty job with the time it took to find the problem.

[Sloufoot]

Great to hear you got things taken care of !! Don't worry, if the service writer has a sharp pencil they will get their money !
Ride Safe !

[DK Custom Products]

Got it back today.... The parts list runs most of a page and over a $1000.00... The problem? The drive pulley apparently was never properly seated at the factory, - what it looked like was it seized on the splines and didn't torque down properly, wobbled and was no longer square on the shaft. There was rust powder both under the pulley and on the hub. The slight wobble was causing the "weep weep weep". Replaced? Clutch hub bearing, primary race and bearing, the drive and driven pulley, belt and a whole lot of Locktite. No more "weep weep weep" WooHoo!

Gotta give Kudos to the whole staff at Stormy Hill HD in Claremont, FL for listening to me, not pushing me out the door with excuses for the noise and for following through - I don't think they made any money on this warranty job with the time it took to find the problem.

Really great to hear! Better to never have a problem, but if you do, that's the kind of dealership you want to work with.

Happy they got it fixed for you.

Kevin