Correct belt tension ?

[Erik-Minnesota]

The book says ... about 1/4 - 3/8  ( See Pic )
But I was told WAY loser ... But Mine IS SUPER loose!
Whats the Correct belt tension ?

[steampunk]

Hey Eric

I've heard to sit on the bike, reach down and if the belt turns just 90 degrees you are good.  I have also heard some people say they like to run their belt loose . . .  Anyway, the belt tightens when there is weight, like the rider, on the bike.

Craig

[Erik-Minnesota]

Hey Eric

I've heard to sit on the bike, reach down and if the belt turns just 90 degrees you are good.  I have also heard some people say they like to run their belt loose . . .  Anyway, the belt tightens when there is weight, like the rider, on the bike.

Craig

Thank you for the quick reply 
Mine is much looser then that .. I will have to look into this.

[wytfut]

reaching down and twisting 90 degreees is a good one....
BUT in my opinion, everyone has a different grip.....  for example me as a retired linesman, back in the day,..... could twist just about anything in front of me....

here's what I do... right or wrong.    I get my handy dandy coat hanger with a "O" ring on it, to make sure the axle is straight, and I eyeball tighten it...
then I take it down my long drive way... if it jumps sprocket, I tighten it up a couple of cranks and try again...
if it doesn't jump sprocket, I'll do the reach and twist... if I don't like it, I loosen it, til it jumps sprocket... and retighten a couple ....

Mine is so loose, that when the rear wheel is off the ground, my belt lays on the swing arm axis....

As of the life of that belt....    I've heard anything from 35k to 100k.... I'm pretty sure the higher number is normal.... BUT some of our belts have let go at much lower miles, with no known reasons. And then again, I know of 2 X's with tears/holes in their belts, and have put huge miles on them with no issues...  I have no known reasons or theories on why any of that is what it is....

[steampunk]

The shop I got my bike from (Zap Leather and Cycle) sold 6 bikes per year 2008-2010 in an agreement of some sort with Minnisota EH so he has some experience with the bikes a few years down the road.  He told me that the front pulley had an alignment problem causing the belt to ride the back pulley to one side causing premature belt wear. Supposedly, my bike has the recommended fix. 

By the way, my front pulley has white handmade markings reading "HTD" and a date.  Is this normal for the bikes or indicate some repair work?  I forget the date off hand but it is near the production date of the bike.

[wytfut]

I've never heard that.... Don't mean its not true.....

I don't know what that fix would be.....

Early production on our out put sprockets, had a shoulder issue, maybe that it?

[Jumper]

Run it Looser than Tight...
Jumper

[steampunk]

Does the 'herky-jerky' test apply to X's?

According to this method:
If the belt is too tight it is jerky when putting on gas a low rpm.
If the belt is too loose it is jerky when starting to decelerate, also most noticeable at low speed, low gearing.

I am not familiar enough with the X's yet to know if it even has a primary drive chain and rear wheel drive belt/chain like my sportster, but the 'herky-jerky' test worked on the sportster for adjusting the primary (engine to transmission) chain.

[steampunk]

Oh yeah, I looked at that front pulley while polishing my rear spokes today and it reads:

       INST 5-12-99
              HTD

In large white handprint.

Only thing is, my bike has a production date of 8/99.  But then it isn't the original motor and the motor has a high production number.   But then, not only do my frame and engine numbers not match, the front fender(a prototype), rear fender, ECM, and I'm don't know what all else are from different sources,  the headlight and shifters are HD  (ohhh blasphemy!), the handlebars are aftermarket, etc.

But none of my spokes were broke (one slightly bent), and the bearings are tight.

[wytfut]

There is no primary chain drive...X's are gear...

I do not know about herky jerky...

[steampunk]

Well, if a bike is 'herky-jerky' upon acceleration or deceleration at low speeds, low rpm it would certainly put a lot of stress on the rear wheel bearings.  Other than keeping the belt from coming off the pulley or the belt making contact with frame/swing cage parts, I can't think of anything more important to protect the wheel bearings and belt.

[wytfut]

most likely, the belt will be in contact with the swing arm, when the bike is on the ground, and on the side stand.....
as soon as you sit on it, it'll tighten up, and off...