Do fan belts stretch over time?
Serpentine belts stretch with age and use; as time goes on, the rubber becomes dryer and less pliable making cracking more prevalent. However, cracking can also be caused by a defective tensioner. If a belt starts slipping, the tensioner should always be checked to see if it is functioning properly.
How can you tell if your drive belt is too tight?
Hold the belt between finger and thumb at this point and move it from side to side. See how much it deflects at the centre of the run. If it moves more than 1/2 in. (13 mm) it is too slack – any less movement and it is too tight. Check the exact deflection recommended in the car handbook.
What should I do about my drive belt?
1. Keep the belt and pulleys clean 2. Keep the belt tension set per your owner’s manual specs (Harley-Davidson has a tension testing device available) 3. I plan to feel the drive belt with my bare hand after riding thirty or forty miles.
When did the drive belt on my bike fail?
A while back, the final drive belt on my 1999 Harley-Davidson XLH 883 Sportster failed in my garage. If a bike’s drive belt is going to break, that’s the place to have it happen. We had a look at that breakage event back in May 2018.
How can I adjust the tension on my drive belt?
When the tension is correct, tighten the adjusting strap bolts and the pivot bolt. Some cars have an idler-wheel pulley which presses on the belt. If yours does, turn the screw adjuster to move the wheel and alter the belt tension. This is often simpler than moving the generator. Unscrew the nut or nuts to split the two halves of the pulley.
What happens if your drive belt is too tight?
Too tight of a belt can prematurely wear the pulleys, the belt and puts excess strain in the inner primary support bearing, and can cause it to fail. Most bikes have a black plastic dibris deflector over the belt. That deflector has a small window in it, below the lower belt line, with “lines” on it.
A while back, the final drive belt on my 1999 Harley-Davidson XLH 883 Sportster failed in my garage. If a bike’s drive belt is going to break, that’s the place to have it happen. We had a look at that breakage event back in May 2018.
When to adjust the drive belt on a Harley Davidson?
The predetermined adjustment is to be done when the bike is COLD, as the pulleys get warm and expand after being run, and can make the belt tighter. Too tight of a belt can prematurely wear the pulleys, the belt and puts excess strain in the inner primary support bearing, and can cause it to fail.
Which is better drive chain or drive belt?
Drive belts do have less maintenance and advantages for motorcycles over a drive chain, but they still can cause drama. What secrets can old belts share? A while back, the final drive belt on my 1999 Harley-Davidson XLH 883 Sportster failed in my garage.