I used one I borrowed from a friend yesterday, and I just dont see the real need.....but thats just me.....what do I know? It says in my 03 Softail Factory Service Manual to use it.....so I did, but I wanted to know how many other people use one to adjust the drive belt tension.

 

I use one.It takes the guess work out of the job.

 

I use one any tiem I change a tire or do anything that has the potential to change the tension on the belt. I also check the belt tensionabout every 3,000 miles.

The need is this. A belt that is too loose flops and causes undue wear. A belt that is too tight is very hard on transmission and wheel bearings. Why wouldn't you want to be as accurate as possible when doing any maintainance.??

Bill

 

Set the o-ring right.....looks like yours slid down,,,,also use it wit someone sitting on the bike.....its one of those frecken get on your hands and knees tool.....

 

Actually, the shop manual has two ways of setting the belt tension. One is with someone sitting on the bike and the other way with the rear wheel off the ground.

 

Bill is absolutely right! But I am of the belief if it can be done without the tool and still be right then go for it.My tool box is full,and one wall in my shop is covered with special tools and fixtures for all my hobbies.Tell me these Co. aren't working together to keep it that way.

 

I have always adjusted the belt or chain tension with a single rider on the bike, and the bike on the ground (the service manual I have says nothing about maintaining the drive belt tension with the wheel off the ground). I know the ill effects of having too much or too little tension on the belt. The thing is I sort of felt that I could judge pretty good the amount of free-play without using the tool. I have always made them just right at or a bit under 1/2", and never had a problem.

I guess since I am totally **** about maintaining my bikes, I will spring for one.....

Oh the tool in the pic ain't mine.....its just a pic I found on the web......and the way I use the o-rings is to make two marks on the tool at the max deflection, and use the upper o-ring to sort of zero it all or I just use the o-ring as a reference point and the graduated scale on the belt guard to measure.

 

When I used the tool and set belt tension in accordance with the shop manual, the belt was too tight. I performed a seat of your pants adjustment and the belt tension is perfect. There has to be a better, more accurate way to adjust best tention other than the Harley tool!

 

Tried one, aftermor then ahalf hour, tossed it to the side and did it the old tried and true way. (took less then 10 minutes)

 

I'm still learning here, what is the "old tried and true way" ?