Just got my bike out of the shop, had a new tire put on the rear. It's 99 Road King BTW.
Anyway I stopped to get gas and checked the belt tension just for curiousity.
It's really frickin tight ...like no deflection at all !

So first of all is this right, should it be that tight ?

and second does the belt loosen or tighten when the suspension compresses with weight ?

I ride with my wife so the total weight is about 330 lbs when we are both on the bike.

 

It should not be that tight.

The belt will tighten as the rear suspension is compressed.

Extended riding with to tight a belt beats the **** out of the outboards bearings and seals of the tranny and will not extend the life of the front tranny pully or the belt.

With you sitting on the bike, the bottom run of the belt should deflect, there is a small window in the outer plastic belt guard to let the other guy helping you see how much it deflects.

 

Take it back......ASAP.

 

Your belt should deflect about 5/16" to 3/8" with 10 lbs of pressure. That is going to feel really tight to the hand. Your best bet is to invest in a belt tension gauge, then you will always know that your belt is the right tension. I have some pics of the proceedure I can post if you need to see them.

If the belt is to tight it is hard on bearings, if it is too loose is will slap and might strip some teeth.

Regards,

Bill

 

I just did my 1st service myself. When I adjusted the belt I thought the same thing. I set it with the belt tension gauge. The service manual gives 2 settings, one with the bike on the jiffy stand and one with the wheel off the ground. I set it with the wheel off the ground and it seemed too tight so I rechecked it with the wheels on the ground. It was fine. It does feel to tight checking with the hand. Get the belt tension gauge so you can set it right. George

[IMG]local://upfiles/9350/C9AEBA9136CF45E3BF8B8563E908E471.jpg[/IMG]

 

Where did you buy the guage?

 

K B,

You can get one at any HD shop. I think that they are about 25.00

Regards,

Bill

 

is this on jiffy stand with no weight on the bike?????

 

Hi
wante to know if this is with bike on jiffy stand and no rider on bike??

 

As the others say, you can't tell whether the tension is correct without the guage.