There are several tools of choice to use for the rear axel to adjust the belt and torque the axel nut following a belt adjustment. 36mm combo wrench, 36mm socket, Pit Posse and OTC wrenches on EBay and Amazon. What are you using and find the easiest tools and method to get this done.

Thanks

 

mine are the pit posse, they are dandy and allow easy adjustment and setting the torque value with my click type torque wrench, good leverage and control.

my mufflers stay in place.

get 2 of course

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I use my fingers to tension the belt and use the marks on the belt guard to gauge tension

mike

 

A socket and wrench, but then I have a 2-into-1, which makes that combo easy to use.

 

Harley wrenches and gauge are what I use.

 

Belt tension guage - of course, should have mentioned that! Mine's over 25 years young and still going strong.

 

Not looking for an answer to be posted, just a thought guide. What can you comfortably afford? Make it as convenient as is financially comfortable. I have enough tools to do the job with some inconvenience (removing the mufflers) and that is good enough for me. I would rather spend that tool money on tires, brakes, gasoline and motel rooms when I travel. I did buy the Harley spring loaded tension tool as I could not come up with a "shade tree" alternative. Unless you are an ADHD "fiddler", belt tension is not a weekly job, special tools seem a waste of resources to me, at least for this once in a while job. I am not paid by the hour when I am in my own garage, time saving tools are a luxury for me, I have more time than money.

 

How many miles? My 2003's belt broke at 135K. I was using the HD guage, but set for 10Lbs it seemed to wine so I do the belts by feel now.

 

I've had several bikes over that time, a total mileage similar to yours, but not all on the same bike. I've only replaced belts on one bike, one belt due to stone damage, another due to customising when going to a later spec narrower belt, so not comparable in that respect.

 

big crescent wrench on the left side, and a generic 3/4" drive big socket and breaker bar on the other. Twist test of the belt for tension evaluation. That's the tools and method I tend to use.

 

With 4 inch and larger exhausts, not sure there is any tool that can be used without removing muffler to adjust belt tension.