So my 2011 FLHP needed a belt adjustment. Never did it before. I am used to the old style adjusters on my 1988 which I feel were superior to this cam adjustment.
The first problem was the left cam moving while I tightened the nut. Easy enough to put a wrench on it to hold it in place but no matter how many times I tried, the cam
on the nut side would move when I tightened the nut. In fact it wasn't even touching the swingarm when I took off the bags. Last year on a trip I had to stop at a dealer because my belt was loose and that right side cam wasn't touching the swingarm then either. On this years trip I had to get new rear wheel bearings installed and when I got home this was again something I noticed. I think even the HD techs can't keep that cam in place when tightening the nut.

I also figured I can measure from the center of the axle to a point on the frame on both sides to make sure the tire was centered but that was way off too. The manual says nothing about this.

How do you guys keep the right side (air cleaner side) cam from moving when tightening the nut? Do any of you try to center the tire by measuring to a point on the chassis?
Do you try to center your tire when adjusting the belt? How do you do it?

 

I hold the left side nut with a wrench to keep the whole thing from moving while tightening the right side.
If the right side cam is not touching the frame thing-a-ma-bob, I'd think something was wrong with the frame.

And I've never tried to center the tire as the two cams working against the frame are SUPPOSED to make it line up perfectly.

 

But what makes the right side cam move? The left one moves with the weld nut.

 

The right side cam is free floating and does move / wiggle when put in place , my opinion it should have been made with a smaller hole to prevent that . I use an axle alignment tool that I made myself . Start by torquing the axle nut to 20-30 ft lbs , then tap the cams in place until the alignment and belt tension are good , holding the left side in place with a large 36mm wrench . I've had to try more than once to get it just right , if that fails , you can also use a pair a vice grips to hold the right side cam in place while torquing , works .

 

If you want to measure, both sides of the axle have a hole in the center. Just measure from there to the edge of the swingarm shaft cover. I usually do this just to be sure. I've had luck with holding the left side of the axle with a big wrench and then lightly tightening the nut with an impact. The sudden quick shot from the impact tightens the nut some without twisting the axle and moving the cam. After checking the dimensions on both sides I tighten the nut the rest of the way with a torque wrench.

 

The axle has flats ground into it and the cam also has flats ground into it that matches up with the axle,(the whole on the cam is SQUARE, not round) thereby allowing the cam to move with the axle. Move the axle, move the cam.

 

The cam that fits the right side of axle is stamped NOT ground. If the one you have is a tight fit be happy. The one on my 16 is a sloppy fit and yes I have to monkey with the belt adjustment for this reason.

Another "great idea" from the MOCO to save a dime.

 

 

Assuming the setup hasn't changed on the touring models, genuinely never had any issue with it.

Following the factory manual you push the tyre (once the right side cam is on) forward to seat them against the adjuster, make sure the axle is rotated so the lowest part of the lobe is touching the stop. Then by following the manual for the first tightening of the axle nut, this should pinch the adjuster plate just fine.

I have a motion pro tool that is great for holding the welded side, then I just nip up to the torque and check the belt again; maybe once had to re-do it.

The underside of the nut should be greased also, are you doing that? Could be grabbing the plate...?

 

I thought about that afterwards. I will redo it this week and take the nut off and grease it.