whats the best way to get the rear wheel / belt tensioners aligned correctly?

i saw some stuff about florecent light bulbs, and also a string method.

but when you have a skinnier front tire than rear how do you get those options to work?

 

I just had my back wheel off for a tire change. When you reinstall, the tensioners act in tandem. Tighten one, they both tighten the same. Simple as pie, and the bike rides as good as always.

 

This is true unless you are installing a custom rear wheel and compensator. If this is the case, make sure the drive side spacer is the correct length. If it closes or opens the arm spacing, it will cause the pulley to track the belt to one side.

 

all my stock spacers work fine didnt have to do anything but install the wheel.

 

Good tape measure from center of axle to center of swingarm pivot, if you want to check it.... but the cams should align it for you, unless the right one is sloppy on the axle.

If you want to do the florescent tube thing. Have someone hold the tube against the rear tire, while you measure the distance from your front tire with the wheel centered. Then do the same on the other side and compare measurements.

Try not to drop the tube.........

 

doesn't your rear have the cam style adjusters (not sure what year hd did that) - ie just need to worry about belt tension?

 

That only works if the cam on the nut side fits nice and tight. One side is solid on the axle, the other is a square hole that can get sloppy. Never hurts to double check with a tape measure.

 

The belt tensioning procedure accounts for the slop in the right side cam, you can't tighten and then back off a little. You only can tighten the cam until you acieve correct belt tension, if you get it too tight you have to completely loosen the cam to take the slack out of it, and then tighten again.

 

Easier way.... adjust for the belt, then use a drift punch and hammer to set the right side for tracking. Works every time.