Does anyone know an easy way of adjusting the final drive belt on a H.D. It sounds  a bit  tiresome having to find someone approximately the same weight as me to sit on the bike when I want to adjust it. Also do you guys have the 'special' harley tool to do the adjustment or is there an easier way ????

I have a tried and tested way of doing it.....take it to the dealer and claim it on warranty or pay for the tweak!!!!

The dealer has adjusted it twice in the service history of the bike and it was a different tension both times,thats why I want to do it myself !! Like a lot of other people on this forum I think the only way you know something is done right is to do it yourself,thanks anyway.

Hey Peter,

Thats fine. Unlike others I have had a great relationship with my local dealer and they have done great things for me........I do however, understand the need to be self sufficient.  Hope all goes well and make sure you update.   Cheers.

becarefull i had a1200 custom sporty, got stone in belt put small hole ended up snapping cost 570 for new one ,i chnged it put it on to tight guess what snapped that bastard to.i found out sportys need to be abit looser than the big bikes.now i just changed my tyre on the low rider,i just measured the distance from the axle to the telltales on the swing arm and put it back the same.better to go abit loose than tight i think.

www.nightrider.com/biketech/hdbeltdrive.htm

Nobody,do you bother putting someone on the bike when you adjust it ?? I ask because when I do sit someone on the bike,it doesn't seem to make any difference to belt tension?

Hey thanks Bakamick,Interestingly,my H.D. workshop manual says to measure the belt deflection from the top strand of the belt not the bottom, and it should have 1/4 to 5/16 deflection which probably amounts to the same thing ? 

Hey Peter

I never bother to use anyone else anymore,once you do it a couple of times with someone on the bike you get to know what it is without anyone sitting on it

 

nobody

Took a look at the website nightrider.com for a few bits of advice, not a bad site at all alot of useful info.

Not quite sure what you mean about the adjustment slot Graham? Dyna might be different to a softail? Thanks anyway

Next Question- To adjust the belt I have to be able to get a socket and tension bar between the axle and muffler?? Does this mean you have to loosen the muff when you neen to adjust the belt, or is this another harley tool?? Hey sqeeech ,thanks for the earlier advice, I ended up checking a few bikes and like nobody suggested, you get a good idea of how tight it should be just by feel. Its always good to know how hard to push